The Vitruvian Triathlon (Rutland Water middle distance)
Whitwell, Rutland Water (Oakham), United Kingdom · September · Pacesetter Events (independent)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 89 km (55 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 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) / 89 km (55 mi) three-lap bike / 21 km (13.1 mi).
Why people love it
- Sheltered two-lap creek swim, 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
- 2019 winner went 3:52 on a calm day
- Free parking, one venue and a 3:30 pm overall cutoff
- Shoreline run past Normanton church, 21 km (13.1 mi), mostly flat
Watch out for
- Wind on exposed reservoir roads: the second bike lap was about 10 minutes slower in 2014
- Old 85 km (52.8 mi) bike climbed 950 to 1,000 m (3,120 to 3,280 ft); new course unmeasured
- Open roads; A606 traffic was a complaint in 2019
- Weed and mist in the swim; water about 16 °C (61 °F) in 2019
- Bike distance varies, 84 to 90 km (52 to 56 mi); the organiser now says 89 km (55 mi)
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
Club and magazine reports are warm and one calls it a favourite UK race, but there are no ratings sites and few recent first-person reports. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Two decades under the same organiser with timed waves, free parking and prompt results; one 2019 report flagged A606 traffic. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Sheltered swim, an overall cutoff of about 9 hours and an upbeat debut in 2017; wind and the Rutland Ripple can bite. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
The 89 km (55 mi) bike is billed as fast and largely flat, but wind slowed the second lap by about 10 minutes in 2014. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough3.0
The older course was hilly and windy; the newer one is described only as largely flat. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
Water was about 16 °C (61 °F) in 2019; legality is not stated, but a wetsuit is very likely. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
One reading of 16 °C (61 °F) in mid-September, with early mist. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Sheltered creek, though the outer buoy was choppy in 2016. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.9
Two laps of a simple 950 m (1,040 yd) triangle; weed and early mist made sighting harder in some years. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Heavy weed in 2013 and 2014 and mist in 2019; a pleasant sunrise swim in a sheltered bay. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
No surface complaints or praise found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.8
Open roads, and the A606 traffic was the main complaint in 2019. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Around England's largest man-made reservoir; a 2017 debutant called it scenic. · Low confidence
- WindWindy2.2
A strong westerly hit the bike in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016; 2019 was calm. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
Fast on paper since the three-lap change, but only wind-affected splits are documented. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.1
The old 85 km (52.8 mi) course climbed about 950 to 1,000 m (3,120 to 3,280 ft); the current one has no published figure. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Rolling reservoir roads and three short hills; wet descents were treacherous in 2016. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
The out-and-back run lets club-mates cheer each other; a debutant called the atmosphere electric. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
The organiser lists on-course hydration and nutrition; little else is documented. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Reservoir shoreline past Normanton church, called scenic by the organiser and entrants. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
Flat tarmac track but exposed to wind; the second lap was 5 minutes slower than the first in 2019. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
Described as largely flat, with an out-and-back over the dam wall. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Mid-September in England, cool to mild; reports range from calm sunshine to cold rain. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Biblical rain and wind in 2016, a stiff westerly in 2013 and 2014, calm and sunny in 2015 and 2019. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
A large reservoir with a church and lakeside paths; pleasant rather than dramatic. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
One venue at Whitwell with a three-lap bike and two-lap run; no spectator guide found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
A low-lying English reservoir; altitude is not published. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Oakham and Stamford are nearby; no race-week availability data found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
The race centre is at the water's edge; hotels are in nearby towns. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
East Midlands and Birmingham airports are about an hour away by road. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One venue, free parking included, timed waves from 6:30 am and no split transitions. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Oakham and Stamford are market towns nearby; reports do not cover them. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Whitwell, Rutland Water (Oakham), Rutland, East Midlands, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 13 September 2026
- Organiser
- Pacesetter Events (independent)
- Field size
- About 800 athletes
- First held
- 2003
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 89 km (55 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 15:30 (3:30 pm overall cut-off; about 9 h from a 6:30 am first wave)
- Swim venue
- Rutland Water, sheltered Whitwell creek (reservoir)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 3
- Key climbs
- Rutland Ripple (three short, sharp hills in a row)
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Limited; exposed reservoir shore
- Nearest airport
- East Midlands (EMA) or Birmingham (BHX), both roughly an hour by road (general knowledge, not in sources)
- Where to stay
- Oakham, Stamford
- Booking
- Free parking is included in the entry fee. Hotel pricing not researched.
