Let's Do This Team's Top 2025 Event Picks
As the clock strikes midnight and the promise of a fresh start begins, many of us are setting our sights on challenges that will make 2025 a year to remember. To help give you some new year inspo, we asked our team to share their goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking to smash a personal best, conquer an iconic event, or try something entirely new, we hope our team’s resolutions inspire you to set some big, bold goals of your own.Here’s what we’re working towards in 2025:
How to prepare for your first sportive
From kit to training regimes, these are the things you will need to focus on ahead of your first sportive event, so that there are no fears on the day.
You’ve signed up to your first sportive and have no idea what you’re doing? No worries, this handy guide will help you get to grips with what you need.
What is a sportive?
First of all, before we get down to business and tell you all need to know about taking on a sportive, let’s clear up what a sportive actually is.
A sportive is a mass participation cycling event. In several countries, including the UK, they are billed as ‘non-competitive events’ so will not have the same sort of racey element that sportives in mainland Europe do.
Although seen as non-competitive, sportives will almost always be timed, so there is still a healthy level of competitive spirit. Sportives are aimed at all riders of any fitness, experience or skill level. So if you’re a new cyclist interested in getting into more competitive cycling, then a sportive is for you.
No matter your cycling level, a sportive will almost always have a great course with marked directions, feed stops and mechanical support so they are the perfect way to ease yourself into the world of cycling events.
Double check the event details.
There are a lot of logistics that go into riding a sportive so make sure you know exactly what’s going on. You will have access to all of the relevant information, either through the website or through the info that the event will have sent to you.
Make sure you know:
- Where you need to be to start
- What time you need to be at the start
- Whether you need to sign in on the day
- What you need to take with you — ID, helmet, entry form, etc.
- What you need to wear — specific jersey, gloves, etc.
- Any parking arrangements
- Any other logistics that the website/event info states
Having all your stuff packed up and ready to go on the night before the sportive will lead to a more relaxed and straightforward morning.
Get your training in.
You wouldn’t take a test that you haven’t revised for, so don’t treat a sportive any differently. One of the best ways you can prepare for a long bike ride is to train. The main reason training is so important is so that you can get your body used to the physical feat that you’re undertaking.
But with sportives, there’s a lot more than you will need to get used to. For example, re-fueling during your ride is very important. You will need to get accustomed to drinking and getting energy on board while you cycle. This means drinking lots of water to keep your body hydrated and taking on energy gels or sweets to keep your sugar and energy levels up.
You will also need to get used to dealing with hills. Most sportives will pride themselves on the hills that they have — where’s the challenge in doing a sportive on a dead flat course? Not only will you need to get your body accustomed to the physical hardship of tackling a tough uphill, but you will also want to practice descending down hills to make it easier and faster to descend safely and quickly. Descending well just comes down to keeping a cool head, common sense and building confidence. Learning how to descend is a skill that will serve you well throughout your cycling career, helping to keep you safe, in control and enjoying the speed rush.
Last but not least, getting used to cycling in a group is vital. Learning how to cycle safely in a group of riders is not only more sociable but also helps to conserve energy. There are lots of little bits of etiquette when it comes to cycling with people. This guide from British Cycling helps to outline how to ride in a group.
Practice at all of these things will ensure that your big ride will run smoothly and comfortably.
Prep your bike.
Make sure that your noble steed is just as ready to take on the sportive as you are. The last thing you want to do is to get a few miles in and realise that your wheels are loose or that your brakes don’t work. You can either get a bike service at a workshop or just go over the bike yourself. Make sure you check that your brakes work, your gears change smoothly, all the nuts and bolts are tight and that everything is where it should be to make it a smooth and stress-free day.
Another useful thing to do is to learn how to fix a puncture. Flat tires are the bane of every cyclist’s life so make sure that you’re prepared to deal with the inevitable flat. You can either use a puncture repair kit, to fix the problemed inner tube or you can replace the inner tube all-together (personal favourite). Make sure you have a spare inner tube and all necessary tools with you so that if you are cursed with a puncture, you’ll quickly be able to deal with it.
