Outlaw Half Nottingham
Nottingham (Holme Pierrepont, National Water Sports Centre), United Kingdom · May · Outlaw Triathlon
Why people love it
- Fast, flat-reputation course; the 2019 record is 3:51:44
- Single-site venue: swim, transitions, grandstand finish and parking together
- Time-trial pontoon swim start avoids a mass start
- Reviewers praise organisation, feed stations and volunteers
- Sells out every year, per the organiser
Watch out for
- Lake water about 15 °C (59 °F) in 2019, with poor visibility reported in 2018
- One short 17% ramp on the bike; no published elevation total
- The three-lap run is exposed, and the 2018 heat made it hard
- Photo ID is needed at registration
- Dates differ between pages, so confirm before booking
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
Consistently positive but thin: one 4.6/5 review, a 2019 report and organiser material. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Registration, parking, volunteers and venue handling were praised in 2018 and 2019 reports. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
Flat reputation, a single venue, a seeded time-trial swim start and a generous cut-off of 9 hours after wave start. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
Course record of 3:51:44; reports call it fast, with a flat run and a mostly flat bike apart from one short 17% ramp. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.8
Mostly flat bike and flat run; heat or cold water vary by year. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Water was just over 15 °C (59 °F) in 2019, and a May lake rarely nears the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable2.4
About 15 °C (59 °F) in 2019 is cold, below the 16-18 °C (61-64 °F) band. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.6
Sheltered man-made regatta lake with an out-and-back swim and no current. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
The time-trial pontoon start reduces contact, though a 2018 racer mentioned wave-start chaos and a hit in the face. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.0
Poor visibility reported in 2018; a functional man-made lake. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
UK country lanes; no specific surface reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
UK lanes are typically open with marshals; not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Nottinghamshire countryside past Holme Pierrepont Hall. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Little wind in 2019 on an open Trent valley. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.1
Described as relatively flat with fast times reported; no elevation figure published. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.0
The organiser says relatively flat into rolling countryside; no gain figure is published, and there is one 17% ramp. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Rural lanes with no technical descents reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Three run laps pass the grandstand and finish carpet; crowds look moderate. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Feed stations, sponges and sun cream were praised in 2018, with mechanics listed on the course. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
River Trent, the white water course and Regatta Lake. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Flat but exposed; heat in 2018 made it one racer's hardest run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.9
The organiser calls it flat and a reviewer agrees. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
May brought a chilly but near-ideal 2019 and a hot 2018. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
UK May: rain threatened in 2021, heat in 2018 and chill in 2019. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.2
Purpose-built water sports centre; pleasant rather than stunning. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.1
Tri247 praised the spectator areas, and the three-lap run passes the grandstand. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Nottingham is near sea level, roughly 30 m (100 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Nottingham hotels plus camping on site; no race-week data. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No price evidence. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
The venue is outside the city, though on-site camping is available. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
East Midlands Airport and UK rail and road links; no race-specific travel data. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.4
Swim, transitions, parking, registration and finish are all at one venue, with cheap parking. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Nottingham is nearby; little detail on food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Nottingham (Holme Pierrepont, National Water Sports Centre), Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 23 May 2027
- Organiser
- Outlaw Triathlon
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- First held
- 2013
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 9:00 after wave start
- Swim venue
- Regatta Lake, National Water Sports Centre (lake)
- Water temperature
- 15 °C (59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- time trial (pontoon, seeded by swim time)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- one short ramp reported at 17% (2018 racer)
- Run laps
- 3
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck (Paul C.)Raced 2018 · review aggregator · Positive
Rated it 4.6/5. Age-group waves made the swim chaotic but harmless; bike mostly flat apart from one short 17% climb; hot day made the run his hardest. Registration easy, cheap parking, well stocked feed stations, photo ID needed.
“Well organised fast 70.3, highly recommended.”
- Tri247 elite report 2019Raced 2019 · magazine race report · Positive
Course-record day for Will Clarke (3:51:44). Water just over 15 C (59 F), chilly start, little wind, dry until the last hour. Praises the venue's handling of swim, transitions, parking, camping, finish and spectators, and the volunteers.
- Steel City Striders (Adam Newell)Raced 2018 · club race-report blog · Mixed
Club member's 2018 write-up from a race run while unwell: remembers near-zero swim visibility, being hit in the face in the swim, and the sun coming out. (Details taken from a search snippet; full page not read.)
- Outlaw Triathlon 2021 recapRaced 2021 · organiser report · Positive
Pandemic-era return with time-trial starts; forecast heavy rain largely missed most of the field, who were off the bike before it arrived. Organiser source, promotional.
- Nottingham local news / Bassetlaw Tri Club coverageRaced 2019 · local news · Positive
Reports a record field of around 1,500 and a club member's description of the course as fast and scenic with a flat run.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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