{"id":475,"date":"2019-03-23T22:15:21","date_gmt":"2019-03-23T22:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?p=475"},"modified":"2019-03-23T23:59:57","modified_gmt":"2019-03-23T23:59:57","slug":"red-bull-neptune-steps-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?p=475","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull Neptune Steps 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" data-attachment-id=\"493\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=493\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?fit=3000%2C1494&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3000,1494\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Participants perform at Red Bull Neptune Steps in Glasgow, UK on March 23, 2019 \\\/\\\/ jeff holmes\\\/ Red Bull Content Pool \\\/\\\/ AP-1RDW5F9H51W11 \\\/\\\/ Usage for editorial use only \\\/\\\/ Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. \\\/\\\/ \\r\\rRed Bull Neptune Steps returned this weekend (23rd March) to the icy-cold waters of Glasgow\\u00d5s Forth &amp; Clyde Canal. \\r\\r600 competitors swam, climbed and conquered the ultimate open-water endurance test in Glasgow. Swimming through 420m of cold water, climbing 18m over seven canal lock gates, and pushing their limits in a true test of speed, strength, and resolve in an adventure race like no other. \\r\\rAmongst the competitors taking part were Olympian Robbie Renwick\\r\\rEach canal gate featured a different obstacle, which the swimmers climbed over, before diving into the next section of water, including a cargo net, ropes, wood ladder, rope ladders and a climbing wall. \\r\\r\\rFor more information - redbull.co.uk\\\/neptunesteps.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1521826953&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;leo francis \\\/ Red Bull Content Pool\\\/ free picture&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Participants&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Heats\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?fit=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?fit=1024%2C510&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?resize=1024%2C510&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"493\" data-link=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=493\" class=\"wp-image-493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?resize=1024%2C510&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?resize=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?resize=768%2C382&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/neptune-steps-catching-breath.jpg?w=2230&amp;ssl=1 2230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An annual fun event for me now. Always looking to do well, however it&#8217;s just awsome fun swimming climbing up stuff and diving in. And copious quantities of Red Bull of course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was tropical this year 8deg in the water (4 x hotter than last year) and sunny. Yes sunny in Glasgow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking at the heat list I thought I had definitely got the easier end of the draw, not that Neptune Steps is even slightly easy. There&#8217;s never any certainty in qualifying at this event, so learning from previous years my plan was to start on the front and go full gas to the first climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well it worked, got to the first climb in 3rd and then worked my way to first through the rest of the heat. Well pleased with this as I slowed down for the last part to save some energy. Then a 3hr wait until the Semi Final, great time to dry the Aqua Sphere Pursuit Wetsuit. Great opportunity to go and watch the rest of the heats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was fantastic to watch fellow Aqua Sphere and Michael Phelps athlete Seamus Sheard bossing his heat to take the win, good not to be in the same heat this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"483\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=483\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?fit=2266%2C2577&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2266,2577\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Inked20190323_120646_LI\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?fit=264%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?fit=900%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?resize=900%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"483\" data-link=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=483\" class=\"wp-image-483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?resize=900%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?resize=264%2C300&amp;ssl=1 264w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?resize=768%2C873&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Inked20190323_120646_LI.jpg?w=2230&amp;ssl=1 2230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"670\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"482\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=482\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?fit=1701%2C2600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1701,2600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20190323_120745\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?fit=196%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?fit=670%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?resize=670%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"482\" data-link=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=482\" class=\"wp-image-482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?resize=670%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 670w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?resize=196%2C300&amp;ssl=1 196w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1174&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_120745-1.jpg?w=1701&amp;ssl=1 1701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same strategy for the semi-final, go all out. It was pretty rough at the start lots of argy bargy, and was getting a bit fed up with it, no need for it really. Especially when most of the culprits were worn out and slowed about 3\/4 way to the first climb. I wasn&#8217;t paying too much attention to where I was in the field until I got to the top of the 2nd climb and realised I was in 3rd. This was great, kept the effort in but not full out anymore and worked my way into 2nd and kept it there to the end. Fantastic result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"479\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?attachment_id=479\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20190323_154204\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?resize=352%2C264&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-479\" width=\"352\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?w=2230&amp;ssl=1 2230w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190323_154204.jpg?w=3345&amp;ssl=1 3345w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Onto the final and a quick change of wetsuit from the Aqua Sphere Pursuit to Phantom wetsuit, and the Kayenne Polarized Goggles. A definite good plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final was less hectic with only 20 competitors and the fast guys were super fast so within 20 meters they were gone. Not sure where I was at the first climb, however I did my usual and passed people from there on, I kept going to the end even pipping someone on the line to finish 9th. This was absolutely awesome, I had always thought top 10 was a dream with a field stacked with Commonwealth swimmers and medalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now thinking I I start specific training for it earlier next year could I do better!!! Certainly with the support of Aqua Sphere and Michael Phelps Open water and pool swim gear, bring on 2020. Small matter of Celtman and Kona to come first!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An annual fun event for me now. Always looking to do well, however it&#8217;s just awsome fun swimming climbing up stuff and diving in. And copious quantities of Red Bull of course! It was tropical this year 8deg in the <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/?p=475\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-race-report"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martingoodlad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_20190323_110012_229.jpg?fit=3024%2C3024&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p95rUk-7F","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=475"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":496,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions\/496"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martingoodlad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}