But on Saturday, Samuels (27) will be on the start line for the 123km elite women's road race at the road national championships in Christchurch.
Samuels is one of New Zealand's most experienced elite triathletes and has been competing at top level since 2003.
She won the 2005 three-day Tour de Femme in Nelson with the support of a team formed by the country's top female triathletes.
Of the triathlon disciplines, cycling is her strength and although she loves the sport, Samuels says she does not like the politics of team racing.
Coach Mark Elliott prompted her to compete this weekend as part of her build-up to selection races for the 2012 New Zealand Olympic team.
"I am only doing it for Mark. He said, 'Here's your training session for this week.' I still have to run off the bike at the end of the race. So that is going to be interesting," Samuels said.
The field includes most of New Zealand's elite road cyclists, including defending champion Rushlee Buchanan, Kaytee Boyd, Joanne Kiesanowski, Serena Sheridan and Catherine Cheatley.
Samuels, Dale Tye, Gabrielle Vermunt and Kylie Young are representing the Southland centre, while Kathryn Jones is Cycling Otago's sole representative.
Samuels has not tried to peak for the race and will train today as usual.
She will take tomorrow as it comes, hoping she will not be last.
"It will be interesting to see where I match up, for me more than anyone else; to see where I stand. But I am not going to become a cyclist. Triathlon is where my heart is," she said.
The Olympic triathlon team will be selected from performances at world cup races later this year.
At present, four women - Samuels, Andrew Hewitt, Debbie Tanner and Kate McIlroy - are vying for three spots.
Samuels says she is noticeably faster cycling the Crown Range between Wanaka and Queenstown, is feeling fit and is confident about her selection chances.
In 2008, she was New Zealand's first reserve for the Beijing Olympics, but she suffered a pelvic stress fracture, from which she has recovered.
Samuels will also compete in Triathlon New Zealand's Contact Cup races in Wanaka on January 14 and Christchurch on January 30.
Her first world cup race is in Sydney on April 9.
The six-race series is also being hosted by Japan (May 14), Spain (June 4), Austria (June 18), Germany (July 16), United Kingdom (August 6) and China (September 10).
