Tumble turns are good for deterring overly confident potential lane partners; especially done in Speedos. Although you still get the odd bloke (usually) who thinks he’s Phelps, and lasts about 6 lengths.
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You’re not using the biff properly.
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Yes no push off’s, not to mention sighting etc means pool vs OW speed difference will be different for everyone.
But also think swimming is very deceptive compared to bike/run how hard it is to sustain an ‘easy’ pace. Really easy cruise 100s can quickly become best effort pace over as little as 1km I find.
That’s a monster aerobic run though 
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Thanks @jeffb. With that result I won’t claim that the cold had much/any overall impact, and certainly not enough for me to be annoyed about a small slice of bad luck.
My teammate in his first iron couldn’t tolerate any calories for the last 5hours and still did 9:40 age 20. Sounds like he had a more miserable day.
Why not at Cairns… 
… Actually, sorry that’s probably my ego writing cheques my body can’t cash.
This thread and forum has been a big help and support. I was very doubtful whether to make 9hrs a public target as knew it needed a huge improvement, so glad @Matthew_Spooner let me come along. Now looking forward to seeing how his day goes!
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Haha, I did actually look at Cairns a few years ago when I was thinking of doing a race down there and visiting the Gt Barrier Reef etc. and noticed the bike course was rolling a bit. And the humidity you mentioned.
I’d still think of going one day. But the likes of Roth, Copenhagen etc. are really quick courses.
Not doubting your ability to do it on that course!
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Part of me thinks I can take another 20 minutes off that time on that course relatively ‘simply’. (10min run, 5 min bike fitness, 5-10 bike equipment)
Then I wake up and realise that would have me playing with the big boys of age group tri. And realise I’ve had a few holiday beers after months off and just need to check myself 
But post-holiday and once back into training and sought the boss’ approval about the work situation (might be scope to get onto a friendly job) and money (tri vs wedding/holidays/house deposits/cost of living with working less) and maybe I’ll be commiting to another proper season.
ETA: When I was swimming I also had all these expectations that I could take the last 2-3% off my PBs and start touching on edge of senior teams, 4x200 freestyle relays etc and didn’t even come close. So don’t believe the hype 
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I couldn’t recommend it enough as a bucket list race destination for the race and holiday after.
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The OW to pool, i know im a big advocate of short reps very short rests, but that 5 seconds every 25 for instance gives just enough rest to hold good form throughout whilst still building the aerobic engine. If you take an average OW lap of about 500m thats a long time with no reset and your stroke will be getting progressivily worse over that time due to fatigue. It could be, i do it, that you switch off and just swim also where you still need to be focussing on what your body is doing. Add the new position you are in due to wetsuit / salt water maybe, then its using muscles slightly differently also, so fatigue building a bit more. Doing longer reps can help in pool but you are only swimming 15m per 25m in reality but a bit better LCM. Ideally youd have a beach/lakeside property and can swim a lot of OW but with travel time, its a big commitment for many to do an OW swim so it suffers. Next option would be to swim long course if you can more regularly in the build phase. Lastly maybe do some longer swims with no push offs, although you do get a bit of a breather still.
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I’m sure there’s still scope to get quicker on the bike, you’ve only had the bike for a short time so more adaptions on it and bike training. Can’t remember the final spec and your skinsuit etc. but there’s (expensive) possibilities there unless you can borrow some stuff like a disc wheel. Talking about small amounts but they do add up.
I even bought the aero calf guards in the hope they might get me 2-3W, and were only £20, still use them now and then.
And you probably don’t need to do much to keep that swim around 50 minutes!
Cairns did look nice, but it’s probably going to have to wait another year or two now. The backlog of races this year is proving expensive!
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And decent runnage too👍
That sleep makes me sad 
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Ha ha - it made me hopeful!
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Trouble is i finish work at 10pm, up at 6am for training. In addition its so hot at the moment that trying to sleep much before midnight is a challenge
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Im in A&E big bike crash. Lost the front on a descent at 50-60 kph. I think dislocated soulder, maybe collar bone, concussion and tons of road rash. Inmanaged to ride 10k home, god knows how
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Yikes Matt, sorry to hear that. Glad not even worse though
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Oh fuck, sorry to hear that Matt! Hope you’re OK mate… And the bike of course 
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Seriously though, take it steady and heal strong.
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Shit the bed, sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed your injuries are minor and not serious.
Wishing you a speedy recovery
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Fook!!!
Heal strong.
Fingers crossed buddy 
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Bugger! Hoping for the best for you fella & a swift recovery.
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