Can’t remember the year I did it but apparently some of the slower people were struggling to get back in the water for lap 2 and were still out there after 2h 30.
Rarely saw anyone at times thanks to the swell
This was 2017 before the rain came. Sea actually looks decent. Swell picked up on lap two from memory
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Yes, definitely quite choppy and rolling on lap 2 for us slower swimmers, the wind got up quite dramatically. Let’s not talk about the biblical bike. 
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Something else about that pic, it makes the first turn buoy look way closer than the bloody thing is. 
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That’s what I thought.
Makes the course look very compact
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my 5 IM Wales I had 2 lovely swims, 2 with decent swell but very manageable. Those 4 swims c1:07-1:10.
Then there was 2014. Wind was directly from the East, very unusual and not getting the usual shelter. It also messed with the tide direction, turning the sea into an unpredictable choppy mess. Seemed to be waves coming from everywhere. Some epic face plants as well, as the waves seemed really steep and you couldn’t roll with them.
Hardest swim of my life, c1:25. I genuinely stopped at the sea edge for lap 2 and thought ‘can’t do that again’. They reached the usual IMW overall DNF rate on the swim alone.
Also notable as the last of the old IM mass starts that I did, next year, 2015 they started the rolling starts.
There would be no swim with conditions like that these days. Fun times😀
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I did '14 as well, it was a proper wrestle wasn’t it? I had to have a word with myself to get out for the 2nd lap. Really good swim for me though, finished in 73mins.
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Sea wasn’t too bad in ‘17 - swam my best time lol - 1:03 I think 
Glad I made a decision the day before to pack a waterproof - fuckin’ ‘ell. Remember running past a girl in tears as she was shuffling along with one of those tinfoil wraps on. Cool glow sticks though
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Oh nice! Swim then bike? Ooh no fair they wouldn’t let us play this year 
that’s my point. it was great for the hour swimmers, then it went south, real quick!
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It went south for me as soon as I sat on my bike and remembered - I’m not very good at this next bit 
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Saw a few of those. Saw a few crying by the first and second aid station on the bike that had already quit.
'twas a less than pleasant day!
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It was insane. The finisher’s tent - everyone sat there just looking shell shocked. Did Bolton that same summer and a very different post race atmosphere. I doubt I’d have finished Wales that year if I hadn’t done one prior to it
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I think I swam a 1:26 - I was proper shit through out the whole day. Strangely enjoyed it though
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I was trying to find a pic of my P3 after that race but it’s on an old phone. Bloody thing looked like a badly treated mtb!
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Had a wee swim this morning. Not swam in the sea for 7yrs, definitely more if a challenge than in a river/lake.
Cheeky arse shot for y’all 
.
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FTFY 
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Everyone talks of the wonderful Tenby affection for “Ironman”. Today was the 1% dark side. Tacks all over the road in the first 10-15k of the route. Loads with punctures…I got a front flat. No dramas to change, just annoying.
The worst issue was my aerobar riser clamp snapping 50k in. The rest of the loop on the basebar was quite frustrating…and tough on the wrists / hands.
Drama now of trying to get this fixed in quick time.
I might be posting a new thread shortly about options for a new adjustable aerobar riser kit, just in case. Seems like buying something new as a whole kit light be easier than spare parts for the existing one from Felt
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That’s a shame. In 2017 some fucking moron poured oil all over an already wet road on a very tricky descent into Wisemans. IM were on it quick and put cement dust down but pretty scary.
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That descent was pretty sketchy today in the dry. It would be horrendous if it was oily. Some people are idiots
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