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Day two. Up in the morning buzzing with excitment. Got to the swim and the smell of bird shit was turning the stomach. The water felt tropical.. got the head down, breathing every 2 strokes to stop the googles coming and get the breathing going. Managed 1:09. T1 was smooth. 4mins. no boobs though . Straight on the bike, golden boots whizzed by. Ride out was very pace, felt good, maintained aerobic HR. Loop one was good, with oxton mount smashed (smaller than my road), shot into Southwell. Loop 2 the head wide was a ball ache. average speed drop 5mph! Some were drafting my back wheel... cheating MF'ers!!! All on TT bikes as well!! At 90 miles the legs felt like jelly.. was feeling like I was bonking and the marathon was looking a non-starter. However, 102 miles found the second wind... the drafters were starting to pass and that pissed me off... so I knuckled down and came in at 5:47!! I was on for sub 11... big boost!! I did the marathon in 3:57 last year and I had 3:55 to play with. Passed mille on the first lap of the run and she looked very good.. had a small chat before feed station 1. Wind on the back straight was torture. went for a run/walk for the first 4 feed stations, just to get the energy levels back up. Then swopped to my 20 min two gels and water at the nearest feed station tactic and it work very well. Saw microbeman on the second lap which gave me another lift along with the pirate support. Came in at 3:47 to give me a total of 10:52... Result!! Hit the massage table, food tent and watch my fellow pirates coming in. Microbeman came in at 13:20, which was pretty cool! Headed back to the campsite, washed, changed and hit the regatta bar ready to cheer the last pirates in over the chute... and Sid of course.... amazing finishing to a truely fantastic day! To be continued...