Wilmslow Triathlon
Wilmslow, United Kingdom · April · Independent (Wilmslow Spring and Autumn Triathlons)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 24.2 km (15.0 mi) bike, 6.3 km (3.9 mi) run. 400 m (0.25 mi) pool, 24.2 km (15 mi) bike, 6.3 km (3.9 mi) run.
Why people love it
- Indoor 25 m (82 ft) pool swim, seeded start, no open-water nerves
- Poolside briefing and bike racking help for first-timers
- Flat to rolling Cheshire bike, 24.2 km (15 mi), and a quiet-road run
- Park in town and walk: station and pay-and-display car parks nearby
Watch out for
- Roads are open; reviewers report impatient drivers and walkers on the course
- Run has stairs and a small hill each loop, tougher than it looks
- No parking at the leisure centre; use pay-and-display car parks
- Cool late April weather, 4 to 14 °C (39 to 57 °F)
- No Olympic distance; the Double Sprint is 800 m (0.5 mi) swim, 42 km (26 mi) bike
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 satisfactionLoved4.4
Racecheck shows 40 reviews averaging 4.53 of 5, Find a Race 4.9 from 4 and Let's Do This 4.6 from 141. Mostly 2026. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationFlawless4.5
Clear pre-race information, poolside briefing, same-day results; course congestion lowest at 4.17 on Racecheck. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.8
Pool swim, seeded start, poolside briefing and several first-timers rating it 4.8 to 5.0 on Racecheck. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
Short 400 m (0.25 mi) pool swim and a mostly flat Cheshire bike, but roundabouts and a stairs-and-hill run. · 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 temperatureIdeal4.5
Heated indoor pool; Racecheck water quality 4.94 out of 5. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so wetsuit and water-condition ratings do not apply. · Low confidence
- Swim easeVery easy4.7
Pool lengths, seeded start, no sighting or contact. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Clean pool with a seeded start. Indoor and not scenic. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.9
Pool with lifeguards, a seeded one-by-one start and a poolside briefing. · High confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
Reviewer calls roads smooth. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.2
Open roads; reviewers report impatient drivers and unaware public. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Leafy Cheshire countryside via Ashley and Mobberley. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Flat open Cheshire plain; no reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Quick, smooth roads but roundabouts and some traffic. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.9
Reviewers say flat; organiser says undulating; gain unpublished for 24.2 km (15 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Roundabouts and country lanes. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Spectators and music on the run loop; friendly volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Plenty of marshals; sprint distance. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Leafy East Wilmslow streets and River Bollin. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
Road and path, cool spring weather; stairs surprised some. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.4
Mostly flat roads with stairs, a small hill each loop and River Bollin inclines. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Cool April mornings, 4 to 14 °C (39 to 57 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Pool swim means no water-condition risk; wet bike and run possible (2014 was wet). · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.8
Leisure centre venue on a park field. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Compact loops; spectators visible along the run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 55 m (180 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.3
Wilmslow and Manchester airport hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Affluent commuter town; no data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Park once and walk; start, transition and finish at the leisure centre; no on-site parking. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.7
Manchester airport 8 km (5 mi) and Wilmslow train station. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.3
One venue, one transition, clear information; no on-site parking. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Wilmslow town centre cafes; one reviewer cites a cafe at the finish. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Wilmslow Spring and Autumn Triathlons)
- Field size
- About 600 athletes
- First held
- 2007
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 24.2 km (15.0 mi) bike, 6.3 km (3.9 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Wilmslow Leisure Centre pool (Rectory Fields) (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- seeded pool start, one athlete at a time
- Swim laps
- 16
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- tree-lined streets
- Air temperature
- 4–14 °C (39–57 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 55 m (180 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Manchester (MAN), 8 km (5 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Wilmslow centre
- Booking
- Wilmslow is a commuter town with a train station on the Manchester to London line. No parking at the leisure centre; pay-and-display car parks on Church Street, Manchester Road, Wilmslow Park Road South and at the station.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 40 reviews averaging 4.53 out of 5 (2026 average 4.83), with the pool tagged on every review. Reviewers agree it is well organised with friendly marshals, a helpful poolside briefing, clear pre-race information and a good goodie bag. Many are first-timers who felt supported. Complaints are minor: impatient local drivers, members of the public on the route, one unclear run sign on lap one and more stairs on the run than expected. Water quality 4.94 and course congestion lowest at 4.17.
“Friendly, ideal for beginners.”
- Find a RaceRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Find a Race shows four reviews averaging 4.9, calling the event well organised with clear signage, helpful staff and good marshalling. One reviewer calls the bike gorgeous and flat, another quick on smooth roads with roundabouts that cost time; the run has stairs and a small hill each loop. The page confirms no parking at the leisure centre and pay-and-display around it.
- Let's Do ThisRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
The Let's Do This listing for the 4 May 2025 edition shows 4.6 from 141 reviews, and a 2025 attendee calls it well organised, slick and efficient.
- Wilmslow.co.ukRaced 2014 · article · Positive
Local news report of the eighth staging: nearly 600 athletes in wet, challenging conditions. Confirms the 400 m (1,310 ft) pool, 24.2 km (15 mi) mainly flat bike and 6.3 km (3.9 mi) run around East Wilmslow, with winners at 1:07:07 and 1:18:32. Old, so used for facts and field size only.
Raced Wilmslow Triathlon? 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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