Fuel.
In the last few days before your sportive, make sure you’re eating regular, well-balanced meals, but taking on more carbs over the course of the day. You will also want to increase your water consumption to keep your body properly hydrated.
On the night before your big ride (after you’ve packed), again, have a good, well-balanced and healthy meal. Avoid taking on too much fibre and don’t go crazy with the carbs if you’re not used to eating lots of them.
Although you might be quite nervous on the morning of the event, a good breakfast is very important. Don’t have too much stodgy food but make sure you take on a decent amount of carbs to give you the energy and calories that you need for later on.
Things To Know About A Triathlon
Any triathlete should expect to have to do lots of research. And there will still definitely be things that you won’t find out until the actual race day. But here is a basic overview of some (random) things you might want to know.
1. Swim, Bike, Run
Most people figure that it’s in this order just because it’s safest. Given that most people struggle the most swimming, at least they aren’t having to try open water when they aren’t fresh. It also separates the faster from the slower racers, making the competition relevant for both the elite and the new-comers. Plus it means that the triathlon doesn’t become a competition about who can squeeze their wetsuit over a sweaty body.
2. There are lots of distances to choose from
A triathlon just means a race with swimming, biking and running. But there are a bunch of distances to choose from:
3. You will have to swap your bib over
When swimming you won’t have a bib (the water would probably damage it). Instead you’ll have a permanent marker number on your ankle (along with your tracking chip). While you can pre-attach your cycling bib to the back of your gear, ready and waiting to slip on as soon as you’ve emerged from the water, for the running you’ll need to swap it to the front so people can still see you.
4. Transition zones make a difference
You’re doing three sports, all of which require different gear. And when changing between the three the clock is still ticking. So if you get it wrong, can’t find your bike, and are slow putting on your clothes, then your time will suffer. So the transition part to the triathlon becomes a bit of a skill in itself.
5. You can get lost swimming
Even though they stagger the swimming part, there are lots of people in the water. Some of them might even grab hold of you at points (probably due to the panic of open water swimming). But with everyone around and about and bumping into each other, you might end up going off course. So don’t just rely on following other people, but make sure you keep on lifting up your head to get a sense of your direction.
6. You may get cramp
Cramp is likely with any kind of over-exercising activity. But particularly when it’s hot and humid it can creep up on you and take hold. Even experienced triathletes are vulnerable, so it’s worth learning how to combat just in case it actually does target you.
7. Swimming can cause chafing
It might surprise you that even swimming you’re still in danger of chafing. But around the wetsuit or swimsuit the friction is just the same as when you’re out of the water. Vaseline is therefore just as necessary at this stage of the triathlon as it will be for the running part later on.
8. A lot of it is about how much you eat
You’re expending a lot of energy. And so it’s only natural you’ll need to fuel yourself up for it. Some describe triathlons as eating competitions and for the longer ones they probably aren’t far wrong. Eating until the end will probably be the make or break of your triathlon, so make sure you think about it before.
7 triathlon training tips
Here are the 7 best ways of improving your training and making sure everything is all set for your next triathlon event.
Once you’ve committed to a triathlon, here’s what you need to know for tackling your training for the big race. Always remember: nothing new on race day.
Find your next triathlon event
1. Train in the Conditions
Swimming in open-water makes a massive difference to speed and energy spent trying to fight even the slightest current. Suddenly finding yourself out of the safe confines of your local 25 metre pool can be pretty intimidating. Particularly when something in the water touches your leg. It’ll all be completely fine and harmless as soon as you take the plunge, so why not get over that fear before the actual race day and train in it.
2. Practice the transitions
Particularly if you’re looking to make a new PB, transition training is important. You don't want to finish the swim on race day only to have a wrestle with your wetsuit. It’s often just about feeling that bit more confident of your transition routine — what to take off first, whether you’re going to eat, and how to race your bike to the cycle start-point the fastest. If you’ve never done a transition before, it’s worth practising beforehand just to steady your nerves. Twenty minutes of doing it a couple times will help, especially as you bustle in and around the elites.
