I’m usually a fan of Monster races but I feel this one fell short.

Pre-race information and registration was slick. Transition was fine and close to swim start and exit  

The turn buoy for the swim apparently drifted in the wind and meant people swam 800-1000m too long. I have no issues with these things happening but I am surprised that its position was not checked on race morning. This much longer swim was a real struggle for some of the weaker swimmers and also changed the race for many.

The bike course was ok on the whole although I am not a fan of cycling on busy roads and there was one section on a particularly busy and fast A road. Another long section of road on a dreadful road surface - a killer for the saddle contact points - in my view should not be considered suitable for the race. I saw one chap experience a broken spoke!

Run route was fab - 8 laps around the cathedral. Lots of support.

Aid stations were adequate - one each on the run and bike.

Marshalls were excellent - other than the swim turn point issue.

Medics on hand and attentive.

I know four friends who did this race with me. After experiencing severe sickness and diarrhoea 24 hours post-race I started questioning if others had been ill and in my small circle I have since identified at least 25 others with identical symptoms. I don’t blame Monster for this - it happens and it’s a risk of OWS BUT I do think they have a duty of care to find out how many really have been affected. I also know others have been ill in the past. In 10 years of racing I have never been ill before. I have also heard that some boats empty their toilets into the river close to the bridge where we started and that a sluice gate is further upstream and opened periodically after heavy rainfall.

It’s a shame that this race was not up to the usual Monster standard as I have raced a different event previously and loved it. 

I will be giving this race a very wide berth in future!