GENERAL FAQS
-
If you receive an email confirming you’re on one of our waiting lists, it simply means the race you entered has now sold out. Don’t worry, you won’t have been charged anything at this point. The email is just to let you know you’re on the list. If a space becomes available because another athlete withdraws, we’ll be in touch by email and send you a payment link. Once you’ve completed the payment, the place is yours.
Alternatively, if you know someone who already has a confirmed place but can no longer take part, they can transfer their entry to you using the EntryCentral transfer link. After the transfer is complete, just let us know and we’ll remove you from the waiting list.
If you’re currently entered but can no longer take part and don’t plan to transfer your place to someone else, please let us know as soon as you can. This helps us offer the space to someone waiting for a place.
-
British Triathlon have changed their requirements on Race Passes, meaning people who enter Harwich Triathlon races without a BTF (British Triathlon Federation) membership (this is the vast majority) would either have to purchase an entry from our site AND then go to the BTF website to buy a Race Pass on top. That’s very tricky to track and more steps for the people who want to enter.
The other option, which we chose, was to setup entries via a BTF approved online entry system. In this case EntryCentral.
-
A BTF Race Pass is a British Triathlon Federation product that provides a temporary race licence and third-party public liability insurance for a single event. It is required for participants in British Triathlon-sanctioned events who are not annual members. For participants aged 25 and over, the cost is £8, and for those aged 24 and under, it is £2.
-
The best way to do this is the following:
Create an account on EntryCentral (or use an existing one).
Under Personal Details, “Setup Another Person” and do this for the other relay members.
Then, either find the event via the EntryCentral search or come back to this website and click the button on the Olympic Relay page to go through the entry process to enter the team.
-
Yes - entries can be transferred for no cost up to two weeks before the race on EntryCentral by logging into your account. If you have any issues transferring your entry, please feel free to drop us an email and we will help you as quickly as we can.
-
Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds; we only offer transfers. We try to keep the cost of this event as low as possible to make it accessible to everyone, but in doing so, we cannot issue refunds. We hope you understand. 🙂
-
If you have fallen pregnant since entering one of our races and can no longer take part on the day, please contact us. Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS. Secondly, we would love to be able to help you with a deferral or refund to best suit your situation.
-
Triathlon Race Disclaimer
By registering for and participating in this triathlon event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
Health and Fitness:
You confirm that you are physically fit, healthy, and have undertaken appropriate training for the race.
You have no known medical conditions or concerns that could affect your ability to safely participate in this event.
You accept full responsibility for monitoring your own physical condition during the race and will withdraw if necessary for your health and safety.
Assumption of Risk:
You understand and accept the inherent risks associated with triathlon racing, including but not limited to accidents, personal injury, and environmental hazards (such as varying weather, road conditions, and open water swims).
You participate entirely at your own risk.
Event Rules and Safety Compliance:
You agree to comply with all event rules, instructions, and safety guidelines issued by race officials, marshals, and organizers.
You will exercise caution and courtesy toward other participants, spectators, and road users.
Liability Waiver:
You acknowledge that the event organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and associated parties will not be held liable for any injury, illness, loss, or damage incurred during your participation, except where liability cannot be excluded under UK law.
Insurance:
You understand that personal accident, injury, and equipment insurance are your responsibility, and you are advised to have appropriate coverage in place.
Data and Media Consent:
You consent to the collection and use of your personal data for event administration purposes in line with applicable data protection laws.
You grant the event organizers permission to capture and use photographs and video footage of your participation for promotional purposes without compensation.
By registering for the event, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer, and you agree to abide by the terms outlined above.
-
Not really no. We will do our utmost to ensure everyone gets round and finishes the race, whatever your level. We cannot promise for reasons of safety, we won’t ask some individuals to withdraw if we feel there is a risk but otherwise, we will encourage you every step of the way.
-
All aspects of Harwich Triathlon are super spectator-friendly!
For the Junior and Sprint Triathlons, there is a viewing gallery inside the swimming pool, so you can watch your loved ones, family members and friends endure the swim all from the comfort of the gallery! You can then head outside to transition, located right next to the pool so you don't have to walk far! You can view transition both after the swim and after the bike, and cheer everyone on! For the Sprint race, the run is along the promenade and provides great opportunity to spectate with sea views. For the Junior races, both the bike and run are on the field adjacent to Race HQ, and you can see your child throughout the remainder of the race from the field. The finish line is also on the grass next to Race HQ, so everything is super close together. The only place spectators are not allowed to go is inside transition. This is for athletes and marshals only.
For the Olympic race, the sea swim takes place just out from the shore but you can walk alongside the route along the promenade. The bike route goes out into the countryside but the run is two laps along the promenade, so spectators will be able to cheer their loved ones on at least twice throughout the run!