3. Know your strengths
Not many people will be absolute experts in all three disciplines, but most people will have one or two legs they specialise in. It's important to set out a good strategy so you know when to push and when to be conservative. So while you may lose out a bit on the swim, if biking is your thing you might be able to overtake some of the people ahead that way. Similarly, if running is your strongest suit, you don't want to have emptied the tank before you get there.
4. Work on your weaknesses
Having said that, if you know that you’re already a very able runner, then try and avoid seeking easy training gains by focusing mainly on that. It’s easy to do your favourite training and then check out for the rest of the week. But if you can’t cycle or swim, you can make the ordeal a whole lot harder for yourself. So make sure you focus on all aspects of the triathlon, with specific focus on your weaker disciplines. That way your stronger suit will allow you to excel rather than make up for lost time.
5. Get to grips with the ‘bricks’
A brick is doing two disciplines back to back. So that’d be completing your swim and immediately biking with no break, or moving from swimming to running. Especially for your first brick session, you'll find that moving upright after you’ve worked your whole body will be a dizzying struggle. And your legs will feel like bricks themselves as you get off your bike to start your run. But it's better to work on that in training then feeling it for the first time in the race. Your triathlon training then of course will need to include practicing the transition moment, and the ability to keep going afterwards.
6. Practice eating on the go
The clock is always going and won’t stop just because you do. So if you’re going to eat (which you absolutely should) you want to be doing something at the same time. Whether it’s while you’re clipping your bicycle helmet on or mid way through your bike ride; make eating as efficient as possible. If it’s the latter you should train the same and check that you can actually eat comfortably while cycling. Work out when eating suits your stomach as well so that you don’t eat and then realise that it was a bad decision. Energy gels can do funny things to your gut, so make sure you know what you're doing in advance.
7. Be flexible with your training
As with training for anything, you’ve got to get the right life balance that you want. No training plan is worth sticking to to the last letter, and so long as you’re committed to your triathlon and have some discipline then you will be fine if you miss the odd training. Listen to your body and take a day off if you need to recover. Getting bogged down will just create the triathlon guilt trip that takes the enjoyment out of it.
Why you should do an obstacle course this year
Looking for your next challenge? Read on for why we think you should sign up for an obstacle course this year.
Obstacle course events are becoming increasingly popular and are designed to test your limits both physically and mentally while getting you out of your normal activity routine. They’re all about having fun while being surrounded by a great group of people and the sense of achievement you’ll get when you cross that finish line. For those that aren’t yet convinced, below are some of our top reasons why we think you should sign up to do an obstacle course this year.
Gives you a training aim
Sometimes it can be difficult to make yourself train or exercise when you don’t have a clearly defined goal. Signing up to an obstacle course challenge gives you a target to aim for so you can train with purpose. It also gives you a timescale to work with which can help you focus your training even more.
2. Promotes functional fitness
The challenges and obstacles faced in an obstacle course are often so varied and diverse that they challenge all parts of the body and all types of fitness. This means that your training should also be diverse and target all parts of the body — cardio fitness, strength training, mobility work and some skill work (like monkey bars). This can help rebalance your physique and improve your overall fitness.
3. Fostering teamwork
Often people sign up to an obstacle course as part of a team, be that a bunch of friends, a social club or some work colleagues and the focus on supporting and pushing the rest of your team through the gruelling obstacles and mud is what really builds that sense of teamwork. Also, there is wider fostering of teamwork as you’ll find people outside of your direct team helping you with some of the particularly challenging obstacles. This sense of camaraderie builds a real community spirit amongst participants which is both fun and quite unique.
4. Learn to overcome mental obstacles
Some of the challenges you’ll face are as much mental as they are physical. Firstly, there’s the training before event day and persevering when you really would rather be elsewhere. Then there’s the event itself. During obstacle course runs, you’ll encounter obstacles that you never expected and that may trigger different reactions from a variety of people. You’ll find that the hardest obstacle for you may vary for one of your teammates. For some, jumping into ice baths might be the toughest obstacle while for others it could be crawling through a small dark tunnel. The courses are designed to test your limits and to push yourself in ways you didn’t imagine you could. With the help of your team and those around you, you’ll be able to overcome even the toughest mental obstacles.
