11/01/2023 - Important information.
It is with great regret that we must tell you the 255 Triathlon Festival of Endurance will no longer take place in 2023. We appreciate this will be very disappointing news for you.

Firstly, let us reassure you that all competitors will receive a full refund within 7 days.

We want to provide you with a clear explanation as to why we have been forced to cancel the event. To put it simply, the number of people entering the event is nowhere near enough to make the event financially viable.

In 2021 we had 96 solo athletes and 71 teams take part. In 2022, despite having been voted South East Event of the Year, we only had 28 solo athletes, with the number of relay teams increasing only slightly. Despite introducing additional race options and offering significant early-bird discounts, we have so far only had 10 solo entries and 9 teams for 2023. These numbers are significantly lower than we had at this time in previous years, and predict final numbers up to 50% lower than last year.

The event made a financial loss in both 2021 and 2022 which is to be expected with any new event, but in 2023 the losses are projected to be significantly higher (in the tens of thousands). The costs associated with delivering high-quality triathlon events are increasing and hiring a motor racing circuit makes them even higher.

The truth is we just don't know why numbers at the 255 Triathlon have declined so significantly. Although many events across the country, including free events such as Park Run, have also seen a decline in recent years, our other TriBourne events at Eastbourne, IronBourne and Brighton & Hove are very healthy and continue to grow. To put this into perspective, in the last 2 weeks we have seen over 350 athletes enter TriBourne events, but only one of those entries was for the 255 Triathlon.

This has been a very difficult decision for us. We are both athletes and passionate about the sport and the concept of the 255 Triathlon Festival of Endurance. Our ethos has always been to deliver high-quality events whilst always putting the athlete first, but we simply can't sustain an event with a loss of tens of thousands of pounds and no sign of long-term growth.

Once again, we are very sorry to disappoint you with this news. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely
Mat and Dale





Triathlon Advice for Novices

Dr Anastasiya Khomutova has prepared three tips to make sure your first triathlon is as enjoyable as possible.

Will Eastbourne triathlon be your first race? A first race is always a very exciting event, but can also cause some anxious thoughts and fears, especially when it comes to swimming in the open water!



As an amateur triathlete myself, I have prepared three easy tips for you that aim to make sure your first race is as enjoyable as possible.

Race your own race

Straight from the start, there will be many people rushing and overtaking you. With all the action going on around you, it can be very easy to get overly excited! This is when it is very important to race your own race – try to pace yourself and adhere to your race plan (even if your race plan is to simply finish with a smile on your face!). Trust me, you will not regret starting slow – you can always speed up later, once you have found your rhythm.

Control the controllable

A lot of anxiety comes from the unknown – what if the current is too strong? What if I have a puncture? What if I am the last to finish? The best way to tackle these thoughts is to decide what you can and cannot control (you might even write a list). Then you can direct your energies towards those things that are within your control, while avoiding wasting energy on worrying about those that aren’t. For example, if you worry a lot about open water swimming, try to practice swimming in your wetsuit elsewhere – whether it is a nearby pond or a local lido. Also try to practice changing your tyre; this is one of the most common race fears, but also one of the easiest to control with a little practice.

Create a mantra

When the going gets tough (and you start to really regret your life choices!), what will help you to get back to a positive mindset and cross that finish line with a big smile? Before the start, think about why you want to complete this race at all and write down a reminder to yourself as a short mantra on your wrist. You can look at this when you need to remember what really matters; use it to stabilise yourself and draw energy from. Waterproof sharpie is recommended!

If you would like to chat more about race prep, there is a special offer for participants of Eastbourne Triathlon:
Free 30-minute session with Dr Anastasiya Khomutova (sport psychologist in training) as a preparation for your race and 10% discount for any additional sessions!

Get in touch via info@aksportpsychology.com to book in.