DIRECTIONS TO THE RACE
By train:
Race HQ is a 10 minute walk from Reading Green Park Station, which is a 6 minute train ride from Reading. There is a limited service on Sunday mornings, but if you catch the first train (based on current timetables in Spring 2025), you will be at Registration in good time. Please check train times closer to race day.
By car:
Please use the following address to navigate to the designated car parking on race day:
100 Longwater Avenue, Green Park, Reading RG2 6GP
If you are travelling via the motorway, exit the M4 at Junction 11 and head North towards Reading on the A33, staying in the left-hand lane. Do not turn left at the Select Car Leasing Stadium – continue to the entrance signposted to Green Park which is just after you have passed B&Q, on the left. The entrance to 100 Longwater Avenue is just down on the left; on entering Longwater Avenue you will be directed to the designated parking area. Please ensure you leave plenty of time to get to the site and register for the event.
From the car parking, look for the race signage to race registration (there will also be signage to get you back there too!) – see the map and more detailed parking instructions in the Race Day Info tab.
THE RACE VENUE
Race HQ is at the Hi5 Swim Centre, a NOWCA managed open water swim venue where you can swim all year round to familiarise yourself with the location. Please be aware that under normal circumstances the swim course is anticlockwise, whereas on race day you will swim clockwise round the lake! In the weeks leading up to the race, the team do change direction for some sessions to enable familiarisation! There will be no parking at the race venue on race day.
Toilets
There will be plenty of toilets available on site, including urinals, and the toilet blocks will be very visible on the way to registration / transition. When you are queuing, do check which toilets you are queuing for! In previous years we have had lots of people waiting for cubicles when they didn’t know there were urinals! We will be checking for toilet paper supplies regularly and period products will be available in all toilets.
There will also be two toilets in transition (one women’s, one men’s), which will only be opened once transition has closed and racing has started.
Changing facilities
There will be separate women’s and men’s changing tents within transition should any athletes require private facilities for this during the race. Prior to the race, we have private women’s and men’s changing rooms available for use by the lake. If you have any additional needs such as a place to breastfeed before or after the race, please let us know by email before the race, and one of the team will be happy to show you where you can do so in peace and quiet.
Spectators
We are delighted for you to bring your supporters with you on race day. There are some great spots for spectators on the run course as it comes through the Event Village, and the lapped run course makes this particularly good for supporters. Please ask any family and friends to be mindful of athletes racing, particularly when travelling to and from the car parking, and to follow all marshal instructions. Spectators are not permitted in transition.