5. Sense of accomplishment
That feeling of finishing a race side-by-side with your team is unbeatable. The satisfaction of knowing all your training has been worth it and you’re proud of yourself for powering through even when you wanted to quit is inspiring. Soak up that sense of achievement and enjoy that medal because you’ll definitely have earned it.
Head to the Let’s Do This website now to find an obstacle course run for you and your friends.
Best British Boozy Running Events
Drink. And. Run. At the same time. Or pretty much at the same time. It sounds like it wouldn’t work, and yet at the same time it sounds and is pretty awesome. If you’re not prepared for the prices of doing them abroad (Marathon du Medoc for instance) then have a look at what Britain’s got to offer. And let’s get boozy.
1. Choose an ATHLON
Gin-Wine-Ale-Pizza-Chocolate-Pie-Cake athlons are the choices. They’re not all boozy, but the boozy ones surely are the best. It’s a pretty simple concept: you turn up, often for a late-evening start, and run the course. It’s usually 6–8 miles, and there will be strategically placed (and questionably named) “aid” stations. These will ply you with whatever is in the offing during the race (one of the previous options) and make sure that by the time you cross the finish line you’re more than a little merry. Athlons happen all year round and mainly in Cambridge and Yorkshire, but have a look for the next one and see (The Athlons UK Web Page.) If you don’t live near, just think that you’d probably travel for less.
2. Tempo Relay Run Events
There’s the ‘Tempo run for cider relay’, the ‘Tempo run for beer relay’ and ‘Tempo run for gin relay’. A bit of a theme. The idea is to put on events that the organisers would want to do themselves, so they’re guaranteed to be good. And you only need to run 2 miles before you hand over to one of your team of four. Rules state dress up, and there’s no excuses to not go for it with full force — you can definitely afford to buy some new stuff after only paying a tenner to enter. And there will be prizes at the end for best dressed. It seems barely worth the regret to miss it, so find yourself a group and head to Worcester, Stratford, Cheltenham or elsewhere for a Boozy Relay Run. Find out more about event dates at Tempo Events.
3. Run The Bacchus Marathon & Half Marathon (and the 5 Mile or Fun Run) In Surrey Every September
It’s not exactly a series of events. But once a year there is the Surrey Bacchus Marathon and Half marathon (plus the 5 miler and free fun run for kids). It’s in a vineyard and is a must-do. You’ll try 6 English wines across the Half marathon course, and 12 during the full. And in case that sounds too indulgent there will be soft drinks and some food at the stations too. There will be, of course, the same again at the finish line, alongside a hog-roast and a good look at everyone’s fancy dress. It justifies a visit just for the course itself and the live music during it. So it’s no surprise that it’s a sell out every year even before you think of it as one of the best boozy races. Look it up now and if you can’t get tickets for this year, be bold and go for next at BACCHUS Marathon & Half Marathon
4. SECRET LONDON RUNS
CRAFT BEER RUNS (Secret London Runs Craft Beer Web Page)
If you’re looking for a craft beer run on a Saturday in January, May and July, you’ll find the ‘Craft Beers of the East End’ from Secret London Runs. You’ll choose your pace (on a scale of chilled to slightly less chilled to speedy) and do an 8k whilst seeing some of the sights of London. And there will be some pretty tasty beers to sample on your journey round and one pint at the end. If you’re not a Londoner or those dates aren’t for you, Google a beer run and you’re likely to find one nearby.
GIN RUNS (Secret London Runs Gin Web Page)
There’s also, of course, a 10k Gin Run. It takes about 2 hours — largely because it consists of 10 stops where you are required to take part in gin trivia and games. You’ll get a guide, a goodybag (which everyone has missed since their childhood days) and — to quote — ‘a lovely gin in a lovely gin palace’. Whether you’ve earned it or not is not important to be honest.
