The Kiama product still fondly remembers making the drive up the coast to watch the sport’s best take to the golden sands at North Gong and he’s still yet to shake that feeling.

Elite racing took it’s time returning to Wollongong after those early days, with the drought breaking last year when Ocean6 brought round three of the Nutri-Grain Ironman series to the Illawarra.

It will return this weekend, giving Day a second bite at the cherry he feared my elude him during his career.

“I’m really excited to get back for a lot of reasons,” Day told The Mercury.

“Getting to come down and race the third round at North Wollongong is really special because I’ve raced there so much as kid.

“Mum and Dad took me to my first ever ironman race at North Wollongong Beach when I was nine or 10. I fell in love with it then and always wanted a professional race there.

“We had last year there and I finished fifth or sixth but I’d love to get a win down there in front of all the family and friends.

“It’d be really cool but, really, it’s just another great opportunity to go out and do what I love doing.” 

A win at home would continue what’s been already been a memorable season for the ‘Coolie King’ who claimed a record sixth Coolangatta Gold crown in October. 

He also claimed his first world ironman title in Adelaide a fortnight ago and claimed the second round of the Nutri-Grain series at Coolum a month ago.

It saw him climb to second on the overall leaderboard after an uncharacteristic 11^th placed finish in the opening round at Queenscliff in October.

“I was really proud of the way I handled myself mentally more so than physically leading into the Coolum race,” he said.

“I didn’t change anything, I just stayed with the things that have worked for me over the years and just tried to keep it simple.

“I knew I was in a bit better shape and a bit better form than what the result showed at Queenscliff. That’s the sport, sometimes it’s going to go your way and other times it’s not.

“It’s what we sign up for and it’s why we love it because when it goes your way it’s beautiful but when it’s not you’ve got to roll with the punches.”

It’s a lesson he learned the hard way in the last year’s series having headed into the final round with the series lead only to be edged out in the final race by eventual winner Matt Bevilacqua. 

The heartbreak was plain to see on on the live stream as a dejected Day trudged through the shallows having lost the series by just four overall points.

The bitter experience showed, even this late in his career, that the sport still has a few lessons to teach him.

“Not that I love seeing that footage, but it’s great to show people at home how much it means to us,” he said.

“It did scar me for a little while a few weeks after that but it taught me a lot about myself and how I want to be as an athlete.

“It motivates me in the way that I’m not scared to put it all on the line again and not come up the winner. That’s what I did last year.

“I came second but I did absolutely everything in my power to win that series. I know I couldn’t have done anymore that’s all I want out of this series as well.” 

Day will be looking to put a dent in the 27-point buffer overall series leader Matt Poole (Kurrawa) has built, having finished second in both of the opening two rounds.

It leaves a hungry young pack chasing two veterans, a position Day admits still feels a little strange.

“It’s pretty bizarre because years ago it was the Shannon Eckstein’s and the Zane Holmes’ and the Ky Hurst’s dominating and we were the guys chasing,” he said. 

“The tables have turned and you’ve got these young guys and they’re hungry and want to knock off the big dogs like Kendrick [Louis] and Pooley.

“It’s really exciting for our sport and I think the future’s in great hands.” 

Other locals in action include Warilla-Barrack Point product Ben Carberry, currently 10^th overall, and Nowra-Culburra’s Kirsty Higgison, who’s currently sitting eighth in the women’s standings.

Racing begins on Friday with qualifers, with the finals to follow from 12.30 on Saturday.