Anyone doing the London Triathlon?

[CerbitonFlyer]

I heard this week that my registration in the ballot was successful (I'm doing the Sprint distance). Is anyone else entering?

In a sadistic kind of way I am actually looking forward to it

[anonymous-user]

cant be bothered with events that are bound to be over subscribed this year, i know this means potentially missing out on the best events but i need milestones to work towards rather than having to rely on ballots, plus i think its better to support local events organised by local clubs

(said the bitter man who didnt get any of the places in balloted events this year!...... )

[dubbs]

Yep, it'll be my third time. Great race. I'm doing olympic again as I love the Westminster route for some proper racing on the embankment

[Matt London]

I did the Olympic 2006-2010 but won't be doing it again.
Last year was a joke. The run course was a Joke. I wasn't using Gps so couldn't work out why I was off my time. Turns out the it was closer to 11k than 10. Because of the narrow chicanes they installed I had a heavy collision with someone that was blindly trying to overtake on the wrong side of the course. Luckily it was him not me that ended up on the floor.

Out of the five times I did it I only biked to Westminster once. I have always entered the Olympic Open group. I ispoke to the organisers in 2009 and they said they try to alternate every group each year. Well they don't.

I hope they sort out the run course for you this year. It was better when they went around the dock, they didn't have to use all of that plastic matting when it went that way.

All the best for your event OP

[Fourmotion]

Have to agree with Matt. It can be very badly organised. If you get a Sunday afternoon slot you have to battle through the traffic on both Saturday (to rack your bike) and Sunday. When I got a 7.00am slot in 2009 it took me 45 minutes to get there, and you racked just before your race. Last year it took me 3 hours on Saturday to get there to rack my bike, and 2 hours to get home, then another 3 to get there on the Sunday (and maybe an hour to get back). The traffic is horrendous because a lot of roads are shut, and you can't take your bike on the tubes that weekend.

The run was 4 laps which got a bit tedious, and it was longer than quoted. Also, each starting wave is several hundred competitors, so you have a lot of people at the start of the swim. It can be difficult and unnecessarily worrying trying to get through.

I would have qualified for the sub 2.30 group this year, but I suspect that would have been oversubscribed as well.

The bike course was also changed half way through my wave so some competitors did a different route and distance.

In contrast, the Hyde Park triathlon was awesome. Never felt busy but support was good. This year it's on the Olympic route, so riding up to Buckingham Palace. I can't wait.

I really hope you have a better experience than me, I know a lot of people who enjoy it.

[Jacobyte]

I agree that the Excel one is a bit of a bunfight at the start, but it's a great atmosphere and very well run considering the number of people taking part.

The Hyde Park one should be great - I managed to get a place, so really looking forward to it.