Although too busy for some competitors’ liking, this is my favourite race. Not only does the AJ Bell London Triathlon break a record for the least amount of travel time to a race, but the bike route goes right through my ‘hood in east London.
It’s the biggest triathlon in the world, attracting over 13,000 triathletes and 30,000 spectators with categories ranging from super-sprint to Olympic Plus (like Olympic but with double the bike distance). It’s a popular for elites too and even hosts corporate waves and team relays.
The size of the AJBell London Triathlon is apparent at registration. Hosted inside the vast Excel exhibition area, it certainly has an expo feel to it (with loads of free samples of flapjacks and protein bars – just don’t over do it before you start, I think I might have!)
The AJBell London Triathlon attracts both beginners and pros
Walking to rack your bike, weaving through a maze of rope cordons, is a little like going through airport security. Don’t forget anything for the transition area because it’s a long walk in and out. The start gathering is inside the exhibition hall so if you use a GPS watch, good luck with getting a satellite signal before you set off! Swimming in the Royal Docks isn’t as bad as you may fear. Although a little brown, there are no bad smells and I can attest, having swallowed a lot of it, I didn’t get so much as a stomach rumble.
If there is any point on which this race fails it is the marking of the swim course. The outward leg goes straight into the morning sun and the buoys were on the spartan side and not tall enough to be visible. I, and several others, veered off to the left because there was no visible buoy to sight. Exactly the same thing happened last year at the very same point. I even had to raise my head and ask one of the canoeists when I needed to turn because I couldn’t see any markers. The urgent reply of ‘Right! Right!’, the giveaway that I’d gone considerably off course.
The bike course is fast and flat but highly technical with sharp bends and U-turns and as it weaves around the towering offices of Canary Wharf (a change from last year’s route). The roads are narrow for a four mile stretch, making it difficult to overtake. Not so bad if you’re an experienced rider, but the London Triathlon is a popular race for newcomers and I saw a few scared faces on hybrid bikes being cut up by aggressive riders on TT bikes.
The inconvenience of the crowded course is offset by the fantastic atmosphere of cheering spectators lining the route. It’s always a joy to ride to cheering crowds. It’s a two-lap course on closed roads around the docklands. The highlight is the Limehouse Link tunnel where the lack of wind allows you to fly.
Taking in the run, along the Royal Docks
The run takes in three laps around the grounds of the Excel Centre, entirely flat other than a slope leading to an indoor section at the end of every lap. Spectators, charity cheerleaders and music speakers line the course and there’s plenty of water and energy gels to grab from friendly helpers. The run is short so if you want to boast a run PB this is the race to get one. The organisers won’t give an exact distance (I asked them) and since the indoor section means my watch lost GPS I don’t know how short, but I’ll definitely take the 10k run PB thank you.
In the elite category, the crown was taken by Australian triathlete Peter Kerr, who completed it in 1:48:27 and for the women it was twice World Champion Helen Jenkins who got around in 1:36:52.
Peter Kerr, the winner of the men's elite race.
As for me, I was stunned to find that I won my oldies category - the female 35-39. Yet alas, all us mere age-groupers get is a medal. No sexy sponsored prizes. Guess I’ll have to make do with the free flapjacks.
Race report by Helen Croydon, journalist and member of London Fields Triathlon Club. Follow her on Twitter: @helen_croydon
