KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, Oct 9 AAP - Defending Hawaiian Ironman triathlon champion Mirinda Carfrae has planned to somehow produce something even better than last year's masterpiece.
The Australian world champion knows she will be a marked woman in Saturday's race at Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.
Carfrae broke the course record and her own run split record at the race last year when she mowed down the leaders in the marathon.
The 33-year-old clocked a two-hour, 50-minute marathon in the brutal heat of Hawaii's lava fields to win in 8:52:14.
Her long-time coach Siri Lindley said the Australian immediately went back to the drawing board after one of the greatest performances in the event's history.
"She'd won it and the first thing we talked about was `what can I do better?'" Lindley told AAP.
"It's always about her achieving excellence within herself.
"So we'll do the best we can and hope everything falls into place and hope it can be a great day.
"But a race this long and this hard, you're going to have your moments and it's a matter of being disciplined enough to know that moment will pass and there will be a good moment soon enough."
Carfrae has enjoyed a perfect leadup to Kona this year, clocking a remarkable 8:38 to win the Ironman-distance Challenge Roth race in Germany.
Last year, Carfrae's rivals did not put enough time into her on the bike, putting them within range of her withering run.
She has no doubt this year will be different.
"That front pack (on the bike) didn't give me as much respect as I was due, I don't think," she said.
"There wasn't as much urgency as we'll see this year.
"I just stick to my guns and not get rattled if that time split does blow out, because anything can happen on that run.
"We've seen many women melt down in the marathon."
Carfrae, who also won four years ago, leads another strong Australian contingent at Hawaii.
Three-time champion Craig Alexander and 2012 winner Pete Jacobs are among the men to beat.
Luke McKenzie had a breakthrough second place last year behind Belgian Frederick Van Lierde and aims to go one better.
Hawaii - a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run - has featured at least one Australian winner every year since 2006.
AUSTRALIAN WINNERS AT THE HAWAIIAN IRONMAN
* 1994: Greg Welch
* 2006: Michellie Jones
* 2007: Chris McCormack
* 2008: Craig Alexander
* 2009: Craig Alexander
* 2010: Chris McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae
* 2011: Craig Alexander (men's course record of 8:03:56, which still stands)
* 2012: Pete Jacobs
* 2013: Mirinda Carfrae (course record of 8:52:14; run course record of 2:50:38)
* There will be more than 2000 starters, with a 17-hour finish cut off
* Outside the United States, Australia will have the biggest contingent with 297 starters.
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