Outlaw Triathlon (Original, Nottingham)
Nottingham (Holme Pierrepont), United Kingdom · July · Other (Outlaw Triathlon / OSB Events)
Why people love it
- Cheap, friendly, very well organised UK full
- Single venue, camping and free spectator buses
- Flat, swimmer-friendly rowing-lake swim in water of about 18-20 °C (64-68 °F)
- Stadium-like finish at the lake grandstand
Watch out for
- Wind on the exposed north bike loop and lakeside run
- Rough roads and punctures reported in 2022; wider tyres advised
- Murky dyed water, weed and a congested mass start
- Very long transition (600 m (1,970 ft)+ / 650 yd+) and a rough lane into T2
- Pre-book parking; camping sells out
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 satisfactionLoved4.2
Consistent praise for friendliness and value (reviews of 4.9 and 5.0); not a scenic bucket-list race. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationFlawless4.5
Called faultless by two reviewers, with minor gripes about the 600 m (1,970 ft)+ (650 yd+) transition and the lane into T2. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first full4.6
220 Triathlon calls it the most beginner-friendly iron-distance event in Europe: cheap entry, simple logistics, many first-timers and a 2:20 swim cutoff. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Mostly flat swim, bike and run, but wind and rough roads limit it; the winner took 9:06. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.9
A rolling bike with one significant climb and an 11% pitch, then a flat run; wind is the main factor. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.9
Typical July water is about 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), a generic figure; wetsuits are listed as compulsory, well under the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.4
Typical water of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) is a generic July figure, not measured; slightly cool. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
A sheltered, flat rowing lake with no current. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
Easy bank-side sighting on a single-lap rectangle, but a congested mass start of 1,000+ and weed. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.8
Dyed, murky water, plant growth (one panic episode) and a congested start with no rolling option. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.7
A 2022 report of rough roads and many punctures, plus potholes and speed bumps in the last 3 km (2 mi). · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.2
The perimeter road and one lane of the A52 are closed; elsewhere roads are open with marshalled junctions. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Pleasant Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire villages; not spectacular. · Medium confidence
- WindWindy2.2
Wind frequently builds after about 32 km (20 mi), as in 2018 and 2022; the northern loop is exposed. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Fast per the organiser and reviewers, though wind, rough roads and punctures slow some riders. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.7
Elevation gain is unpublished; reports mention one significant climb (Speller Hill) and an 11% pitch, probably about 700-1,000 m (2,300-3,300 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Village roads and junctions on simple loops, with a 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) enforced zone at Radcliffe Roundabout. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.1
A stadium-like lake, multiple out-and-backs and a big finish crowd, per several reviews. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.5
18 run feed stations (about every 2.3 km (1.4 mi) / 1.4 mi) and bike feeds every 19-27 km (12-17 mi); reviewers say they are well stocked. · High confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant2.6
River Trent towpath and lake path; functional. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Flat but three laps, with lakeside wind and little shade. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.8
Flat apart from a bridge, on river and lake paths. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureIdeal4.5
Typical race-day air is 14-24 °C (57-75 °F), with a cool early start, heat in 2017 and rain in 2018. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Rain and wind in 2018 and 2022, and heat in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.7
A purpose-built water sports centre and country park. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySee them often4.5
Free spectator buses to Car Colston, a stadium-like venue and frequent run passes. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 25 m (82 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
City hotels are plentiful but fill, and on-site camping sells out quickly. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
UK city hotels and a mid-priced on-site hotel; no price gouging found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
On-site camping and a hotel next to the venue; city hotels are about a 10 minute drive. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
East Midlands Airport is about 30 km (19 mi) away, with road and rail links across central England. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
One venue for T1, T2 and finish; downsides are the 600 m (1,970 ft)+ (650 yd+) transition, Saturday racking and pre-booked parking. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Nottingham is nearby, though the venue itself is rural. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Nottingham (Holme Pierrepont), Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 25 July 2027
- Organiser
- Other (Outlaw Triathlon / OSB Events)
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- First held
- 2010
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 2:20, Bike 10:30, Finish 17:00
- Swim venue
- Regatta Lake, National Water Sports Centre (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–20 °C (64–68 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Mandatory
- Swim start
- mass
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 3
- Key climbs
- Speller Hill (current course); Oxton Bank (older pre-2020s course)
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- Mostly open riverside and lakeside; limited shade
- Air temperature
- 14–24 °C (57–75 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 25 m (82 ft)
- Nearest airport
- East Midlands Airport (EMA), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- West Bridgford, Nottingham city centre, Onsite camping
- Booking
- Onsite camping at the NWSC is a short walk and sells out quickly. Hotels in West Bridgford and Nottingham city centre; book months ahead. Parking must be pre-booked. Sunday racers rack on Saturday. All Sunday athletes must register and rack bikes on Saturday.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum: The Outlaw 140.6 (UK)Raced 2016 · forum · Positive
Multiple athletes describe a simple, well-run race with easy logistics, camping nearby, free spectator buses and a family atmosphere. Swim is an easy to sight out-and-back; bike is flat with one significant climb on the north loop; run is lake lap plus two river out-and-backs with plenty of aid. Long T2 lane is a minor complaint.
