Harriet Brown will return to the Nutri-Grain series this weekend after missing the past year with injury

It’s been almost a year since she’s raced in the Nutri-Grain series but even Harriet Brown enjoyed the chance to step back from the sport that’s dominated her life for the past decade.

IT’S been almost a year since she’s raced in the Nutri-Grain series but even Harriet Brown enjoyed the chance to step back from the sport that’s dominated her life for the past decade.

The Northcliffe Nutri-Grain series winner hasn’t competed since the World lifesaving championships in Adelaide last November where she was forced to undergo surgery following a high level separation and torn ligaments between her big and second toe.

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A few months, another Molokai 2 Oahu world paddleboard title and intense rehabilitation later and Brown is finally ready to make up for lost time.

2018 Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series. Round 2 at Collum Beach, Queensland. Round 2 Ironwoman winner Harriet Brown. Supplied

“It was refreshing to not have to wake up at 5am every morning and to be able to put a bit of time into other things like work and commentary,” she said.

“I’ve been competing 10 years straight so I haven’t had a break from being an elite athlete since I was in high school.

“It was mentally challenging at the start because you sort of had your whole season planned out and I was feeling really good but then the next minute I was in hospital and being told that I couldn’t race again that summer.

“It was a pretty blunt blow and took a while to get my head around but then I actually really enjoyed my time off.”

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Miraculously, the 29-year-olds return will line up with round two of the Nutri-Grain series, the Endurosurf M-shape format which she won last year before being forced out through injury.

2018 Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series. Round 2 at Collum Beach, Queensland. Round 2 Ironwoman winner Harriet Brown. Supplied

“It’s been almost a year since I raced in the series and that round was one of my best races in the series but I’m just so excited to be back,” she said.

“I’m not putting pressure on myself results wise I’ve just been looking forward to racing.”

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While Brown opted out of the Coolangatta Gold last month, she couldn’t stay away from the beach and instead assumed a commentary role as her Northcliffe teammates crossed the finish line.

“I was really impressed with the girls and their ability to push through the pain,” she said.

“Watching them, I’m quite glad that I didn’t do it.

“It’s such a taxing event and I think it would’ve been to my detriment if I did it.

“There’s a bit of pressure on me now in that every round counts but I just want to take it one round at a time.”

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Round two of the Nutri-Grain series is this Sunday at Burleigh Heads.