-
For all races, prizes are awarded to the overall male and female winners of each event, as well as the male and female winners of each age group.
There are 3 age groups for the juniors, and the following age groups for the adult races:
U20
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
Over 65s consisting of:
65-69
70-74
75-79
80 & Over
-
As fast as humanly possible. Hopefully, shortly after the race has finished.
-
The adult age groups follow the BTF age group standards:
https://www.britishtriathlon.org/about-us/faqs?page=2
C - Under 20
D - 20-24
E- 25-29
F - 30-34
G- 35-39
H- 40-44
I - 45-49
J - 50-54
K - 55-59
L - 60-64
M - 65-69
N - 70-74
P - 75-79
Q - 80 & Over
-
The event is open to children aged 8-15. Ages are based on the child's age as of 31st December 2026 (for example, all children born in the year 2018 are considered 8 years old for the event and can take part). This aging system is used for the age categories too (so a person who is 12 on the day of the race but 13 before 31st December 2026 will race in the 13-15 age category). Please consider this when entering, as the distances are slightly longer.
However - because we want to make the race as accessible to all children as possible, if you are 8 or 12 on the day of the race but 9 or 13 come December 31st and would prefer to take part in the younger age category, we can facilitate this BUT on the grounds of fairness, the child would have to forfeit the right to appear on podium or be declared winner as, by the rules of BTF, they are technically competing in an AG below.
See the Junior Race page for more info. -
Yes - Harwich has a great range of sporting clubs and facilities for all age groups. Harwich Runners is the place to go for all run training. With adult training on Tuesday and Thursday nights, welcome to all abilities. Junior training is on Saturday mornings for 8-16yr olds.
Harwich Parkrun is a free and inclusive 5k “race” held every Saturday morning at 09:00 from Cliff Park. This is a great way to train for the 5k at the end of the Sprint Traithlon.
Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles (our Race HQ), has various public swimming sessions through out the week.
Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club is the place for swim training, especially for Juniors. With club nights 3-4 times a week and a Masters Swimmming Club every Monday evening.
Colchester Rovers Cycling Club is the closest cycling club to us, offering weekly time trials throughout summer, and weekly Saturday and Sunday social rides for those wanting to follow some cycle training with company.
-
You will receive the required information in advance via email (between 7-14 days before).
You will receive you main race pack on race day - so no need to panic if your post doesn't arrive! When you go to register on the morning of your race, you will receive everything you need to race.
-
Yes - your relay team can consist of whoever you like! It can be different genders, and one person can complete two stages if they wanted to!
-
Yes. We follow the policy attached here.
All junior entries include an option to opt-out of photographs. Adults can also request the same if they wish.
Race Day FAQS
-
For the Saturday race, event parking is available to athletes only on the Low Road grass car park, adjacent to the swimming pool. Access to this is from Wick Lane, and marshals will be on hand to direct you.
For the Sunday races, free parking is available to athletes only on the grassy field at the end of West End Lane, next to the recycling centre (CO12 3SF). Car park marshals will be on hand to assist with parking.
Both car parks on both days will be locked for the duration of the event to ensure none of the public park there. If you are just spectating or need to leave before the races have finished, we advise you park in any of the free car parks around the town or along the seafront or streets where parking is unrestricted and free. Please try not to park along Wick Lane between West End Lane and the pool - this can make this section of the bike very congested. There is a short walk to Race HQ from the car parks.
-
For Juniors: Registration takes place as you enter transition (outside).
For Sprint athletes: Registration takes place in the upstairs gallery within the Dovercourt Swimming Pool building. Meeters and greeters will be on hand to direct you. Centre staff have requested that the event provide personnel to assist entrants. If possible, please avoid making any demands of the Council staff who work at the centre and find someone in hi-vis instead. Other areas of the centre are open to the general public. We are reliant on their goodwill to hold future events.
For Olympic athletes: Registration will be near transition on the grass (outside).
-
Registration opens for all events, on both days, at 08:00. Specific registration details will be provided in your pre-race information packs, which will include the exact location of registration for your event.
-
On Saturday, public toilets are located just across the road form Transition, in between the Blue Flag Cafe and the Arcade, on the other side of Wick Lane to transition. There is also another set of public toilets located next to the swim start location at West End.
On Sunday, access to the welfare facilities inside the Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles is available to all competitors. Toilets, changing rooms and lockers are available, and communal showers (please note they are not cubicle showers, and therefore a swimming costume or shorts is required if using the showers).
