East Grinstead Triathlon
East Grinstead, United Kingdom · May · Other (East Grinstead Triathlon Club)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 26 km (16.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 0.25 mi / 16.2 mi / 3.1 mi; a 2019 listing gave a 25 km (15.5 mi) bike
Why people love it
- Club-run for decades; marshals praised in every era
- Pool swim of 400 m (0.25 mi), gentle for new triathletes
- Free race photos and a T-shirt noted by past finishers
- Run laps pass through town with local support
Watch out for
- The bike is 26 km (16.2 mi), longer than a standard 20 km (12.4 mi) sprint
- Pool lanes hold about four swimmers; starts have run late
- Run has tight turns in the town centre
- Parking guidance was lacking in 2019; the newest review is from 2022
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
Racecheck shows 4.7 from 13 ratings and 10 written reviews, but the newest is from 2022. Scored near other well-liked UK sprints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Club-run for decades and marshals praised in every era. Small gaps: a lane-start delay, no bike distance markers and weak parking guidance. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.5
Friendly, low-pressure and well marshalled. A 400 m (0.25 mi) pool swim suits new triathletes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Pool swim and undulating bike, but tight run turns and lane-start waits. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a
Pool swim, so no wetsuit rule applies. · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.3
Leisure centre pool. Temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so not applicable. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
16 lengths of a 25 m (82 ft) pool. A 2017 reviewer notes a lane-start delay. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
A leisure centre pool is reliable but unremarkable. Few reviewers describe it. · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.6
Pool swim with about four swimmers per lane, so no open-water worries. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
A 2017 report describes a good surface with few cars and mostly left turns. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Open roads, though a 2017 report found few cars. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
Loop through Forest Row and Hartfield villages. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind issues reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
Undulating 26 km (16.2 mi) loop on good roads. Distance has varied between 25 and 26 km (15.5 and 16.2 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Undulating loop. Gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Single loop. Reviewers would like distance markers. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Two run laps through town centre with local support. Marshals cheer athletes by name. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Few reviewers mention aid on a 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant2.9
Town-centre streets, not a scenic run. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
Tight turns in the town centre slow the run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
Two town-centre laps with no reported hills over 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Mid-May highs around 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Spring in southern England is changeable. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.3
Leisure centre and playing field in a town. Not a scenic venue. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.1
Run laps pass through the town, and supporters can see athletes more than once. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
About 100 m (330 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Small town; most athletes drive in. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No price data. Typical for the region. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.9
Leisure pool and St Georges Field transition are close, per the course layout. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
East Grinstead has a train station, though most athletes drive. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Compact town venue, but parking guidance was lacking in 2019 and lane starts have run late. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Town centre with cafes and pubs on the run route. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- East Grinstead, West Sussex, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 9 May 2027
- Organiser
- Other (East Grinstead Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 330 athletes
- First held
- 1985
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 26 km (16.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Kings Centre leisure pool; transition on St Georges Field (pool)
- Wetsuit
- N/a
- Swim start
- lane allocation, about four swimmers per lane
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Air temperature
- 8–17 °C (46–63 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 120 m (395 ft)
- Nearest airport
- London Gatwick, 17 km (11 mi) away
- Where to stay
- East Grinstead
- Booking
- Day-trip race; one 2019 reviewer wanted clearer parking guidance.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 13 ratings at 4.7 out of 5 with 10 written reviews, nearly all sprint. Athletes call it friendly, low-pressure and well marshalled, and recommend it to nervous first-timers. Minor notes: a lane-start delay in 2017, wish for bike distance markers, parking guidance, and tight town-centre run turns.
- Mid Sussex Triathlon ClubRaced 2012 · blog · Positive
Club write-up of the 2012 race: 381 finished, the event had grown but kept a friendly club feel, and names on race numbers let marshals cheer athletes by name. Splits suggest a fast bike and a short run; the report gives the club's own results.
- East Grinstead Cycling ClubRaced 2006 · blog · Positive
A rider describes the 21st edition: 330 sprint starters, a 20-length pool swim, and a bike loop through Forest Row and Hartfield. He praises club and volunteer organisation. Old and the course has since changed (swim 500 m (1,640 ft) to 400 m (1,310 ft), 0.31 to 0.25 mi), so use for character only.
Raced East Grinstead Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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