5. The Beer Mile
There are some official Beer Mile events in England. That’s where everyone joins together to run 4 laps, and to drink 4 beers — one before each lap. If you miss the actual event though, it’s still worth taking part in. Because it’s pretty simple to just make your own events and races. And then you can enter your time into the official Beer Mile resource where you can see your time, everyone else’s times, and the PBs that you’re going to break.
Running The Shorelines In San Diego
San Diego is renowned for its picture perfect white beaches and amazing weather. It’s also completely equipped to be a runner’s paradise. You don’t even need to be running on a beach to get the experience of coastal running. Because it’s really all about the view.
Mission Bay Park
It’s not far from downtown San Diego. But suddenly you’re surrounded by just under 30 miles of shoreline to adventure into. It’s 12 miles to get around the whole Bay, with stunning views, sections along Mission Beach and more than just a few other running alternatives.
La Jolla
Running by La Jolla will be a tough running experience — it won’t all be up against the sand, but at points your legs will have to wage war against it and there will only be one winner. If you can manage it through you’ll have yourself an amazing leg workout as you run north towards the Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Sunset Cliffs
This time you’re not on the beach. But it’s pretty magnificent — especially (as the name suggests) at sunset. Heading along the cliff line, you’ll really see views to remember. Even if you think you’ve seen it a million times before, there can be nothing like the release of running endorphins to truly make you appreciate it. You can make your run longer by directing yourself to Mission Bay or doing an extra mile along Ocean Beach.
Torrey Pines
Trail rather than beach runs, these trails also offer beautiful views over the Torrey Pines unspoiled beaches, the seabirds’ lagoon and vast views of the ocean. It’s pretty exposed to the elements (and it can definitely be hot), so a sunset run could get you the best of both worlds — you’ll avoid the heat and get the picture perfect shot of the sea.
Running: How To Prepare For Race Day
There’s not that much you need to do in preparation, but it’s worth making sure you do do the bits that are necessary.
1. Running nutrition
Think about when and what you’re going to eat on race day. You should stick to things that you have tried and tested before to avoid a surprise trip to the portaloo during the race. See What To Eat Before A Run for more info.
2. Not over-doing it
Be careful as well how much you eat and drink. Drinking twenty minutes before the start won’t hydrate you and will probably make you feel a little unwell. Similarly eating too much will have the food sitting uncomfortably in your stomach.
3. Packing for race day
Prepare the day before. Definitely, definitely don’t wake up and find that you don’t know where your bib is. Just lay it out ready and then you can sleep at least a little easier.
4. Knowing the course (& where it is)
You can know where water stations are, what terrain you’ll be running on, and where your supporters are waiting for you (make sure you know what they’re wearing so you can spot them better). Also just knowing how to get there in the morning will help destress you. Don’t start badly and turn up just before the race-gun goes off.
5. Working-out your own pace
Don’t get swept up in the moment and run faster than you can right at the beginning. It’s great if other runners end up motivating you, but not if you’re going to lag later on.
6. Pre-empting running injuries
Bring blister plasters and wear them if you’re worried. Apply vaseline/ Body Glide (everywhere) to stop chafing. Make sure you stretch — before and after. And have a recovery plan for right after. Knowing a couple more things about running injury prevention also can’t go amiss, so have a read up on How To Avoid Common Running Injuries.
7. The weather
Head to the local charity shop and buy some throw-away clothes if it’ll be cold the day of the race. You can chuck them off whenever you like that way, and you won’t need to start off freezing. Or if it’s going to be sunny be careful about suncream and staying hydrated.
8. Trimming your toenails
Don’t make holes in your expensive (worn in) running shoes. It’ll hurt and it’s so easy to avoid.
9. Running alone
A running group is great. But don’t let it throw you if you find yourself running alone on race day.
10. A running playlist
Be careful of your music choices. You don’t want the tempo to be too slow, or for that matter too fast. Choose one that matches your running speed so that it doesn’t disrupt your running speed.