-
Please don't jinx it! Let's all keep our fingers crossed that the Weather Gods are on our side. They have been for the past few years, so we hope that the sun will be shining, the sea will be calm and the winds low. However, we have bigged up this beautiful town of Harwich because of its coastline and countryside, being on the peninsula... But with this, does bring ever-changing, slightly unpredictable and, at times, pretty wild weather! We will ALWAYS put the safety of all of our athletes first, and provide updates on any changes to the race as a result of the weather, as and when this is necessary. The biggest impact will more than likely be to the sea swim. We will have safety boats out in the water, along with buoys, and have a team of people to make an informed and safety-led decision on the day if weather means the sea conditions become unsafe for swimming. If this happens, the swim will be cancelled and swapped with a 5km run instead, forming a duathlon. However, this would be the very last resort and we would love the sea swim to happen as much as you would! Please note, in the case of this happening, no refunds would be issued.
-
For all races, the easiest clothing option is a trisuit. These allow you to swim, bike and run without needing to change any of your clothes. For the Olympic Traithlon sea swim, you can wear a wetsuit over the top of your trisuit. However, a trisuit is not mandatory and if you'd rather, you can swim in a swimming costume or shorts, and then add clothing in transition before you get on the bike. The key rule around clothing is that after you have come out of the swim, your torso must never be on show. So whatever clothing option you choose to go with, for the duration of the bike and run, your torso must be covered up.
-
Yes (probably. This year, we will be ensuring all adult competitors wear a number during the bike and run sections of their race. This means you either attach your number to a race belt (the easiest option) OR you pin the number to the top you wear for both the bike and run. You will only receive one number so you’ll need to ensure it’s the same top you use for both.
-
Only athletes are allowed into transition, and access will be available straight after you have finished racing, but only from marshal approval. So please find one of the transition marshals and they will let you into transition. This is because there may still be people racing and active within transition, when you try to get back in to get your belongings. So please find a marshal first and they will assist you. Please be mindful when in transition of all other athletes around you.
-
SWIM FAQS
-
If a sea swim is too risky on the day due to bad weather, we will revert to a duathlon. No refunds will be possible.
-
The swim in the pool is a snake-style swim.
For the Sprint Triathlon: Athletes will enter the pool at the far-side shallow end. Each athlete is set off 30 seconds apart and will swim up the lane to the deep end, turn around at the wall and then swim back down again. When you get back to the shallow end, you duck under the lane rope and then swim up and down again. This happens for all six lanes of the pool before you get out of the water and head towards the doors and out to transition.
For the Junior Triathlon: It is still a snake-style swim, but for the 8s & Under, only two lengths are swam. So athletes will swim up one lane, duck under the rope and swim back down the other, before getting out. For Over 8s, they will swim six lengths of the pool, ducking under the lane rope after one length in every lane.
-
The sea swim starts at West End beach.
-
Yes - to get from Race HQ to the swim start, it is a 750m walk along the prom. Please bring a pair of sandals or flipflops with you. At the swim start, we will have some bags for you to pop your footwear into, and these will be safely taken back to transition and laid out for you to collect after your race has finished.
-
Your predicted swim time is used for working out the best start time for you.
For the Olympic race - the predicted swim time will help to allocate you into a start wave of swimmers with a similar ability to you. The more accurate your swim time, the more likely you will be swimming with people of a similar pace, which will make for less over taking, less lonely swimming and a much more enjoyable swim for everyone!
For the pool swims (sprint and junior) - the predicted swim time will also be used for your start time. We will be setting off female athletes first, followed by male athletes. The order of females and then males will then be worked out based on the predicted swim times, with slowest going first. If your swim times are accurate, you should be setting off 30 seconds either side of other swimmers of a similar ability. As the swim is a snake style in the pool, if you are swimming near people of a similar pace to you, it will reduce the need for overtaking. Please provide the most accurate swim time possible. It will benefit yourself as well as all the other competitors taking part. 🙂
-
You can now change yours or your child’s predicted swim time via EntryCentral. Login and amend the time.
You can also email us at triathlon@harwichrunners.co.uk to update your predicted swim time.
As your training progresses, we fully appreciate swim times will change. So do not hesitate to contact us to update it, anytime between now and a week before the race.
BIKE FAQs
-
No - is the simple answer. This is a non-draft legal event for all of the races. Please see the BTF race rules and guidelines (BTF Drafting Rules) for more specifics on the rules of drafting. As this is a draft illegal race, athletes should keep a minimum of 10 metres between them and the cyclist in front of them.
-
No - all of the events happen on open roads. Please bare this in mind when racing - rules of the road do apply.
-
No - there are no aid stations on the bike course, so please make sure you have enough water and nutrition with you on the bike. We recommend everyone taking water out on the bike with them, especially if the weather is as kind to us as it has been in previous years, as it can get warm in June!
-
RUN FAQs
-
Yes - for both Sprint and Olympic there will be water stations on the route. For Sprint, there is one water station. For Olympic, the 10k route will pass the aid station three times.
-
No - Trisuits must be fully done up at all times after you have come out of T1.