Cowman Triathlon (Middle Distance)
Olney (Emberton Country Park), United Kingdom · August · Cowman Sports (Independent)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 92 km (57 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 92 km (57 mi) / 21.1 km (13.1 mi); earlier listings give 90 km (56 mi).
Why people love it
- Country park HQ with parking, camping and a spectator-friendly four-lap run
- Long-standing national championship host with a friendly local feel
- Two-lap lake swim and quiet Buckinghamshire lanes for the bike
- Registration the day before and easy transition
Watch out for
- Weedy, murky lake water and a swim briefing that confused some entrants in 2022
- Bike aid is minimal and part of the course was rerouted in 2022
- Run mixes farm tracks, grass and tarmac; trail shoes help
- 2026 date is shown as both 2 Aug and 20 Sep on listings
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
RaceCheck reviewers rate it 4.5 out of 5 on average; most praise the atmosphere and marshals, a few dislike the weedy swim. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Registration, parking and marshalling praised; a confusing 2022 briefing and late bike reroute are the main faults. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
First-timers call it brilliant at this distance, with easy registration, though the run underfoot is tougher than expected. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Described as a fast bike on good roads but undulating, with a rough off-road run. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
Fast bike on rolling roads and a hard off-road run. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
UK lake in August is usually wetsuit-legal but no temperatures were published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Murky, weedy water; no temperature recorded in reviews. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Enclosed lake with no chop reported. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.2
Two laps with an awkward shape and a confusing 2022 briefing. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.8
Several reviewers describe weeds, algae and murky water as the weak point of the day. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Reviewers describe good road condition and fast country lanes. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Open roads like most British races, well marshalled and mostly quiet. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
Pleasant Buckinghamshire villages and lanes without standout views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
One 2022 rider found it windy; no other wind comments. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Fast roads with a few inclines and a timed climb; one rider called it largely traffic free. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Undulating loops with one significant climb per lap; elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Tight village turns on the revised 2022 route worried one entrant. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
The four-lap run passes transition each lap, giving supporters plenty of chances to cheer. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Bike aid is minimal, two run aid stations, mixed comments on gels and water. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Country park, village and fields are scenic. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.8
Uneven fields, farm tracks and little shade made the run tough in warm weather. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.3
Run laps include fields and village hills; one reviewer called the hills testing. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Late summer in England; a 2018 reviewer said it was hot with little shade. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
No cancellations noted; British summer variability. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Country park with lakes and fields. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.3
Reviewers highlight easy access for supporters and a four-lap run through transition. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Emberton Country Park sits roughly 60 m (200 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Camping on site plus Milton Keynes hotels nearby. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
On-site camping keeps costs down; a 2022 entrant questioned overall value. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Race HQ in the country park with camping and parking next to transition. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
About 50 km (31 mi) from Luton airport; mostly car access. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsVery simple4.5
Registration the day before and a single-venue layout. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Olney is close but food at the venue is limited. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Olney (Emberton Country Park), Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 1 August 2027
- Organiser
- Cowman Sports (Independent)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 92 km (57 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Emberton Country Park lake (lake)
- Swim start
- mass
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- A timed climb per lap; one significant climb a few miles from T2
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- little
- Nearest airport
- Luton (LTN), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Olney, Milton Keynes
- Booking
- Camping is possible at the Country Park; Milton Keynes and Northampton offer hotels.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck: Matt B.Raced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
Two-lap murky but clean lake swim, two fast laps on good roads with two hills each and one timed climb, and a four-lap mixed-terrain run with a lively village marshal. Registration the day before was easy and the finish had good crowd support.
“I'm very happy with this race and will be doing it again”
- RaceCheck: Jamie F.Raced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
First middle distance: chaotic but short swim start, weedy water, a fast bike with inclines and a timed climb, and a run that mixes tarmac and farm tracks with testing hills. Spectator-friendly and well marshalled.
“Definitely a race to be on the calendar each year”
- RaceCheck: anonymous 2018 reviewerRaced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
Easy registration and plenty of parking. Two-loop swim in clean but shallow water, a bike more undulating than expected with a fast finish into T2, and a four-loop run that was hard on the feet in hot weather with little shade.
- RaceCheck: anonymous 2019 reviewerRaced 2019 · aggregator · Mixed
A decent, not-too-expensive middle distance with HQ in the country park and camping available, but ladies' T-shirt sizes and podium prizes were disappointing.
- RaceCheck: Rhiannon T.Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Quick registration, informative briefing and well laid out transition with a mass lake start. The bike course was changed because of roadworks to four undulating loops; the run was challenging but marshals were excellent.
Show 4 more
- RaceCheck: Joe B.Raced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
Nice event with a mostly traffic-free course, but a confusing briefing sent people the wrong way on the swim, the lake was weedy with a bad smell, and the bike became four loops at short notice. The run was tough, half through a farm field, and parking could be better.
- RaceCheck: Alex F.Raced 2022 · aggregator · Negative
Found the swim confusing and full of algae, the bike course twisty through small villages after a late change, and the run scenic but uneven. Aid stations and the goody bag were weak; friendly marshals but poor value in his view.
- RaceCheck: David E.Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Describes a superb event: great organisation, location, course, marshalling and spectator support. Only gripe was sticky labels for the bike and helmet.
- RaceCheck: anonymous 2023 reviewerRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Calls it a good example of how a local triathlon should be run: no frills, well organised, fairly clean water, well-marshalled bike on mostly quiet open roads, staggered races, minimal bike aid and a more off-road run than expected.
Sources
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