Awful event organisation...No one to contact! I was unable to compete after falling ill. Contacted organiser 4 times up to a month prior to try to defer my entry. I understand if this is not an option, but i didn't even hear back. Quick to take your money, but not interested there after. Find a race run by people who care about triathlon, not this bunch!

What a great race. First of all, racking the night before...yes!! The lake is clear and with wave starts you can get into your pace easily and quickly. The bike route was changed because of road works and for me it was better, quite country roads, a few small hills but a fast easy course...NO RIGHT TURNS! The run is flat around half of the lake and back, twice. Loads of drinks stations. Just be aware that the path is quite narrow and it's still open to the public. Another nice touch at the end is an athlete's area where you can sit and rest away from everyone. And the parking is free!!

I have done this race on two previous occasions but having now done a few more middle distance races over the years I feel my review may be a bit more balanced. Registration & the option to leave your bike overnight is straight forward. The Transition area is large however due to the winds there was lots of debris on the ground which isn't ideal. Swim is ok but i think due to the unusually hot summer there was loads of weeds and not very nice things at the start & finish of the swim. As its a running start the rocks underfoot were not good and certainly caused a few issues. Due to the wave system start if you were in the later waves you ended up swimming over/around the slower swimmers who started earlier. Not great for those weaker swimmers. Bike course has started to get busier since the first time I did it. Its well sign posted and marshalls on the choke\issue points but so many more cars on the course. Started to fee a bit unsafe at times. There is 1 aid station at the lap point offering everything you need. On the second lap everyone is pretty much out on the course making it busy with traffic & bikes. Run course was very well manned and the enthusiasm was great to see. Its a runners friendly course though not fully flat & if the wind is blowing it can be interesting Great run finish line and you get a medal, T-shirt & Gilet so plenty bang for your buck. Its a great race to step up & try Middle distance racing but for me that bike course is just getting to busy with cars these days. It being a Saturday race may not help

A local race for our club. Organisation is excellent. Swift registration and easy site access. Transition is close to water. Although the race is on Rutland water a large reservoir the swim is sheltered and is a two lap course with Aussie exit. The bike route is challenging with no horrendous climbs but the Rutland ripple twice and then the general rolling course is enough to sap the legs before the run so although the bike is slightly short for a 70.3 its a very honest course with scenery to match. The run is mostly flat around part of the reservoir to a turn around point and then back with two loops to provide the race distance and provides really lovely views and a good surface to run on. This race is generally a National Championships so the quality of the field is high and the course is a good test. In terms of goodies - This year a fleece gilet which is different and a great addition a decent casual (cotton t shirt) and medal. Erdinger available at the finish.

Absolutely fantastic event from start to finish - friendly, accommodating and enjoyable. Rutland is a stunning venue, and my family and I were able to camp right by the water, which also meant a later wake-up call and a short walk to the start line for the 0600 brief. Registration was quick and simple and the stash provided was amazing - good medal, nice cotton t-shirt and an embroidered Vitruvian gilet, all included in the entry price, along with plenty of nutritious (and not so nutritious... Space Invaders!) snacks. Apart from the mass beach start over stones, the swim was really enjoyable, the water was clear beyond the first metre or two of pond weed and a comfortable temperature. A short run to transition, and then out onto a wonderful, well-marshalled, 2-lap bike course with some stunning views (although measuring short at 50.5 miles!) The run course was again two laps and really well supported along the route... with members of my family popping up in their Team t-shirts at every turn! Overall, I loved it and would recommend this event to anyone.

This year was the second year I have done this event. And following lasts years awful weather it could have only got better. And it did. 

The registration process is quick and simple. You can rack bikes day before or on the morning, given the early start I racked the day before. We were in and out the registration tent very quickly. 

On the morning of the event, it's an early start and fairly pain free (apart from the 4am alarm). Plenty of time to set up, go to the limited amount of portaloos 100 times and listen to the briefing which is given to everyone at the club house. 

Swim was great, you can really go wrong, it's two laps with one short 10m run inbetween laps. 

The bike course is two laps and again you can't really go wrong, it's marshaled and signposted.

the run is again two times up and back, it's along the waters edge and I quite enjoy it, plenty of time to see other people in the race and more then enough feed/water stations. What makes the run even better for me is that you can hear each time a finisher goes through with the 'you are a vitruvian' words being said through the microphone sound system, that is more then enough to get a slowbie like me around and to the finish. 

Thos is one of my favorite races and I will be back that is for sure. 

This is a local race for me and the 4th time I have taken part.

PROS:  

Amazing location,  fantastic swim. Raced dozens of tris and never found a more enjoyable lake swim

Run course is flat, double out and back. 4 aid stations. Very scenic

atmosphere at race HQ/ transition is good and well organised

CONS:

Bike course is challenging, with pretty decent road surface. These are obviously pros, but the real issue is the traffic. By lap 2  the first 10 miles is a traffic jam. So many cars trying to get round so many bikes, really slows down the pace of the ride and at times feels a bit dangerous.

Finally, These races are great, but for similar costs there are other middle distance races that provide, food, technical T shirts, free massage etc. Think the organiser may need to consider using the anti to keep up with the competition

OVERALL:

Good race, well organised, with a few cons,  but will return again for the swim and run alone and a tough challenging bike

 

Fantastic race.  

The swim is in Rutland Water and features a two lap swim with an Australian Exit.  The wave start was a good idea, but didn't particularly work with the lapped course as when the fiorst waves were coming around for lap 2, some of the later waves were starting.  This resulted in a bit of congestion.  

The bike is a really simple two lap affair.  The roads are not closed, so be aware of traffic.  There are a few leg sapping sections in the bike course, the "Rutland Ripples" being the most talked about, but in my opinion, the section from the bottom of Steadfold Lane back to transition is more difficult.  The bike course is about 85km, so slightly shorter than a 70.3 course. 

The run is a double out and back along the Rutland Water towpath.  This section is fairly well supported and it is always nice to see other athletes you know coming the other way.  I measured the run course a tad short too at just over 20km - although it's possible that this could be down to GPS inaccuracy. 

Worth mentioning that for the very reasonable entry fee, I received a hoodie at registration as well as a finisher t-shirt and medal after the event.  The event is also sponsored by Erdinger so you'll be greeted with a nice cold pint of Alkoholfrei at the finish line. :) 

The weather was pretty terrible in 2016, so here's hoping for better in 2017!