The Last Tri Lydney
Lydney, United Kingdom · October · Independent (Trimax Events)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m / about 20 to 24 km / 5 km (437 yd / 12.4 to 14.9 mi / 3.1 mi); sources disagree on the bike.
Why people love it
- Heated indoor pool: 400 m (437 yd) sprint swim, no open water or wetsuit worries
- Bike rides through Forest of Dean country, finishing with a descent
- Flat, looped 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Free parking near the venue; pre-event communication praised
- Late-season race, a good way to end the year
Watch out for
- Bike distance differs by listing: sprint 20 to 24 km (12.4 to 14.9 mi); check the organiser page
- Steep climb early on the bike
- Signage and marshalling on bike and run drew complaints; 2018 run was shortened
- Early October can be cool and wet, 8 to 16 °C (46 to 61 °F)
- Olympic swim is only 750 m (820 yd), not the standard 1.5 km (0.93 mi)
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Let's Do This shows 4.3 from 80 ratings and Haid 4.5 from 62. Marshalling and signage complaints keep it lower. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Athletes report inconsistent signage and variable marshalling. In 2018 the bike ran long and the run was cut short. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
400 m (437 yd) pool swim, flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run, repeatedly called beginner friendly. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Pool start but hilly bike of uncertain length (20 to 24 km (14.9 mi), 12.4 to 14.9 mi). · 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 wetsuit and water-condition ratings do not apply. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.3
Heated indoor pool at a leisure centre; temperature not published, estimate comfortable. · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so wetsuit and water-condition ratings do not apply. · Low confidence
- Swim easeVery easy4.5
400 m (437 yd) pool swim. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Clean pool praised (2016), but a poolside waiting area was crowded in one review. · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.5
Heated 25 m (27 yd) pool, lanes, helpful pool marshals; no open water risk. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
No surface comments found; rural Gloucestershire lanes, assume mixed. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Rural roads with marshals, not closed as far as reports show; variable marshalling reported. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Listings and reviewers call the Forest of Dean route scenic; no first-hand scenery detail. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind complaints; sheltered by Forest of Dean valleys in places. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Rolling Forest of Dean fringe roads, 20 to 24 km (12.4 to 14.9 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.7
Steep climb and rolling roads on 20 to 24 km (12.4 to 14.9 mi); no elevation data. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.1
Out-and-back style course, but one descent into transition and unclear signage reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.7
Small field, leisure centre loops; no crowd mentions. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Aid rated 4.33 on 3 Racecheck reviews only; no recent detail. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPlain2.4
Loops around a leisure centre and industrial estate edge. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Flat 5 km (3.1 mi) on tarmac. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat loops, 5 km (3.1 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Early October, about 8 to 16 °C (46 to 61 °F), cool; pool swim spares the cold water. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
October in the west of England: showers likely; the indoor swim is unaffected. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.9
Leisure centre venue; bike course is in scenic forest country. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Pool and run loops close to the leisure centre; spectators can see transition and run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Lydney is about 10 m (33 ft) above sea level. · High 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; hotels limited but Gloucester and Chepstow are about 30 km (19 mi) away. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Day-trip race in a low-cost area; no price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Free parking at Taurus Crafts near the venue per listing; station 1.6 km (1 mi). · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
No big airport near; Bristol is about 55 km (34 mi); Lydney has a rail station. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One venue, pool swim, secure transition, free parking; pre-event communication scored 5.0 on Racecheck. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.8
Small town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Lydney, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 3 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Trimax Events)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Heated indoor 25 m (27 yd) pool, Lydney Leisure Centre (Freedom Leisure) (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- time-trial (pool lanes)
- Key climbs
- Steep climb early in the bike leg (per listings)
- Air temperature
- 8–16 °C (46–61 °F)
- Humidity
- Damp autumn
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bristol (BRS), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Lydney, Chepstow, Forest of Dean
- Booking
- Day-trip race; Lydney is small with limited hotels, Gloucester, Chepstow and Forest of Dean B&Bs are alternatives. Free parking at Taurus Crafts (listing). Lydney station about 1.6 km (1 mi) away.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (The Last Tri - Lydney page)Raced 2016 · aggregator · Positive
Only 3 reviews, all old (2016 and 2018), average 4.36. Two 2016 first-timers praised the pre-race pack, clean pool, friendly volunteers and clear maps, and found the bike challenging. The 2018 review is mixed because of course changes.
“great atmosphere and facilities”
- Racecheck review by Paul B.Raced 2018 · aggregator · Mixed
Fourth time at this season-ender. New out-and-back bike was nearly 18 mi (29 km), longer than advertised. A marshal sent the lead runners round the pool twice, so the run became about 3.1 km (1.9 mi) instead of 5 km (3.1 mi). Organisers gave 10 GBP off the next entry. Still called it beginner friendly.
“always a good finish to the race season”
- Let's Do This (The Last Tri Lydney)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.3 from 80 ratings. Shows broadly happy entrants, no detail on why.
- Haid (The Last Tri 2024)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 62 reviews for the 6 Oct 2024 edition. Page gives the score only, no comments.
- Running.life event summaryRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Feedback digest: people like the heated pool swim, scenic Forest of Dean bike and helpful pool marshals. Complaints are inconsistent signage, variable marshalling on bike and run, and some route confusion on the day. Climbs on the bike are called demanding.
Raced The Last Tri Lydney? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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