Around 1,500 athletes will take to the track to race in an annual Nottingham half-triathlon which returns this Sunday (May 21).
The Outlaw Triathlon has been running since 2010, but a half-triathlon, called the ‘Outlaw Half’, was established in 2013.
The latter returns on Sunday at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont where racers will take part in a 1.2 mile swim in the regatta lake, 56 mile cycle around Nottinghamshire and 13.1 mile run.
Iain Hamilton, the managing director of OSB Events which markets the race, said it will be the ‘biggest yet’ and the 1,500 triathletes taking part will surpass last year’s total of 1,450.
He said: “They’re nearly all amateurs but there are some professionals at the front end of the field.
“In the main, people are doing it for personal challenges and raising money for charity.”
Gregg Oldham, 41, from Eastwood, is a former national level swimmer who will be taking part in Sunday’s event for the first time.
He said: “I’m raising money for Cancer Research because of family and friends I’ve lost, and those fighting today.
“The pain I will go through is nothing compared to those, and I’m pretty sure we’re all affected by it at some point.
The first cyclists will leave the venue just after 6.45am and will travel along a coned off lane of the A52 towards Radcliffe on Trent.
The route will pass through East Bridgford and across Gunthorpe Bridge towards Lowdham and then Oxton.
They will turn right at Oxton and pass through Southwell and Thurgarton before returning to Lowdham and heading back across Gunthorpe Bridge.
All cyclists will have completed this section by 10am, and the second section is around Hawksworth and Thoroton.
All cyclists will then return to the venue, and all cyclists will be off the roads just before 12pm.
No roads will be closed.
A spokesman for OSB Events added the half-triathlon “sells out every year” and the full triathlon is “extremely popular”, with a lot of triathletes using the half-triathlon to train for the full race, which takes place on July 23.
“It’s [the half-triathlon] a big effort and a lot of people use it as training,” the spokesman added.
“It sells out every year and this will be the biggest yet.”
The full Outlaw Triathlon features a 2.4 kilometre swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.
Spectators at Sunday’s event will be able to watch the swim from a purpose-built grandstand and the banks of the lake.
Last year’s event sold out in 60 seconds and Sunday’s event has also sold out.
Gearing up for Outlaw Half ! Going to be a good one !! pic.twitter.com/ojI0GovqIp
— GBImages Photography (@GBImages1) May 5, 2017
On-site camping will be available, along with two cafes and changing and shower facilities, and car parking will cost £5.
