This weekend, London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre saw thousands of participants, of all ages and levels of fitness, swim, bike and run the London Triathlon 2014. With celebrities, sport stars, politicians, fundraisers and amateur triathletes taking to the waters and roads of London en masse, ‘the world’s largest triathlon’ was a spectacle of all shapes, sizes and abilities.
For good causes
Fundraising is an integral part of the London Triathlon, with celebrities and amateurs helping to raise more than £2 million every year, most notably for the event’s Official Gold Charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Scope.
With Super Sprint, Sprint, Olympic and Olympic Plus distances open for general entry, as well as the option to compete as either individuals or as part of a team, the 2014 London Triathlon has options to suit everyone. From elites to amateurs and triathlon first-timers, the field of 13,000 participants ranges from ages 18-76, spanning 40 countries.
Every year companies from across the UK also enlist groups of employees to participate in the London Triathlon; and this year was no exception, with accounting firm PWC signing up 900 entrants to undertake team-relays with their colleagues.
The London Triathlon is supported by: Bose (Official Sponsor), ERDINGER Alkoholfrei (Official Sponsor), MaxiNutrition (Official Nutrition Sponsor), POSI+IV (Official Hydration Sponsor), Skechers (Official Footwear Sponsor), TRI UK (Official Retail Sponsor), Virgin Active (Official Health Club Sponsor), Zone3 (Official Swim Partner), Triathlonguard (Official Partner), Virgin Money Giving (Official Online Fundraising Partner), Marathon-Photos (Official Partner), Triathlon Plus (Official Media Partner), Tri 247 (Official Media Partner) and Men’s and Women’s Fitness (Official Media Partners).
Celebrity relay
Celebrity captains Mark Foster, Rob Hayles and Jenni Falconer all secured strong times with their teams in the sprint relay, which took place early on Saturday. The sprint relay saw competitors complete a 750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run course, with each team member taking on a different leg.
Five-time Olympian swimmer Mark Foster was joined by SportsAid fundraiser Matthew Gambles, from St Peter, Jersey, and competition winner Matt Lambourne, from Swindon, Wiltshire. Foster surprised many by opting to run the final 5K rather than take on the swim.
Foster said “I had been planning to swim but when I arrived I was so inspired by the thousands of competitors here challenging themselves to try something new that I thought I should do the same. I’ve run in training but I’ve never actually run in a real event so this was genuine first for me. The London Triathlon atmosphere was awesome with great support from the crowds and my brilliant teammates.”
Rob Hayles, three-time Olympic medallist and celebrated British cyclist, impressed spectators by leading his team to win the mixed sprint wave after completing the 20K cycle route at an incredible pace. His team was formed of two competition winners – James Franco, of Ripley, Derbyshire, who took on the swim, and Andrew Barton, from Brondesbury, North London, who completed the run.
Hayles shared Foster’s enthusiasm, adding, “There’s been such a great atmosphere here all day, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself and props to my teammates for helping us take the win in the mixed sprint. It was a completely new experience for me – I found the transition part really exhilarating, waiting for my teammates to tap me in for the cycle was such a buzz.”
Closing the relay for her team with a remarkable sprint finish, Jenni Falconer, presenter of ITV’s This Morning, BBC’s National Lottery Draw and Heart FM Radio took on the run leg of the relay. Falconer’s team included Children’s Trust fundraiser and brain injury survivor Jade Brede, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, for the swim and Paula Reynolds, a police officer working in Ware, Hertfordshire, for the bike section.
Falconer said, “Wow, what an incredible day, I’ve had so much fun and my teammates were absolutely amazing. Being part of a team has been a great experience and a good introduction triathlon – hopefully I’ll be back next year if I can convince my husband to get a team together too.”
Paralympians Liz Johnson, Jody Cundy and Danny Crates formed a team to complete the sprint distance relay. With a host of Paralympic medals and records between them, the athletes completed the course each in their respective sports – Johnson swimming, Cundy cycling and Crates running.
