What’s On? triathlon races August 6th & 7th

31 Iron, Half Iron and Olympic distance triathlon races across 6 countries

“We’ve got an exciting weekend of racing coming up with some really, really great races. This week’s picks take us to Norway, New York and London.”

“First up is one for the bucket list. If there’s absolutely, positively one race you must do before you die, it’s the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon. You’ll need to be slightly insane to do this one: swimming in the icy cold waters of a fjord, riding up over 3,000 meters (close to 10,000ft) of elevation gain and running a marathon with a mountain climb (literally!) at the end. Definitely a must-do for the adrenaline junkie.”
If you’re racing, or even just thinking about it, you’ll want to check out our guide on how to tackle the course at Norseman Triathlon Race Guide

“Next, we go to the Big Apple for the Nautica New York City Triathlon. What’s not to like about this race? It has a downstream swim in the mighty Hudson river, a nice challenging bike course along Manhattan’s West Side Highway, and a run that goes through and finishes at what must be the most famous park in world, Central Park. Its setting in one of the world’s most happening metropolitans makes it a race that’s not to be missed.”


“Finally, it’s back to London for the second a week in a row for the Dextro Energy London “Triathlon. This race is interesting in that it gives you two courses to choose from: the Hyde Park course, which is based on last year’s race, and the Buckingham Palace course, which is a preview of next year’s Olympic Games course. My pick is for the latter. Who wouldn’t want to race on the same course as the Olympians?”-Arif Sidek a.k.a Race Guru.

Challenge Roth: Race Build up

On the Ground for Europe’s Biggest Triathlon Day – ROTH!

Denis Oakley is in Roth with only his iPad and iPhone. These are his words, posted by Emma Bishop – I think he forgot the laptop on purpose!!
Like most English speakers I pronounced Roth, with a breathy ‘th’ sound. Talking my hosts Gunter and Daniela Schmidt i discovered that you don’t pronounce the h, and you say it more like Rot. I still haven’t managed to get my pronunciation right.
The drive to Roth from Frankfurt airport where I landed, takes you through rolling heavily forested hills. With the car windows open on a summers evening, scents and smells assault you. The warm resin of the pines, the scent of lavender fields and the smell of – cows! The sun sets slowly turning the western sky into a sheet of reddish gold.

Driving along the autobahn, I see the first sign of why Roth is so special.

Many towns have some historical curiosity or tourist attraction. It’s common for them to put a brown and white sign advertising it on major roads in Europe.

As I approached my turnoff I saw a tourist sign welcoming me to the “Triathlon Region Roth”.

That gives you a sense of what Roth is about. In England they have signs like that for Formula 1 grand prix circuits. In Germany, at least in Roth, Triathlon is king.

Denis Oakley is on the ground for Challenge Roth

We spoke to a few athletes who’ve been to Roth before and do not really need an introduction. We wanted to know why they kept coming back.

They talk about three things in essence.

The race itself has a combination of a great course and awesome competition. The crowds awe and inspire you, and then the people of the region are utterly hospitable.
Belinda Granger, Rebekah Keat and Jurgen Zack (who was to race but has sadly had to withdraw) and age grouper Roger Lawton-Spence (who I guess never expected to be in the same sentence as the speed merchants above, but like all age groupers, deserves to be)

Triathlon Event Calendar

What’s On? triathlon races July 30th & 31st

113 triathlon races across 6 countries

Another great weekend of racing coming up with so many great races, it’s so hard to choose just three as picks of the week. But choose we must, so here goes:

“First pick goes to Ironman UK. Bolton gets the top honour for this week because of the tough course the race is held on. It’s all about hills on the bike course, including this massively huge one you have to climb three times. And it doesn’t get any better on the run either. With a hilly run course that passes the finish area three times, it’s a real test of physical AND mental strength. I like!”
BeyondTransition’s Emma Bishop will be at Ironman UK this weekend covering the race for IronmanLIVE so be sure to say Hi to her if you’re there.


If you’re racing, you’ll want to check out our guide on how to tackle the course click HERE for the FREE course guide download.


“Next pick is the Full Vineman Triathlon in Guerneville, California. This has been an iconic race for the longest time. The rolling hills on the bike course are challenging but not too overwhelming. And the course takes you on a tour of Sonoma County’s wince country. You’ll pass through miles and miles of vineyards and dozens of wineries. Race hard then enjoy a more relaxed tour of the wineries after. What’s not to like?”
“Finally, it’s a toss up between the Virgin Active London Triathlon and the OSIM Singapore Triathlon. But the final spot for this week’s picks goes to the London Triathlon. With over 14,000 racing across all categories, it’s bound to have a festive atmosphere. Richard Branson himself will be leading one of the relay teams, and former F1 World Champion Jenson Button raced here last year. Star-studded and festive, it’s everything a triathlon should be.”

