Finking about next year

Folks, looking for opinions on a couple of races for 2013. I'm going to do the Outlaw. Assuming this is early July like this year and I'm following the Fink plan, any recommendations on good Olympic and Half races that fit in with the training schedule?

halfs - Marshman, Swashbuckler, Belvoir or Bala are all well timed for Outlaw

standards - too many to mention really but I'll throw Windsor, Dambuster in to the mix

Seconded on the Swashbuckler which is normally mid to late May although the swim is tidal and can be unpredictable (I think they had to shorten it this year).

If you're looking for something further afield (and warmer) I've always fancied the Mallorca 70.3 (late May again) which gets very good reviews.

Marshman swim was cancelled this year as the gravel pit they use was too cold - but then this year has been very freaky for weather and there have been many tris that have turned into duathlons or in one case an aquathlon (Sevenoaks had to cancel the bike - too much water and debris on the road)

Mallorca is a good call CD

Move to Dubai, we have a 1/2, 4 x oly, 8 x sprints during the UK winter!

Thank god they cancelled the swim at Marshman, the mere thought of getting in that lake terrified me, it was freezing. Nice race though and recommended during a "nice" year

Hmm, that's later than usual, I wonder why they've moved it?  Outlaw is earlier this year than last so I wouldn't bank on it being the same weekend next year.  4 weeks is fine if you've already got your long rides in, I'd say.  Plenty of others have done them closer than that.

Your "limiter" is swimming, isn't it, Stanners? Congrats on doing the Llandudno sea tri, by the way! Swashbuckler's a tough swim.... and a long way from 't Bridge.

After last weekend, I don't think my problem is with swimming. It is with wind (!) / waves / jelllyfish / sharks / emerging from the surf like Hannibal from the credits from the A Team.

It was tough but so glad I did it; and it has really helped me focus ahead of the Sandman in September. However, it has also put me in the direction of non sea based events for my Ironman career!

Thinking Slateman in May and then a half IM in June ahead of Outlaw.

Another vote for Mallorca. I'll be doing IMCH next year to pop my official IM cherry - Mallorca makes a great combo of holiday and race!

i think it depends on WHY you are pick n mixing - you say the runs will make your knees ache - is there a medical reason for this? - if not - you will adjust. I found that the stuff i would pick is the stuff that i like, when what i/you should really be doing is picking the stuff that you dont like/arent so good at. I could do the run milage of the competitive plan but the biking bored me silly until i embraced it.