Flora Duffy admits her injured foot “hurt every step of the way” on the run during the ITU World Triathlon Hamburg at the weekend.

Duffy, who missed the previous race in Leeds, England, last month because of the injury, finished tenth — losing for the first time in a race she completed since Montreal last year.

the reigning two-times world champion said she just merely tried to “survive” on the run as she bid to keep alive her dream of a third successive title.

“Ouch Hamburg. That was a tough pill to swallow for many reasons,” Duffy wrote on Instagram. “It really did shed some perspective on appreciating the good times.

“The last eight weeks have been really difficult but I did all I could to get to the start line to keep the world title dream alive.

“The hardest part was my foot hurt with every step on the run. So I just had to survive the run ... not a fun strategy.”

The 30-year-old had reportedly only started running a couple of days before the Hamburg race, which was won by France’s Cassandre Beaugrand.

Katie Zaferes, of the United States, extended her lead at the top of the overall standings after finishing third.

Duffy was in touch with the leaders during the swim and bike, but was not able to go clear of the competition on the bike despite making two attempts to break away.

“After not running for eight weeks, I only had one card to play and that was attack the swim/bike,” she added.

“After a mediocre swim (for me), I did what I could on the bike but no one wanted to work with me ... just chase me down.

“Sharing this to just keep it real. The highs and lows of sport. Part of the journey (and a lot less fun part).”

Duffy, who finished in 59min 10sec, remains fourth overall on 2,496 points. Zaferes extended her points tally to 3,493, with Dutchwoman Rachel Klamer — who finished twelfth in Hamburg despite crashing on the bike — moving into second on 2,639. Vicky Holland, of Britain, drops one place to third overall on 2,579 after finishing just 22nd on Saturday.

There are now only three races left for the rest of the season, with the next one, in Edmonton, only two weeks away before Montreal on August 25 and the Grand Final on the Gold Coast, Australia — where Duffy won Commonwealth gold in April — on September 15.