“The Singapore Triathlon is a great race, too. With an ultra flat course, it’s easy to achieve your personal best. We’ve written a guide on how to race the Singapore course, which can be downloaded HERE.”

Turbo’s & Trails

Beggars cannot be choosers especially triathlete beggars!

For the past 10 days I have been staying in Hampshire, England. Just on the outskirts of the famed New Forest in a little town called Barton-on-sea. Yes, this means it is by the seaside.

I spent countless school holidays in the New Forest with my family. Every year it was the same, fun was always had but it got to a stage where as a kid you take this beautiful part of the world for granted.

Looking at the area now, I view it all with a different perspective.

Things I took for granted back then, greenery, the English Countryside, the pebble stone beaches…it was just England.

Now, somewhat older, albeit probably not much more mature, I view the landscape through an athletes eyes.

I see open roads winding through the forest and wish I had my tri bike.

I haven’t had my tri bike here sadly, but I have been fortunate to loan a couple of bikes from very generous people. Rather oversize – beggars cannot be choosers and it’s been great to ride a bike in this neck of the woods.

Running, we can do it anywhere – that’s the great things about running you just need a pair of shoes. Here it has been a combination of roads and through the trails, the quiet residential streets, and avenues and roads with storybook million pound houses on every corner.

I may have experienced every conceivable ‘summer’ weather imaginable in the past 10 days but it has not once stopped me venturing out for my exercise.

I admit there have been times I would rather hibernate and curl up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and box of chocolates (ok I did that once).

I have never trained in this climate before and have been wowed and amazed at what these cold and achy legs have produced. Would love to take the speed back to the Philippines in a couple of weeks but I have a feeling the heat will put a halt to the pace I am enjoying here.

So tomorrow morning up to Bolton, 5 hours on the train (that’s if I make the connection). Just checked and I have 6minutes to make it.

Triathlon Event Calendar

Andover Kids Triathlon, UK

UK Triathletes are very hardy individuals

On Sunday, Jet-lagged and sluggish, I was taken on a leisurely drive through the countryside to Farleigh School in Hampshire, United Kingdom where the annual Andover Triathlon was taking place.

In the morning the weather had been wet and windy during the adults sprint distance races. I missed out on that, it was early and it was cold and very wet.

I see a summer weather pattern starting to repeat during my stay here in the UK.

It goes something like wet, windy, dry, wet, windy dry…so on and so forth. I am hoping it starts to buck up and change soon and now understand why the weather is the topic of conversation between so many Brits, that and how to spend the Euro Millions when they win!

I had arranged to meet Jason Briley, a member of the Andover tri club and organiser of their annual event. The kids race was on in the afternoon starting at a very sensible hour of 2pm.

The swim was in an indoor pool – I can only imagine (from past memory, when I was a kid) how warm and lovely that would be. But then the shocker…the kids had to run outside into transition and get on their bikes and ride around the grounds.

Some were in swimmers, some had tri suits. These kids are VERY hardy individuals.

Pedaling around like maniacs, rosy cheeks, it was a great sight to see. The finishline particularly was the focus of many sprint finishes between the boys and girls.

The chicking starts young over here! My guess is a lot of wanna be Chrissie’s out there!!

I was helping mark the kids with their race numbers and asked each one which their favourite discipline was.

EVERYONE said the swim!

Now is that becasue it was in a nice warm pool OR the fact that kids over here are now embracing swimming. The UK has a pretty good swim team currently and it is amazing how the sucess of representing and winning medals for your country filters down to inspire the little ones – Love it!

Well done Andover Tri Club and fingers crossed for some dry weather this Sunday for our bike ride!

What’s On? Triathlon Races July 23rd & 24th

98 triathlon races across 7 countries this weekend

So many juicy races coming up this weekend, it’s hard to limit myself to just three picks – race Guru – Arif Sidek

“First pick is Ironman Lake Placid. It’s a race that’s both scenic and challenging, which pretty much captures the essence of Ironman. It’s the second oldest Ironman in North America and one of the most popular events in the sport. Scenic. Challenging. Popular. What’s not to like?”

“Next pick is the Triathlon Alpe’d’Huez Long Course. There’s nothing like climbing the legendary Alpe d Huez, scene of some famous battles during the Tour de France. For Tour de France riders, it ends there. For triathletes, you’ve still got to run! Uphill! Awesome stuff.”

“And the final pick goes to the Port Dickson International Triathlon in Malaysia. It’s an Olympic distance race, with a very fast course. It has rolling hills along the is draft legal so there are always huge packs on the bike course, a recipe for a fast time. This is where I got my Personal Best so I will definitely be back looking for more this year.”

“Other notable mentions this week are Castle Howard Olympic Triathlon in UK, where you finish through the castle entrance and the American Zofingen Triathlon, using an already tough duathlon course and making it tougher by adding a swim.”

For more details please visit  Triathlon Event Calendar