What racers and reviewers say
- Mid Sussex Triathlon Club (Matt Critchley)Raced 2016 · blog · Mixed
Club report from the 2016 national middle-distance championship: a choppy first buoy then calmer water on a two-lap 950 m (1,040 yd) swim, an undulating 85 km (52.8 mi) bike made treacherous by worsening rain and wind, and a two-lap 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run with chances to cheer club-mates. Two members set middle-distance PBs despite the weather.
“biblical conditions”
- 220 Triathlon: The Vitruvian 2015 race reportRaced 2015 · article · Positive
Magazine race report of a blue-sky 2015 edition with about 800 athletes, waved swim starts from 6:15 am, and a two-lap 85 km (52.8 mi) bike with a lung-busting climb halfway round each lap. Richard Ebbage won in 4:02:21 with a 2:11 bike split and a 1:17:35 half marathon. (Page returned 403 to the fetcher; summary rests on the search snippet.)
“lung-busting climb”
- Horwich RMI Harriers (Richard Baker)Raced 2008 · blog · Mixed
First-person account from the 2008 British long-course championship: a 42-minute swim, two hilly bike loops with over 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of climbing in strong wind averaging about 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph), then cramp and wind on a mostly flat run. He finished 4:58:34 and noted a serious, high-quality field of roughly 750 starters.
- TORQ Fitness team report (2013)Raced 2013 · blog · Positive
Pre-dawn head-torch transition, a sunrise-facing swim in a sheltered bay with weed, and a strengthening westerly that gave a stiff early headwind on the 'Rutland ripple' bike. Run was two laps of mostly tarmac shoreline. Describes the event as one of the country's favourite races with 800 finishers.
“one of the country's favourite races”
- TORQ Fitness team report (2014)Raced 2014 · blog · Mixed
First-person report: waved start in a quiet bay with heavy weed, a flat tailwind section plus the Rutland Ripple, and a strong westerly that made the second bike lap about 10 minutes slower than the year before. Run was flattish with off-road sections and an out-and-back over the dam wall.
Show 5 more
Blog focused on wind and the Rutland Ripple, three short sharp hills that are tame alone but sap legs at race pace. Cited a strong westerly out of transition and tailwind on the flattest stretch. (Page returned 403; summary from the search snippet, year not confirmed.)
“three short, sharp hills”
- City of Lancaster Triathlon Club (John Sutton)Raced 2019 · blog · Positive
17th edition on a calm, sunny day: mist on 16 C (61 F) water made early sighting hard, a fast two-lap bike with about 950 m (3,120 ft) of climbing and A606 traffic as the main gripe, and a run whose second lap was 5 minutes slower. Winner finished in 3:52; Sam Warriner won the women's race in 4:22.
“traffic on the A606”
- Stratford Observer (Philippa Abrams debut)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Local club member's middle-distance debut: 53-minute swim, 3:39 bike, 7:18:32 finish well inside the eight-hour cut-off she had worried about. Calls the atmosphere 'electric' and the bike route scenic.
“electric atmosphere”
- Belvoir Tri Club news (2022 middle-distance club championship)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Club results page treating the 2022 Vitruvian as its middle-distance championship (1.2 mi / 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 52 mi / 84 km (52.2 mi) bike, 13.1 mi / 21 km (13 mi) run). Gives results only, no course or weather commentary.
- Discover Rutland / Pacesetter 2026 event pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Organiser listing for 13 Sep 2026: 6:30 am first wave, 3:30 pm cut-off, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) two-lap sheltered-creek swim, 89 km (55 mi) open-road bike advertised as a new three-lap fast and largely flat course, and a two-lap largely flat 21 km (13.1 mi) tarmac run. Not an independent review, but the source for the current course.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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