October for Versailles is incredibly late. The only October Tri’s we used to do in France were very far south.
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I wish organisers like Ironman and challenge would follow the example of ADH and a small discount not to have a bag!
It’s a struggle getting them in the luggage and my loft is full despite giving quite a few away 
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You can always leave it behind
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That did cross my mind, although the challenge bag is a hold-all which could be useful when my current one disintegrates.
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Question for the people
What’s the verdict on using a bag for a race that didn’t happen 
different to a DN* as it was out of my control and the Barca bag is actually decent, also got the one from Versailles at home and the race T-shirt that they handed out at registration 
doubt I’ll be wearing that though except as a sweat top in the garage!
Guessing nobody cares
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You’ve finished how many Ironman events? Just use it.
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All about the “half ultra” these days so I say crack on 
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Only people who care are on IMJ, and I have used my Wales backpack, still do and I DNS that. Its a £400 rucksack, of course I’m going to use it
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You still go on that?!
If it has a use, then use it. I have an old Raidlight Arc hoodie for a race that I didn’t do (this 2019 I think and was the 50) as I tore a calf muscle. You had to buy merch before the race because it was all bought to order.
It was £50 and was sent ahead of the race. It’s warm and cosy AF, so I wear it. However, it doesn’t say ‘Finisher’ and I mostly wear it in the house.
I DNF’d IM Wales 2015, so sent the backpack to a Welsh mate in Sydney. He didn’t do the race either 
ETA: I’m struggling to think of a race that just flat out didn’t go ahead, I’ve been pretty lucky. Bramley 20miler 2yrs in a row (and they just kept the money !) and the 2020 Newport Marathon got kicked down the road so many times, I just gave up.
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No been banned for who knows! way before covid! I cant even remember my Dan Reef login these days. Last time I looked it was all adverts, fake coach spam mainly
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It didn’t really happen when most of us were actively doing events; but seems increasingly possible these days.
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It makes me worry about going abroad to do a destination race, all that effort and you get there and the swim is cancelled or just the race full stop. i dont care for my refund or going to some obscure middle east destination instead because they cant sell slots. I would have had to negotiate that race in the first place! I bet there’s a number of events we did that wouldn’t happen these days, your day out in frankfurt comes to mind, some of the early days at Wales, where the swim was just crazy
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I don’t see me rushing to do races in southern Europe during the summer, as much because I can’t replicate conditions to train for the heat.
Have a backup race plan while you’re away like me
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My future race plan involves
- don’t bother
- if not 1, go on TT and ask if anyone is doing it
- If Jeff replies do something else
Only a matter of time before Kona is canned for being too hot or windy or something, especially if Jeff qualifies
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Vichy 2012 in 44 degrees
Deauville 2013 in insane sea
France D1 Nice 2013 men’s race after a massive deluge that mad them so ill after swimming in the run off.
They really just wouldn’t happen would they. It’s quite sad but it’s also a good thing they we do genuinely try to not kill people or avoid making them really ill these days.
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It’s the investment of everything; not just money & travel but the TIME, COMMITMENT and GOODWILL we’ve consumed in many cases.
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6hr rides in TT position 
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You’ve done the race before - I say you can use it.
Can’t remember the last time I got a decent bag.
The only time I use them is on race morning where I put clothes and anything needed for after the race.
Pop it inside the white bag then bin it after the race,
It’s such a waste.
I’ve kept every swim cap, race number and full iron distance medals - everything else is binned.
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I think if I was to recommend an Iron distance event, Austria & Roth would be the two (I’ve done both). Swim is inland and unlikely to be affected by weather/algae, good bike courses and runs (Klag has plenty of shade & Roth now less monotonous iirc). Austria is the more scenic venue.
Neither is especially easy to get to by air though, and Roth still sells out in seconds?
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