IT HAS been a hectic three years for Nottingham triathlete Nick Dunn.

World age group (25 to 29) gold in Australia in 2009 was followed with silver at the Europeans a year later, in the Sprint Triathlon, despite an injury-ravaged 12 months.

And last summer, he secured world gold for his age category (30 to 34) in Spain, back in the full length triathlon of 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run, in a year when he also launched his training camps in Majorca and became a dad for the first time.

With his trophy cabinet filling up fast, it probably comes as good news to his rivals that this year, the 2012 Euros and Worlds might be given a miss.

But for anybody thinking it is a sign of the 30-year-old beginning to take it easy, think again.

For he is stepping up to compete in half-Ironman races this year before stepping back down to the standard triathlon distance with World glory on his mind in 2013, when it takes place in London.

And – despite the lack of sleep – the driven Dunn is enjoying the juggling act of family life with his new son Finley, who was born at the end of August last year, and training and organising his workload with his Tri Camps fast approaching, starting next month.

"It is busy but you get on top of it, you fit it in," said Dunn. "This year I am looking at the 70.3m races, going for the longer distances.

"My biking and running are my strongest so I will look to sort of extend those and then do the training camps as well from March until May.

"It is just about getting the balance right. I cannot do the Europeans, which are in Israel in April, as I am out doing the camps and then the world are in New Zealand in August.

"Potentially, I could go but I could also have some post-season training camps and it would be a long way to take Finley.

"But I won gold in 2009 at the world championship, silver at the Euros in 2010 and then gold at the Europeans in Spain last year.

"Then the Worlds are in London in 2013 so I might have a year away from it (major competitions) and look to the worlds then.

"I can then just try and enjoy the longer distance races throughout this year, compete in the endurance events and then come back down and work on my speed for 2013. We'll have to see."

Dunn has been training hard since last summer and is looking to put in a solid block of training before heading out for his camps in Pollensa, which cater for all abilities on the island of Majorca.

After a successful debut year, it will be a busy 12 weeks in the sun for Dunn, especially as he will be incorporating his own training for his half Ironman events.

He said: "A lot of people from last year are coming back this time and I have been mapping out new routes as well, as I know the area even better now.

"It was a success last year so we have been fine-tuning areas to make it even better and I am really looking forward to getting out there.

"For me, it is about increasing the time I am on my feet and running because now, I will be doing a half marathon after the swim and bike (as opposed to 10k).

"I am now stepping it up and I will have a race out in Majorca in May and I will then pick one event every four to six weeks over the summer.

"I will have to change my training because I am more built for speed and going from a two hour race to a four hour race, so you need to be on you feet more.

"For example I went a 16-mile run the other day and afterwards the Achilles was hurting where as before, I would never have dreamed of running for that distance."

Dunn is also continuing with his personal coaching so this year will be an action-packed 12 months.

Come the end, his hunger to add more major silverware to his cabinet will be burning more than ever before.

And with the world championships on home soil in the UK next year, you would not bet against Dunn – if he can stay injury free – winning a medal in London.