Sorry, the late starts were more because of the pro race, the bag ban I think was more because of Covid. There’ll never be showers though.
I agree with the aid station thing though.
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I thought 4:15 would give us a chance of a podium but I fell short today. Perhaps I could blame the weather/long swim, but you never know who will turn up.
Even so, I feel content - & a bit pissed 
- this evening.
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Very nice, well done
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Great work, and sounds a smart move those that bailed. Enjoying the epicness of the event.
Skipper got passed by my mate - Wilf - on the climb despite Skipper having a lap start on him at the swim.
Wilf then went on to cross the line in 13th place - & win the AG race - despite the pro handicaps. I could understand if he was disappointed not to take home some of the prize money.
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Sorry, long write up that probably gave me more pleasure writing then it will reading.
Registered and realised I was seeded 12th (#40). Made it up into around 6th before first buoy (100-200m) but then seemed like a large gap to a front pack. Ticked off one more at the end of the first lap, and saw one more white hat in the carnage of the second lap.
Sorry to anyone who got biffed by me/anyone else. I try give room and have never once felt frustrated in a swim at lapping people as everyone has equal right to the same space. But aware sometimes I’m close to people and that might fluster them.
Hoped I was maybe top 2 or 3, but partner guesses I was about 5th out. Dried, socks, gabba and gloves on and out for the bike.
As said, the 10% chance of rain arrived, and a lot heavier than predicted too. Apparently Glenridding stayed OK ish through the bike, but up around the A66 it was heavy. Fortunately I was comfortable temperature and don’t mind the rain so long as I’m warm. Not owning a turbo until recently and living in the NW probably helped my expectations of acceptable weather.
Second time out on the borrowed TT bike, loved it. Amazing how nice a bike can be when the gears actually change when you want them to etc.
Tootled back down to Grasmere. Only been overtaken by 1 person at this point so decide against the pit-stop for gingerbread. Immediately overtaken by someone, and within 5 minutes someone else. Gingerbread was looking more and more attractive with the Struggle to come.
Overtaken by an ambulance flashing lights coming into Ambleside. Immediately worry it could be someone on Kirkstone but didn’t see it again. Thankfully it’s stopped raining by now but no surprise to hear someone else overcooked the descent throughout the day, especially the right hander halfway down.
Traffic meant a dead stop at the roundabout, so no chance of at least getting a few easy metres headstart on the Struggle.
Could see the last person to overtake me but I resist temptation and try settle in. Trying to spin easily but still above FTP and feeling heavy legged so take the flatter sections to recover in low Z2 as didn’t want to crumble by the top, but soon enough I’m smiling and joking with what was some 10/10 crowd support. Overtook one of the male pros towards the end, who was desperately crying out for a road bike at this point.
Overall up the Struggle in 20:35 at 95% FTP. 30s quicker than my recce for 2W higher, but in 39-30 gear compared to 34-30.
I felt safe coming down at the time, know others will have been able to go far quicker as I was upright and on the brakes but I was still down at 58kph!! Not planned. 
Back into T2, semi-dry self again, clean socks on, here we go!
Now flip me. I should have run recce’d; I was not ready for what was to come. I do enjoy a good hill walk, and some runs across the North York moors when I visit family, but never anything like that today.
Quickly became predominantly walking Until the brief flat before the scramble up to the summit. Feeling very weak at this point, balance risky on some of ridges. Overtake (I think) Lucy Gossage - If had known it was her I’d have been much more fanboy. Whoever it was was struggling as we went off-route so supported her over some of the worst ridges and we manage to summit. The mountain goat who’d caught me flies off, I’m trying to run down, but as soon as the route did a naughty little up turn I’m walking, nothing in the legs. Calm myself down, PMA, deep breathing and then a few extra minutes of easier walking and I’m ready to go again.
Making progress at last but not able to run any quicker technically down those zig-zags, blinking water out my eyes felt like a risk every time.
Looking at watch every few hundred metres to pray the distance away - close to darkest place I’ve physically been. Reach better surface and gentler gradient but legs are trashed.
Definitely tough out there, brutal challenging course not made any easier in today’s weather but sad to hear the stories here. Have seen the PTO tweet, didn’t feel like 0c so maybe some good marketing for them,nearly
everyone I saw was just wearing trisuits on the run.
Understand the great reputation of the race though, it was an amazing race and very different. Not certain it’s for me, I missed the usual challenge of a fast run but very happy to have done it and would recommend to anyone to try!
