Come on Bob!
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No they must stay home obv
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Mind you, I now see where poet got his tache inspiration.
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Just seen on Facebook that Bolton is going to be a 70.3 next year and Staffs if going completely
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I feel like Ironman is so A/W 2009 Collection.
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As a mass participation sport, I feel like the mid 2010s were probably around the peak. Certainly in Europe. Still very fringe in the 90s, really kicked off in the 00s, which led to the proliferation of events in the 2010s to meet that demand; now it’s waning.
I pretty much surfed the wave.
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Yes I think so. The Nice mass swim start of 2010/11/12 being the epitome of that peak.
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I still watch this YT clip now and again. For me, the essence of Ironman; the spectacle…it’s not meant to be easy…
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Has Staffs gone forever? I thought it was a popular event. Or just logistical reasons or councils having too much other work on?
Stockton council used to have a great set of events which has really dried up in recent years.
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I was still on the rising wave - 1st IM in 2005, last in 2011.
but yes, I agree with you.
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Its not very clear
It says it wont be taking place next year, but they dont go as far to say it wont take place ever again.
They dont explain the reason behind any of it. Not sure if its logistics, or maybe they think the demand is dieing and they cant support a full anymore. Dont think either of those events sold out
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me too 
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so Swansea, Weymouth, how are those 2 for entry numbers?
I think any race not pulling 2000+ needs to start penning its obituary.
Bolton - mildly sad to see it go, but not the heartbreaking loss of say Wimbleball. I still miss the old course and the Sheephouse climb/Belmont descent.
Wild guess is they had a commitment to Bolton Council hence continued the 70.3 there (Staffs always had good numbers but maybe end of agreement so easier to cull).
I did the ‘one and only’ Bolton 70.3 in Sept 21 so can look forward to a full refund 
I see more 70.3/IM combo weekends as that’s probably their most lucrative set up, c4000 athletes through for one logistics set up. Can’t see that in NIMBY-UK though.
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Blackpool it is then…
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Me too. One of only 6 ish who did both Bolton half and full that year. I said I like Bolton 
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wimbleball 70.3 “BEST UK 70.3” 
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I’ve always been a bit of a bell-weather*, I know Andrew Messick follows me on Insta so no great leap that he saw my post on TT after Frankfurt and decided to pack up shop. Sorry guys!
*Bell-something anyway
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bellend?
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