Middle Distance Race – What To Expect

We’re really excited to be launching the new Middle-Distance race at this year’s inaugural Challenge London.  All athletes taking on this challenge will receive an elevated race experience on event day, to help ensure they are well fuelled and have the necessary support throughout the day.  Below is a summary of what you can expect across the Challenge London weekend as our Middle-Distance triathletes.

• Pre-event weekend: 
  • Briefing video: please watch the video briefing that has been sent to you today in this email. This is mandatory to watch the full briefing video for all middle-distance athletes, and by participating on Sunday in the event you will be deemed to have confirmed that you have viewed this briefing. 

• • Have your QR code ready ahead of time to help collect you pack quickly on Saturday 5^th August. 

• • Read all of the necessary information in our Race Day Guide 

• Arrival on Saturday 5^th August:  
  • The arrival time window for all middle-distance triathletes is 16:30 – 18:30 on Saturday 5^th August.  You must collect your race pack and rack your bike in transition within this time.  The event area will close at 18:30 so please arrive in time to allow yourself to collect your pack and rack your bike.  

• • An in-person middle distance briefing will take place at 17:00 and again at 18:00, inside the event area in the Excel.  This will be clearly signed from the event village area for those that are keen to join and hear some key updates about Sunday’s race.  

• Sunday 6^th August – Race Day: 
  • The middle-distance waves start at 07:10 in the morning – we recommend arriving at least an hour before to ensure you are all set and ready to go.  
  • As our middle-distance participants, you will have access to a number of additional support items across the event:

• • • On the bike route there is an aid station solely for middle distance athletes just before the end of each lap (you will complete 3 x laps of this course). Therefore you will pass this at approximately 27km, 54km and again just before you finish the bike leg at 80km.

• • • • Available here for you will be: Water, HIGH5 energy bars (banana), HIGH5 energy drink, HIGH5 energy gels, Bananas, pretzels and flat coke.

• • • On the run route will be 2 x aid stations – one at the beginning and halfway point of each 3.3km lap (you will complete 6 x laps of this course).

• • • • Aid Station 1 will have: Water, HIGH5 energy gel aqua (Berry), HIGH5 energy drink, HIGH5 banana bars

• • • • Aid Station 2 will have: Water, Red Bull & Water 50/50 mix, Red Bull

• • • As our middle distance participants you also receive an elevated finish line experience.  Upon finishing you will head through our finisher area and receive: 
      • Water
      • Medal (London Triathlon branded)
      • Challenge London T-shirt
      • Banana
      • HIGH5 energy bars (banana)
      • Food voucher – To help you recover post-race, each middle-distance finisher will receive a £15 food voucher which can be used at any food outlet within the ExCel.  This includes the caterers within the event village as well as all food and drink traders along the central boulevard.

• • The Middle-Distance age grouper award presentation will take place at approximately 14:30 at the finish line, in the main event area.

• • Here we will be awarding the Top 6 Male and Top 6 female in each age category, who will receive their qualification coin to the 

Challenge Family, The Championship 2024 (https://www.challenge-family.com/race/the-championship/)

• • We also have some very exciting prizes to give out on behalf of our Challenge Family partners, for the following quickest times: 
    • Fastest Male and Female bike leg each win an Abus bike helmet
    • Fastest Male and Female T1 + T2 combined time each win a Wahoo watch