I saw one at a trail race we both did last year, they must be indestructible 
Like a comfy land cruiser!
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Race Report: Outlaw Half Nottingham
Total Time: 5:53:02
(A massive PR—nearly an hour faster than my only other middle distance at Hever Castle in 2018!)
Pre-Race: Peak Optimization (Sort Of)
My training strategy for this triathlon was flawless: train almost exclusively for the London Marathon, sprinkle in a few bike rides (strictly under 2 hours), and do a couple of open-water swims. Swimming is cheating anyway.
Then, Tuesday night happened. A 39°C fever left me horrendously ill and praying to the triathlon gods for a swift recovery. By the weekend, I was technically alive, but running on an empty battery. Huge shoutout to my friends in Nottingham who put me up and fed me some incredible food. I have no idea if it qualifies as scientific carb-loading, but it felt right. Also, a massive thanks to Rik Hadfield for racking my bike on Saturday.
The Setup
Two major revelations before the race even started:
Transition is roughly the length of a small airport runway. It was 500 meters end-to-end. I think I did half my run training just getting to my bike.
Flip-flops are not optional. I chose to walk barefoot to the swim start. Big mistake. My feet were crying before I even hit the water.
The Swim (Target: Don’t Drown)
Time: 38:00
The water was a crisp 14°C, which meant the swim was shortened to 1500m. Since cold open water is absolutely not my forte, this was a blessing.
It was a time-trial start, meaning we just jumped straight in. My usual baseline panic spiked immediately because there was zero time to acclimate. I spent the first 500 meters swimming with my head entirely out of the water like a confused golden retriever, just trying to calm down. Luckily, I was in good company, plenty of others were doing the exact same thing. Once I finally settled into my stroke, I actually felt really strong. Came out in 38 minutes, which was way better than I feared!
T1
Time: ~6:00
Spent the first few minutes fighting with my wetsuit like I was wrestling a heavily lubricated octopus. Got my shoes on, sprinted the length of The Great Transition, and headed out.
The Bike
Time: 2:58:00 (Target: Under 3 hours 
)
The first half was beautiful. I settled into a great rhythm, stayed tucked in, and averaged over 32 kph. The plan was to ride conservatively so the run wouldn’t turn into a miserable, 21km walking tour of Nottingham.
The second half is where my “under-2-hour” training rides came back to haunt me. The lack of long miles started to show, so I relaxed my power, sat up, and just cruised. My stomach started acting up, making it a struggle to drink. I managed to force down a couple of gels and maybe one bottle of electrolytes, but it was mostly guesswork.
The scenery around Holme Pierrepont was lovely. The aggressive speed bumps and even more aggressive potholes? Less lovely. Still, rolled into T2 right on target.
T2
Time: ~4:00
No dramas. Swapped wheels for heels and moved out.
The Run
Time: 2:05:something
The strategy here was strict: walk through every aid station, aggressively consume fluids, carbs, and electrolytes, and then run. I was holding a solid 5:20–5:30/km pace. The walk breaks only lasted about 15 seconds each, but they kept me moving.
Naturally, the brutal blisters from the London Marathon decided to make a guest appearance. My stomach was still throwing a tantrum, and around the halfway mark, my quads started hinting at cramp. I told them to shut up, kept the pace steady, and finished the run with a massive grin on my face. That orange carpet finish line is pure magic.
Afterwards & Afterthoughts
Post-race consisted of going straight to the medic tent to have my thoroughly ruined feet sorted out, followed promptly by food and recovery.
Honestly, considering I had a fever over 39°C just days before, I couldn’t be happier with how this went. My shoulders and back are currently screaming at me, which is a gentle reminder that I definitely didn’t spend enough time in the TT position. But a 1-hour course PR is a 1-hour course PR. I’ll take it!
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Top racing and write up as well
Top bombing @Jgav, nice write up.
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Coffee was a bit of a give away! Tea Rules obvs. That was nowt! When I went to get a mini tub of ice cream 
, after you’d fecked back off Darn Sarf, THEY’D ALL GONE!! 
Were your ears burning?
and I haven’t even mentioned your lineage yet!
Nice to catch up cheeers bud!
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A COUPLE!!! FGS MAN GET A GRIP YOU CHEETAH! (Zero for me 
). Longest sw1m 1200m in intervals at a Lincoln Tri pool session, about 4 or 5 times this year. Yeah that’s pretty shameful obvs, don’t flame me too much 
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good plan!
“Honestly, considering I had a fever over 39°C just days before, I couldn’t be happier with how this went.”
Astounding. congrats, and great write up too cheers, thanx for sharing
pacha: I did a little club trail race on Friday, just near Lincoln.
The race was fun but had a quick chat with TC but I am pretty sure I saw THE actual toyota crown in the car park
and how did you get on at parkFun 
Sat am pacha m8?
Check my skelly 10k Vid on yooToob!
I too got sick last night and this morning
Despite a good noseclip, n dont recall swallowing any.
There was plentiful hand sanitiser at the post race dinner tables good too, 
and I used plenty.
I’m reluctant to post this, but I see there’s another instance cited above, oops..
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Hang on @Jgav appears to have done both a marathon and a middle distance tri this season, is that sort of thing still allowed on TriTalk?
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He has done the double I did last year, except I did Manchester not London.
3 weeks between.
Pretty much the same schedule. I think it works well, you can’t go crazy on the bike but still be strong and then the HM is nice off Marathon fitness or at least that is how I found it.
Having said that it was all down hill for the rest of the season for me.
Think @Jgav did a half Marathon as well a month before London?
What is next @Jgav ?
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Ive also done a duathlon…
Nothing signed up to yet.
Debating Eton Dorney or Cowman tris. Tempted to go for an Oly as the distance suits me.
Duck n Dash Aquathlon and club champs pool tri in September.
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That’s me at about 3:40 in, you can recognise the footy shirt to spot me.
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Guy I coach has been offered a place in Patagonman. I just assumed it was Argentina, but it’s actually Chile. I am extremely envious now and want to come out of retirement but might just try and find an excuse to go as his support and meet the family out there after 
(Personally I think finding someone willing to give up their free time to drive around giving you food and drink all day is a bigger challenge than the race itself!)
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@Robin I’m also in for the 70.3 Legend at Slateman 
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Are you going TT bike or road bike? Looks like a reasonable amount of climbing, but not excessive and I ride in the Peaks mainly, happy riding up and down hills, so likely to go TT. I think the uphill section of the run will most likely be a walk for me. I can’t think running up that path twice will give a good result at the end…
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I assumed TT even with my setup being very heavy. Half regretted it at Helvellyn last year getting overtaken by road bikes, but this looks more gentle both ascent and descent just long ~5%. Lots here must have rode Pen-y-Pass to weigh in?
Run was thinking normal shoes if dry, trail if wet.
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When I did the brutal half I’m certain I used the TT bike and was fine, guessing it’s a similar route?
Although I used a road bike with clipons for the slateman it was more because I’d been injured and didn’t know if I’d even finish so was mostly convenience.
Edit: I don’t think there’s anything like the struggle to get up.
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Or Kirkstone to get down. Always sketchy in wind, rain, and cars coming back up (±getting stuck behind cars going down too)
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And very thick drystone walls to break your fall 
I know a few hit them over the years, I cruised down there and accepted I’d lose maybe a minute or so.
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The climb on the Brutal is harder than Pen-y-Pas, I’ve not ridden the events but done both climbs. If you’d use a TT bike at the Brutal then it’d be fine at Slateman.