Fraser Cartmell

It’s a marathon not a sprint until it’s a sprint not a marathon

@Timboreed @bbculp @IRONMANtri Thanks chief, appreciate that … sorry for the slow reply, not on hear often now. Hope all well!

Couple take aways from the @IRONMANtri - The depth and speed up front even when you account for the tech advances is still mind blowing. Let's say the bike and shoe tech from 15 years ago is making athletes 5% faster. That's still 8h20 ish.. which use to be winning times on relatively flat courses. - I think it's a massive shame that the WC's can't keep rotating with Nice. The main argument I would hear is 'yeah but it doesn't have the history'. Nothing has history before you give it time to build history! It would be hard to find a more fair course to identify the best of the best. - The coverage was great. @CrowieAlexander and @Frasertri were terrific and need more air time. There could always be more focus on the battles behind the lead to keep it interesting. - The Norwegians.. ok @bbculp I'm going to have to buy your damn book. - We did a pod to chat more about the day. instagram.com/triathlon_ther…

“For as bad as you guys make it sound, it is worse.” - a runner #BM100

Running art 👌

So sad to read the news about Richard Moore today. His books ‘In Search of Robert Millar’ and ‘The Dirtiest Race in History’ are two very memorable reads for me, and I always enjoyed listening to him on @cycling_podcast too. At only 49, he is gone far too soon and sorely missed.

@allykcunningham Yes but from the very top of it rather than the bottom where the track goes over to Braco

Had to stop to capture the view of the sky on the bike today. Don’t be fooled by the brightness mind you, colder than it looks…

A superb run around Glen Finglas this past weekend. My first time exploring but I hope to be back soon with the bike too. @VisitScotland #trossachs

Christmas exercising of a morning and afternoon… to allow for the devouring of calories in the evening 🌲 #science

@ScottDeFilippis Aye… those “unreasonables” are the same pesky voices that aren’t *being grateful* enough, right Scottie? If in doubt; Be. Grateful. And for goodness sakes don’t make a fuss, right?

@rappstar @Frasertri The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. — George Bernard Shaw

A bit of chatter in the triathlon world yesterday with the PTO announcing its new events with huge prize funds. Where there is no doubt that more racing / extra cash is good for athletes, I’m not entirely sold on it being via this structure. And a lot of athletes aren’t either.

@reneekiley_ It’s a pest isn’t it, ‘lower’ ranked athletes expressing an opinion 🤓 Let’s hope any and all athletes, irrespective of social followings and communities get listened to.

@Frasertri But of course I’m just saying that because I’m a “low ranked athlete”, not because it could be a fact 😉😆

@keeweeman sure, and you’d hope that there were good, sensible discussions with all of the athletes concerned to canvas their opinions on how to make those tweaks

@Frasertri Think the suggestion of a tiered prize system makes a lot of sense (however they split it), the pto has been very positive for tri on the whole, but no new process is ever perfect right off the bat, tweaks need to be made

@Wynnphotography wait, I was one of those KSwiss athletes 🙄…

@Frasertri Welcome to the world of the failed K-Swiss model. Where the athletes that are getting paid won’t say anything negative, and the rest of the world is scratches their heads at the long term business model.

@tjford14 this would certainly bring more ‘buy in’ from the “fringe” athletes… surely some more incentives are needed for them? 🤷‍♂️

Ironically, possibly the most obvious benefit for these lower ranked athletes will be allowing IM (and other) events on or around the same dates to these new Majors to have ‘slimmer’ start lists… which isn’t quite what I feel was the aim from PTO HQ? Time will tell.

Yes, top 40 athletes (plus the ever frustrating ‘wildcards’) will do well at these new events, but what about 41-80 or so? Why not pay $750k to a ‘Tier 1’ race and have a ‘Tier 2’ race for $250k? And let’s not forget the rankings system dictating things is dubious at best.

Told you. Those breaststroker’s are total BANDITS! My own fault … i should’ve seen *it* coming 🙋 Getting slow in many different ways these days it appears…

Some incredible stats to be reminded of here… 62 of the 100 fastest British Medley times?! Amazing. It was always interesting to see @HannahMiley89 & her dad during sessions at Stirling when she came to train… truly a Scottish sporting legend, and always a joy to watch swim.