And how have they responded?!
They said that the 2020 was different as it was socially distanced with earlier start/later finish for the WW and that this years is the format they will stick too. Which is fair enough, but calling it a world record is a bit of a stretch IMHO
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For sure. You can’t have a world record where only one single race decides on the format and rules for the event! 
Get out there and smash an 11 next year I reckon.
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I had in my mind you did 9 not 11. Jeez, that’s even more impressive.
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Always someone there to get JB across the finish line 
DQ surely.
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Little (well long) race report from me as I’ve not a triathlon for 2 years.
Was going into this quite under prepared from a logistics perspective and lacking motivation.
Struggling to remember what I needed and at the forefront of my mind was the fact it was the first triathlon I would be doing without my biggest supporter, my Mum.
The goal for the weekend was to try and get a good block of training in at IM pace and to not have the detonations I had in 2018 at the London version of this.
We had the window of 9:10 to 15:40 on day 1 and 10:30 to 14:20 (but off the course by 15:45) on day 2
Not knowing timings, I wanted to do at least 4 on day 1
Swims would be at comfy pace.
Bikes would be at slightly above IM pace - 210W+
Runs would be at IM pace - 5 min km
Add to this getting used to a new bike, having no support crew and the weather looking wet and windy.
Bumped into JB at registration and had a chat which was a nice start. As I entered transition, Tim Don was there as well.
Set my gear up and tried to keep as much of it dry as the rain was already coming down.
Chatted to a few people and headed to the swim start.
First swim was ok, but I need to sort the HUUB wetsuit out as it felt as if it was constricting my chest, which wasn’t ideal. Caught some of the first wave but not too bad - 12:52
T1 takes you up some concrete stairs, up a slope, then a few hundred metres to your bike.
Wasn’t hugely rushing, so socks and shoes on and 100m to bike start. That section is over cobbled stone so not the best surface.
Bike is 3 laps with downhill first, little rise, fast descent, long drag, long fast descent, then mostly flat. Most of Saturday it was raining and a tasty crosswind, so got used to how the Cadex handles.
Was waaaaay above my initial power target, but going past everyone, mostly as it’s beginners, but felt good.
Lost my gel bottle on lap 1, so stopped to pick it up on lap 2 and didn’t lose it again.
Sync shifting wasn’t working, so was in the big ring all weekend, but not too much drama other than the last couple of laps on day 1.
35 minutes and back into T2 and then it’s about 250m around transition to the start of the run, over bridge and onto 2 laps.
Goal here was to stay at my normal run pace and remember it was in fact a marathon, not a sprint.
2 laps, 5.6km, 28:02
Total - 1:25:52
Then the fun began of getting back to start number 2.
Got sent the “quicker” way which was actually longer for me as I needed to go back to transition.
Sorted my kit, got into the Zone 3 and back down to swim start.
Started triathlon 2 at 10:54
Swim was almost identical, but when I got back to T1 the lack of crew showed.
A young girl I had gone past at some speed on lap 1 of race 1 was just heading out on the bike, meaning she had saved a reasonable chunk of time on me between 1 & 2.
Race two was much the same. Rain. Wind. Passing newbies on the bike, Running steady (needed a pee)
Total - 1:26:15 - Decided to jog back the right was this time.
The was trying to work out if I could make 5 on day 1 and be in the water by 15:40
Needed to finish race 3 by 14:00 and stay at the same pace.
Started triathlon 3 at 12:36
Swim felt harder. Bike was same as race 1. Run a little slower (with another pee stop)
Crossed the line at 14:06…1:29:33.
No chance of making the cut off for 5 now, but as that was as stretch goal, I didn’t worry too much. Decided to take my time as there was no rush now.
Race 4 was just slower and started at 14:30.
Swim, T1 and T2 took it easy and only lost 10 seconds on race 3’s bike split.
Was a little fun hurtling down the hill at 55km/h with a fogged up visor, rain pouring down, trying to pick out the few remaining beginners on their bike
Lap 2 of the run was the only time I felt super rough and walked the two hills.
Slowest of the weekend 1:35:57 but then gathered up my soaked kit and went to the bike mechanic as my brand new Di2 group set wasn’t shifting down on the small ring – it still isn’t. Off to the hotel and attempted to dry all my kit.
Day 2 was dryer and got to transition nice and early to set up and chill.
Legs felt ok and worked out that 3 races was very doable as long as my body held up
Watched the Pros com flying through transition before we headed to the swim.
A little count showed about 5 people had managed 5 races on day 1
Wore the HUBB for race 5, but almost straight away felt I couldn’t breathe as my chest was super tight. Managed to swim about 100m then had to stop to catch my breath and not panic. Did this for the whole swim, resulting in the 3rd slowest of the weekend. After a better T1, onto the now dry bike course, with only the first wave of the day on the roads.
Felt more confident and legs felt good resulting in fastest split of the weekend.
Run again was the same, slow and steady, finishing with 1:24:04
Decided to jog back to transition and then into race 6 in under 12 minutes.
Nothing eventful – 1:24:38 at 13:30
Pressure off now for race 7, so relaxed for the swim and T1.
That was until I heard the roar as JB was entering the water for his final race.
Could I stay ahead?
Legs started to tire on the bike, but still faster than race 3 and the course looking more deserted. Had to start looking over my shoulder for JB, but not yet.
Onto the final run and kept to the same plan. No need to bury myself.
On the last drag up the hill I could hear what sounded like a Yorkshire accent and he passed me with about 500m to go. Decided to let him have his moment of glory and finished as he getting his photos done
Race 7 – 1:31:03
Very happy with the weekend in all. Wasn’t wrecked after and have been able to train reasonably this week. I wasn’t going in recovered and wasn’t planning on racing as such.
Looking at the results, there were only 3 people who managed 8 over the weekend and the “slowest” of them managed 5 on Saturday only really being quicker than me at getting to the start line in-between races. Also seems they really suffered on Sunday.
Was 6th overall and 2nd in the 7 completed bracket being beaten by a 22 year old.
I think it will be a race I’ll do again, most likely next year and with all I’ve learnt, I’m fairly confident 8 is doable.
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