If your annual marathon run is no longer quite satisfying your taste for adventure, then maybe it’s time to raise your horizons and sign up for a triathlon. You are too late for the mother of all such events however, as the London Triathlon (the biggest event of its kind in the world) is now closed to entrants.
However, if you are anything like me and the threat of exercise brings you out in a rash requiring a short spell in a darkened room, then you are probably relieved that the best you can now do is go along and watch.
The History of the Event
A triathlon is a multi-discipline sport which consisting of swimming, cycling and running. It is thought to have originated in San Diego in the 1970s as an alternative to hard track training. The first event comprised of a 10-kilometre run, 8-kilometre bike ride and a 500m swim. Very few people who witnessed those early events could have guessed just how quickly the sport would grow. However grow it did and just 15 years later, the sport was awarded Olympic status. In 2000 the triathlon made its debut at the Sydney Olympics.
The London Triathlon is an annual event and last year over 13,000 competitors and 30,000 spectators crammed into the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, London Docklands to see it. The competition is open to all however the event has built up a reputation for attracting top athletes.
London Triathlon Distances
One of the cool things about the London event is that competitors can choose between several triathlon lengths. The choices are:
Super Sprint: 400m swim, 10 km bike, 2.5 km run
Sprint: 750m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run
Olympic: 1500m swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run
Olympic Plus: 1500m swim, 80 km bike, 10 km run
So this year’s event is now closed to applicants but if you are feeling particularly brave remember that there’s always next year.
The London Triathlon will this year take place between the 6th and the 7th of August 2022. More information about the event can be found here.
Information about other great sporting events in London can be found here.
