Now that is a DNF rate!
Thanks for the write up @adam, enjoyable read, and great result.
Isn’t this what it’s all about? 
Did your best, rolled with the punches, tried to adapt, toughed it out, and still trying to improve for next time. Sounds like you even managed to enjoy it 
Shame regarding the Kona roll-down discussion. Regardless of destination (a discussion for elsewhere) the key bit is that the ‘world championships’ should be a respected pinnacle event. The roll-downs to the bottom completely make a farce of this, and will only get worse if IM need to expand numbers and make even less competitive.
Cairns restored a lot of faith/excitement for me, seeing the interest here - only the men’s 18-24, and women’s 25-29 (I think) rolled down to asking for volunteers to come forward, and that was to see was best placed out of the willing people for 1 slot. All other age groups were filled by the top 10, and nearly all with only 1-2 rolls.
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Reading all the old threads online had me almost choose Wales for 2019 despite living in Lancashire because the online reputation for IMUK was so bad. Partly mocking Bolton as a race destination. Glad I listened to local people who inspired me about tales of sheephouse and hunters.
Since then I’ve noticed on here everyone who’s done Bolton has nothing but good things to say about it afterwards. Including a few converts, might be wrong but I think I remember @Poet as being a doubter before hand?
You could easily sell IMUK as the worst race going and put people off, it’s grim. But it’s just so right on race day, and (I assume, having not done it) deserves to be up there alongside Wales as valued support and an honest course.
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Yup. I thought that town centre bit and all the lights were awful on recce’s - it’s totally different on race day.
The only fast part of the course.
It’s a great race 
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Sadly life was more important than IM and it became a ‘can I complete it week away with friends’ (and other assorted hangers-on) rather than a serious sporting event
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Likewise, seems we’ve had the same discussion each year since 2019 about the DNF rate, and yet
some people (eg journeyers) still think it’s exceptional circumstances. Of course for some individuals it is, anyone can DNF a race. But on the whole it’s just not being prepared for a tough course and the increasing commercialism/normalisation of ironman as ‘anything/anyone is posisble’
Additionally @poets numbers show the DNF rate isn’t even quite that high. Just a very vocal section on Facebook. I heard some local chatter after 2019,but most of it is what people repost here from Facebook which I’ve never seen myself.
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that occurred to me too. nb. oops are we actually allowed to say what we really think on here (as opposed to all other soshul meeja seemingly 
)
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grrr 
he’s doing it again 
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or how about 200x 10-13 hrs?
Asking for a friend
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100% agree with this.
shame some folks have been put off n missed out.
utter classic race, top of any bucket list.
and needs to be a pro race to attract those who excel at such a different course to all the other pussy ones.
and as for the weather being iffy on Sat, and horrific for just one bike lap last year, for many that’s a good thing. rather than it being too hot & sunny etc.
cool, dull, bit of rain, tbh that suits most folks.
(bring on the heat for me)
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swim would have been testing
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Little boat next to you ?
Bike… Jesus tonight !
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Got a priority entry for Bolton 2023, looks like July 2nd
Also for Austria and Nice, I think this is more about getting the cheapest entry than guaranteed entry in the past.
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Ashamed was too strong a word, I just thought things would be awkward.
He’s done IMUK twice, so knew how to play it. Unfortunately he had a couple of punctures this year & with the queue between the start mat & swim start things were stacked against him.
He obviously hasn’t learned as he’s going for it again next year.
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Enjoyed that @Adam & well done again on your race.
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