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Hadn’t read your post when I did my write up. Very sorry!! 
Swim was definitely long looking at those times. 1700-1800 looks a decent guess.
Thanks! Have spent the year trying to work on the bike and move away from being just a swim-runner. Starting to show, although it makes triathlon a much more lonely sport not having people fly past you all bike ride to.
Very happy with those results! 6th AG, probably by best compared to quality of field, 17th overall including pros, 16th male and got beat by Nikki Bartlet.
3rd age group swim, wow that Fraser lad can swim! No chance I’d have followed those feet even if had set off with him, and he continued the form to come 3rd overall in AG.
Lovely gesture, although wonder if that goes down to all of today’s pros. Don’t know who most of them were towards the bottom of the results so maybe I’m being judgemental questioning their effort or pedigree to race pro getting heavily beat by age groupers. Eg For all Skippers talk about encouraging a pro race he was half hour behind Ali? I shouldn’t be in the same league as JS! Likewise completely agree with your point @Doonhamer, and well done yourself!
Probably nothing to do with COVID, seems like it’s here to stay pretty universally as is all IMs now.
More importantly, a top quality Sunday roast at the barn in Scorton to round off a good day!
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Just seen Lucy G’s Instagram post pre-helvellyn.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CExDMQRBL5Z/?igshid=zlpkhxftwgf5
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Great day had by myself.
Got there nice and early. Pleased that the forecasted early showers didn’t materialise as I had around 2 hours from arrival to race start. @Poet clocked me in transition and had a good catch up with him. As we watched the pros swim @jeffb popped over for a chat also.
Made my way into the lake to acclimatise. I didn’t find it too bad to be fair, bit of a sting on the face. I was actually colder once I got out. A quick hello to @Doonhamer as he was just about to start his swim. We’re all agreed the swim was long I recorded 1740 meters at 1:47/100 pace for a touch over 31 minutes. No real issues for me, stayed clear of trouble, did a reasonable job sighting and swam easy and within myself.
Official time 31.24
Terrible T1 felt rusty/slow and I cramped in my right hamstring pulling my wetsuit off. Genuinely thought it was game over. Had to properly stretch that out then faffed getting the Gabba/socks on etc.
4:07 
Out on the bike with gentle rain, pleased with my jersey choice but possibly regretting no arm warmers or gloves. Quick hello to @AL1 on the long draggy section to the A66. As others have said it absolutely pissed it down. I was completely saturated. Shoes squelching as I pedalled. Loads of standing water and road spray from fast moving cars that buzzed past. Visor fogged up and could only really see out of the small air vents in the top of the lens. Now I’ve got some experience with foul weather on race day (4 years on the trot now) but the key thing for me was that I didn’t get cold. The tri-suit/ jersey combo held up and I just stuck my head down and cracked on. That’s the 3rd time I’ve ridden that section of road and today was the fastest. I averaged 41kph. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t enjoy it, it was absolutely grim but I was just thinking oh ffs here we go again. Around the left turn down to Grasmere the rain had eased and then stopped. I quite enjoyed this section I was trying to get as aero as possible and felt like I flew down here until I hit some slow moving traffic and a coach and bus. Overtook the cars but the bus was a no no for quite some time. Initially I was pretty frustrated but I think it gave my legs a bit of rest and gave me some time to get some Maurten down me. Caught @Poet in the traffic and had a brief chat (he needs a new tri-suit btw. Bit see through!) also caught @Doonhamer for a brief hello before getting caught in more slow moving traffic into Ambleside (poet took the outside I snuck through on the inside. That’s London commuting for ya) onto The Struggle I was looking forward to getting up this but knew I would be grinding my way up. (About 40 rpm at times) I clocked 21:41 for 327 watts. Bit of wheel slippage, quite steep in places but enjoyed the downhills spinning an easy gear. Started to bloody rain again at some point here, Kirkstone would be fun 
fortunately I was stuck behind a Range Rover and a Merc Sprinter van. Overtook the Range Rover but had to wait for the van to pull over before getting passed. Went down fully in control and not quickly. Still I set a pr on that segment with a mighty 45kph! Rain picked up all the way back into Glenridding and T2
Official time 1:58:04 - I had 1:55:53. Christ knows where I pressed start/stop
T2 Non eventful but still slow
1:59.
