Yes, he was 9th in the WTS Hamburg event, landed at midnight and then back to the start this morning…good effort 
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Unreal!
That’s ace. Wonder how it’s all laying down?
Leading pro’s at the top and PTO reporting it’s 0°C up there. They didn’t say who.
ETA: still Ali leading.
2 Likes
It’s pissing down.
Could not see on the A66, where I’d mentally quit.
@Adam caught me once I got stuck behind a bus.
Kept up with him until the struggle.
Span up that.
Descended like a kitten.
Quit.
I do this for fun.
Not to get piss wet through and frozen to my core.
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1 Like
Gotta do what you gotta do mate. Go and cheer the rest of them in with a hot coffee and a smile.
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Live to fight another day @Poet
Congratulations to your son, second place and pipping Jack Willis in a sprint finish 
. A talent for sure…did you teach him everything he knows? 
4 Likes
Well done for getting that far. Those conditions think I’d have DNS’d. Now watch the TdF with a tinny and maybe that man out front can put a smile back on your face.
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Don’t sweat it @Poet, it’s a hobby. When the fun stops, stop.
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Cannot believe I’m sat in Glenridding feeling the sun burn me after that deluge.
Quite the race!
Will report back once I’m showered, fed and home 
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Wow. That’s all I have to say for now. Report probably Tuesday as I’m off work.
Really wanted to meet you virtual people but had no signal at all once I was there.
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Or get in your car and get the hell out of there!
It was wet and cold and a total mud bath…
…I’ll do a report in a minute
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What a day, this race had it all. Unforgiving weather & terrain all sprinkled with a bit of celebrity gold dust.
I had a decent race - not much idea of times - & got to have a brief chat with Poet & longer chat with @Adam.
Currently trying to dry out back at our campsite & scoffing some tomato soup & buttered rolls.
Shall check in later, possibly after a glass or two of vino 
11 Likes
Did you catch him up The Struggle???
He left me 
For me…
Pissed it down all the way up the M6 from 4am until 6am, A65 junction was closed, so I ended up on the Penrith junction - not a happy bunny.
Arrived, parked, easy.
Walked to transition, registered. Easy.
Got my bike, racked it easy.
Only to be told we’re not allowed back in transition, even before 0830 
So I leave my spare clothes and kit bag in T1 (only for it all to get wet through, nice)
Managed to get back in using my inhaler as an excuse in the end.
Waiting for the swim was fine, as I had a chat with @adam and @jeffb - but whilst doing my warm up, some guy said “you white hats are going, you best get going”
Out I get and rush over…massive queue, 130, so not too bad.
Enter water, goggles and hat still in my hand.
WTF 
Get swimming and it’s cold, but I can swim, but have to breathe more (2/3, not my usual 3/4)
Nice and relaxed - 29:40 
But it was LOOONNGGG, I tell ya 
Made myself a cup of tea, some scrambled eggs and a bagel in T1, or at least, that’s why my fumbling fingers/no practise 4 minutes would have you believe.
Onto the bike…
…barely out of Glenridding and it started mizzling, I was cold. HR was high, legs weren’t working.
Cooled it for the climb to the A66, loads of people went past me…by the time I’d reached the A66 and stopped twice (to put my gloves on properly and put my visor in my rear pocket as I couldn’t see), I’d mentally checked out.
If there was a motorbike Marshall I’d have pulled out then.
Total carnage on the A66, I was scared.
Properly scared.
Couldn’t see.
Couldn’t brake.
Couldn’t overtake safely.
That’s the fastest part of the course.
Hated it.
Turned left and felt grim. I’d not taken a drink yet.
Just couldn’t face the seaweed Maurten at all.
Still, this section is nicely downhill to Ambleside.
Struggled to get into any Rhythm at all.
Just not enjoying myself one iota.
Got stuck behind a bus for what felt like a decade, I’ll say it was six minutes, as that was Adams head start and T1 on me
Then @Adam came past and I drafted him for a bit, have him my wheel as he had a drink, showed him my danger moves passing stationary traffic, hit the Struggle.
This was fine, just span up it with my back wheel sliding everywhere. Great
Started chatting to a fast lady, someone asked us how we could talk…erm, because you’re meant to take it easy???
Saw some Knutters, they also told me I shouldn’t be able to talk…again, taking it easy.
Great crowd support up there.
Enjoyed that!
What I didn’t enjoy was the two ambulances and police car attending to a cyclist who’d gone into one of the walls, gingerly I went down, waiting for the TT bit back to Glenridding…but it never came.
Legs didn’t wanna play and I barely managed to get above 40kmh as the heavens continued to pour.
Wade through the quagmire to transition after the bike and survey my sodden kit…
…then hear it’s 0-1 degrees at the top.
Nope. SEE YA!
Not for me.
I wait a bit to see, stick my North Face on to get warmed up a bit…ooh, that’s nice and warm, can I run in this? No. Don’t be daft.
So I go get changed into some wet clothes and go home.
The End.
(Covid Triathlons;
Zero social distancing
Shed loads of supporters
No bag drop
No feed stations
But worst of all…
…My first rolling start 
)
14 Likes
Good to see you in the queue @jeffb, nice coincidence! Sorry that you couldn’t make it round.
Swim was quite slow for me, especially on the 2nd lap trying to dodge people high 24m. Took my time in T1 to get socks on. Bike went well for me, sub 2 hrs. Run was hard. I thought I’d be OK going up but it turns out my walk is a lot slower than others. Slow descending as well but I expected that! 1.49. Total around 4.16.
I didn’t bother with any extra jackets and it was OK for me. I’d definitely do it again, it would be nice to see the view from the top. Now to clean the bag…
10 Likes