Outlaw Triathlon 2026 Spectator Guide: Best Viewing Spots in Nottingham

Where It’s Happening

The 2026 Outlaw Triathlon takes place on 25-26 July at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre in Nottingham (Adbolton Lane, NG12 2LU). It’s one of the most spectator-friendly full-distance races in the UK — the flatwater rowing lake, event village and finish chute are all within a short walk of each other, so you don’t need a car to see most of the action.

Best Viewing Spots

• The swim start/finish at the rowing lake — the 3.8km swim is an out-and-back format on flat water, so you get two clear views of every athlete rather than one fleeting glimpse in open water or the sea.
• The event village and finish chute — this is where the atmosphere peaks. The finish carpet at Holme Pierrepont draws a packed crowd through the afternoon and evening as times spread out across the field.
• Transition (T1/T2) — both transitions are at the same venue, so you can watch the swim-to-bike changeover in the morning and be back in position for bike-to-run without needing to relocate.
• Roadside points on the bike loop — the 180km bike course loops through Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire; check the official spectator map closer to race day for road-legal viewing points along the route if you want to catch riders more than once.

Timing Your Day

Full-distance racing means a long day — expect the swim to start early morning, the first age-groupers onto the run by early-to-mid afternoon, and finishers spread from late afternoon through to the midnight cut-off. If you’re supporting one athlete, use the live tracking app (check your athlete’s race number and download instructions from the Outlaw Triathlon website) so you’re not standing at the finish line for hours guessing their split.

Practical Tips

• Spectator access is free throughout race day, but parking at the venue fills up early — arrive well before the swim start if you want a car park space near the lake.
• Bring layers and something waterproof; a full day outdoors in the English summer is unpredictable even in late July.
• Pack a portable charger — tracking athletes on your phone all day, especially with GPS on, drains battery fast.
• The event village typically has food vendors, but bring water and snacks for the quieter mid-race hours when queues build.

Cheering Etiquette

By the marathon leg of a full-distance race, most athletes are deep into a very hard day — a name shouted from the crowd (check bib numbers against the athlete list, or write names on signs) does more for morale than generic cheering. Keep pathways clear for athletes and race officials, and follow marshal instructions around road crossings on the bike course.