Onto the run. Have enjoyed many of the TriTalk stories/reccys. In a strange way I think it worked out that didn’t get up there pre race. I had a simple plan as I had no real prior experience with this type of run. Walk the hilly bits! And christ it gets hilly quickly. 1st Km 4:51, second Km 9:06, 3rd km 17:11!! I did get slightly quicker after that. I actually enjoyed every bit of the run. @Doonhamer came galloping past looking super strong, i bid him fair well and watched him disappear into the clouds. Got chatting to a guy for quite some time who caught me then seemed to flag. (He smashed it past me on the descent) Really enjoyed the scramble/climb over the summit. How they get this run cleared by the powers that be is beyond me! Loved every second. Initially the descent is quite steep and it killed my quads, particularly the zig zag bit. Anyone who can straight line that has a screw or two loose! By this point I was mentally ticking the kms off and looking forward to finishing. Enjoyed the final run into Glenridding and picked the pace up to finish as strong as I could muster
Official time 1:54:16 I had 1:53:30
Just squeaked my arbitrary 4:30 target with 4:29:51 and home in 68th
Super strong stuff from Chris and Doonhammer and gutted for Poet and Jeff
Enjoyed putting more TriTalk names to faces and I’m pleased with how my day went considering!
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I thought you were going to go for it 
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That Huub Dave Scott Long Course Tri Suit was brand new last year for the Cotswold 113!
That was the third time I’ve worn it.
Was it butt crack see through?
Or the red bits?
Butt crack
3 bloody wears. Get it back on and get the Mrs to check it, make sure I’m not going crazy!
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Weird!
Must just be all of the water coming up, I shall take a look at it once it’s dry…
…but for the bloody price of those, I’d be fuming if it’s see through already
The arms have already gone baggy and flappy on it, I would not recommend them at all.
(although I did get it in one of their famous sales)
…after the annoyance of yesterday, I am pretty funked this morning 
Got a 25TT in a fortnights time, so going to work on my bike and put the big boy chainrings back on (55/42 - 11-25)
Also managed to get my swim onto Strava this morning:
https://www.strava.com/activities/4023800707
I love my watch 
ha ha ha
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Well done guys, good racing & writeups. Hope I can get to do this one day.
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well done all - weather looked awful.
@Poet ref: bags in transition - this is a COVID rule to keep social distancing as bag drop areas would allow too much close contact between people. this should have been explained in the online race briefing
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I’d recommend it!
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Thanks, but all relative. Sounds to me like you had just as good a day in my eyes.
For me the answer to @Poet question of why is the feeling of extracting everything I could. Obviously I can’t deny seeing the external results are a nice touch, but I’m never going to close the 35 minutes to Ali B so not enough in itself!
Also, @adam mind if I ask bike stats out of curiosity? AP/NP/IF and weight? Sounding similar, but a minute slower up the struggle at higher power.
For me: 264AP, 281NP, IF 0.88, 74.5 kg. Grateful to have deliberately lost 2.5kg in the month before. Doesn’t sound like much but don’t think I should go much below 74/73 without getting weak.
For the data peeps, that further breaks down into 268AP/273 NP for the 45km from start to the base of the Struggle, then 310/319W up the struggle, then 200/247 to the finish. Rode on feel more than any set power target as first race with a PM, but seems a decently paced effort.
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No problem @Chriswim
251ap - 290np - IF 0.92 (!) 77 kgs for the ride
Looks like your lower weight helped out.
My smallest gear was also 39/28!
I need to retest my FTP but wanted to get Helvellyn and the 113 out of the way first
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I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours
(Recce in brackets - 20 degrees, slight breeze, alloy training wheels, normal helmet and flappy cycling clothing)
Total - 2:07:33, 59.2km, 186TSS
(2:05:55, 59km, 180TSS)
223W AP / 263W NP, IF 0.94, 82.5kg
(219W AP / 260W NP, IF 0.92, 84kg)
Again, another easy ride, pretty sure my FTP is incorrect…got a proper proper test coming soon
First 45km:
225W AP/267W NP
211W AP/252W NP
Struggle:
260W AP/273W NP - stayed well under FTP this time and was only 9 seconds slower than two weeks ago 
(278W AP, 297W NP)
Last Bit:
151W AP/204W NP 
(155W AP/217W NP)
My bike handling skills are atrocious, my descending is non-existent and I hate riding in the wet as I have zero confidence in 25mm tyres being able to grip the road.
I did manage 45mph chasing @Adam after the dual carriageway 
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