The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves

Fun2Tri organise two excellent races each year starting from the Stratford upon Avon Leisure Centre. Both the Stratford 220 Trathlon and the Warwickshire Triathlon start in the pool there and follow the same course through the Warwickshire Countryside and along the River Avon.  The Straford 220 is the largest pool swim triathlon in Britain and is accompanied by a Triathlon Show where you can see and buy all manner of triathlon related kit.

As you'd expect from Fun2Tri there's a lot of great information about the race on their website and the information they send you before the event is thorough so I don't plan to duplicate that but having done events here several times now I thought I'd point out a few things from a competitor's perspective. This information should help to ensure that the build up to the race is relaxed, especially if you've not been here before.

Map of Key Locations (click on the icons for more information)

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1. This is a good event for beginners - like all Fun2Tri events the race is well organised and marshalled, people of all abilities compete and there are plenty of mountain bikes etc. so you won't feel out of place if you don't have the latest and greatest kit.
2. Get there in plenty of time - the carpark gets very busy and I have spent 30 minutes driving round looking for a space, there are other carparks nearby so leave yourself time to go to one of those and walk back to the Leisure Centre.
3. Park properly - the Leisure Centre carpark is well staffed with vigilant traffic wardens, don't be tempted to double-park, park on the verges or anywhere that isn't a clearly marked space and make sure you've put enough money in the meter.  You will get a ticket if you don't follow this advice, we did within 10 minutes of parking on a verge
4. Facilities - there are clean, well maintained toilets, showers and changing facilities in the Leisure Centre, these get very busy
5. Registration - in the Leisure Centre Sports Hall, take the opportunity to have a look round the Triathlon Show, get a hot drink or even a bacon sandwich
6. Transition - is very busy, you can't rack your bike until 30 minutes before your start time.  Make sure you know exactly where you've put your bike, the racks aren't numbered and the bikes around yours will change throughout the event due to the staggered start.  You don't want to waste precious time in transition looking around for your kit.
7. The Bike Route - is on some pretty busy roads so watch out for the traffic, I have been held up in queues getting back to the Leisure Centre.  Don't  be tempted to weave in and out of the cars, you may be in a race but this is a public road so Safety First.
8. Traffic Lights - there are pedestrian crossings on the bike route, the normal rules of the road apply so stop at red lights.  The lights are mashalled and people are disqualified for not stopping (Seven in 2007).
9. The Run - is mostly on grass and can be slippery when it's wet so take care
10. Spectators - my husband doesn't rate this event highly for spectators, you can stand near transition and watch the competitors as they go in and out but everyone's packed into a small area so it's very busy and the view isn't great.  This is particularly bad if you have young children, there's a park nearby with a butterfly farm and the last couple of years a boating event has taken place on the river there so that may be a good option.
11. Lunch - there are a number of pubs very nearby to get lunch after the race, they do get busy but it should be possible to find a space in one of them.