11. Your running gear
It’s worth investing in a bit of good running gear. While it is meant to be a cheap sport you definitely want to spend a bit to save on dealing with running injuries. And it’s just generally more comfortable with the right gear. If you’re not sure what running gear to go for, have a look at Running Gear For Beginners.
Make winter running great again
When the clocks change and the temperature drops, most people will swap out their running shoes for their cozy duvet. Make the most of the colder, crisp weather with these winter running hacks
1. Head, hands, feet
Get yourself a good pair of gloves, some warm socks, and a beanie, and you’ll most likely come back from your run smiling. The rest of your body will warm up as you run, so if you do go out ready for a snowstorm, make sure you wear lots of light layers that you can easily take off and carry when you’re running.
2. Warm up before you leave the house
The first five minutes of a run in the cold are by far the worst. Do your warm up indoors to avoid this altogether.
3. Short and sweet
Don’t go crazy on distance when it’s particularly cold out, and, if you do, find a route that stays relatively close to home in case you need to cut it short. If you start feeling cold half-way into your run, don’t be afraid to take a shortcut back — you aren’t going to do yourself any good by pushing through that.
5. Don’t worry about pace
It’s not easy getting speed-work in during a cold run. Don’t worry if your average pace is slightly slower than usual, and just enjoy keeping up your mileage.
6. Ease into intervals
If you are going to run intervals, make sure you’re properly warmed up before starting those sprints. It might also be worth reducing your interval pace, especially for the first few intervals.
7. Finish with a hot chocolate
Dreaming of a reward during a run does wonders to motivation. Get your hot chocolate ingredients ready before you set off so that you know what you’re coming back to. Even better, ask a flatmate to heat it up for when you arrive…
8. Get warm and dry quickly
When you get home, make sure to get out of your sweaty clothes and into something dry as quickly as you can.It’s always easier to stay motivated when you’ve got a challenge coming up. Find your next challenge on Let’s Do This
The Best Running Events For Kids
Either your children are super enthusiastic and keen to get out and about, or you’d love to encourage them to take part in a bit more sport. These running events are perfect for either — they cater for all abilities, and they’ll even help you sorting out long school holidays whilst making sure your kids are being as active as possible.
1. Junior ParkRun
Everyone knows about ParkRun. The 5k event happens every Saturday and pretty much everywhere. But if you’re between 4 and 14, there’s also a very achievable Junior 2k event too. It’s free, easy and everywhere, and could even get your kids into running events on a weekly basis. Get the whole family to come and support and you’ve got a great activity to start off the weekend.
2. Kids’ Virtual Challenges
Virtual running challenges really are the easiest way to get your kids out and about without having to put in a massive organisational shift. Sign up your child (or children, if you want to make it competitive) to a challenge in time for the beginning of the month. They’ll then have the next 4 weeks to make sure they complete whatever the challenge is, and you’ll have a medal to give to them at the end. It’s really that simple, and could absolutely be the start of a love of running, competition and activity.
3. Race For Life Schools
‘Kids today will beat cancer tomorrow’.
The Race For Life raises awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK. The Kids edition (surprise, surprise!) does the same. But this time it gives you that perfect school event for the end of the school term. Fitting into the term calendar, it organises running events for all students, all ages, whether in primary or secondary school, and all genders. So do an amazing thing and fundraise whilst also encouraging the next generation to beat cancer sooner.
4. Any Fun Run, Color Run, Inflatable Run, Bubble Run & Mud Run
There are so, so many fun run races to do on the weekends and in the holidays. They’re not just for kids. They’re utterly unique and give an amazing experience to everyone, so it really is a win-win. They’re usually untimed and very relaxed, a way to get a bit messy and have fun as a family. Look up any of the above and see which one you’ll sign up for first .
5. Great Run: Kids Running Events
In most major UK cities you can choose from usually several running events a month. There are ‘Junior And Mini’ runs to join (alongside others like Family and Canine runs). There may not be anything particularly stand-out about these events — but(!) they are many and often, far-reaching, and are easy motivation for a child who’s keen.
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