- Jim Downing blogRaced 2022 · blog · Positive
First full distance, finished 10:19. Swim water was dyed and murky, mass start less physical than feared. Bike was fast with modest climbs but rough roads, many punctures and a building wind, with side-wind buffeting on the north loop. Run was two flat laps with good out-and-back spectator views; praised organisation and atmosphere.
- Chris Worfolk blogRaced 2021 · blog · Mixed
Finished 12:50 among about 1,300 starters. Swim was hard going through plant growth and he had a panic episode. Bike was fast and mostly flat with one short 11% hill and traffic managed by closures and priority. Transition is very long (600 m (1,970 ft)+ / 650 yd+), run two laps with big finish crowd and run may have measured slightly long.
- RaceCheck (Paul W.)Raced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.9. Swim start was congested with large bays and he would prefer a rolling start. Bike on closed-road feel was smooth and fast with drivers patient; run was hardest part but flat with great crowds. Friendly, accessible for first-timers and much cheaper than Ironman.
- RaceCheck (Graham B.)Raced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 5.0 and called the event faultless. Southern bike loop was sheltered, northern loop hard with wind, hills and rain; feed stations well placed. Run stations well stocked with commentators and crowds; praised registration, kit bags, changing tent, expo and post-race comms.
Show 8 more
- The Triathlete (UK)article · Positive
Preview guide calling it the UK's most celebrated full distance. Describes a swimmer-friendly out-and-back flatwater swim, a bike that is not flat and demands pacing, a multi-lap run and an atmospheric finish. Advises booking Nottingham hotels months ahead.
- 220 Triathlon: UK's best iron-distance triathlonsarticle · Positive
Magazine roundup (seen via search snippet) calls the Outlaw the most beginner-friendly iron-distance event in Europe despite sometimes unfriendly weather.
- Newton News (Alex Lineton)article · Positive
Via search snippet: 6am mass start of 1,000+ athletes; swim 1:18, bike 5:48. Wind picked up after about 32 km (20 mi) and the lake-side run was windier still. Support and finish chute praised. (Original URL now returns 404; details from search snippet.)
- Steel City Striders (Ed Shattock)Raced 2025 · blog · Positive
First-full-distance report from 2025. He picked Outlaw partly because entry cost about 200 pounds less than Ironman. The swim was hard going after a calf cramp around 2 km (1.2 mi) in, and he lost time wrestling off his wetsuit in T1. Details seen via search snippets only.
- Tri247 race coverage 2018Raced 2018 · article · Mixed
Event coverage (via snippet) of a wet, windy 2018 race, illustrating weather variability.
- Slowtwitch news gallery 2014Raced 2014 · article · Positive
Photo gallery noting a narrow transition exit and a bike route through Nottinghamshire countryside; champions Craig Twigg and Jenny Bosman.
- Expedia / Trip.com: The National Water Sports Centre hotelhotel-review · Mixed
On-site hotel next to the lake scores about 7.6-7.8/10 across sites: clean, friendly staff, quiet but functional dorm-like rooms and a bit far from the city. StayForLong scores it lower (5.4).
- Tri247: best full-distance triathlons for first-timers (UK)article · Positive
Beginner guide (seen via search snippet) recommends Outlaw for first-timers: flat route into the Nottinghamshire countryside and a largely flat run around Regatta Lake, the White Water course and the Trent. It rates the atmosphere among the best in UK racing.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Outlaw Triathlon (Original, Nottingham)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.