Providing accessible opportunities to get into swim, bike, run, GO TRI is British Triathlon’s beginner-friendly programme to introduce more people to triathlon and is proving a popular choice for women wanting to get active.

Funded through Sport England, GO TRI is delivered locally in the form of training sessions and events, all specifically tailored at supporting first-timers and beginner participants in swim, bike, run.

GO TRI Active sessions provide training opportunities in the individual elements of triathlon and are run over a series of weeks to build confidence, technique and ability. These swim, bike, run sessions can be used as a way of building up towards an event or simply as a way to improve skills across the three.

Delivered throughout the country, GO TRI Active sessions have recorded 78% female participation since April 2021, with the programmes and sessions delivered proving popular in helping women to get active or increase their levels of activity.

Working alongside the Muslimah Sports Association in London since 2018, women-only sessions have been delivered weekly to provide a safe and positive environment for women from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

As well as the training sessions, GO TRI Events have also showed strong levels of popularity amongst women, with 54% of participants since April 2021 being female.

Claire Ahmed, who took part in her first GO TRI Event with an open water swim during last year’s World Championship Series Leeds weekend, commented: “What I love most about GO TRI is the inclusiveness. Anyone of any age, background, ability level and with the most basic of equipment can take part. 

“GO TRI has introduced me to open water swimming which I really enjoy when I get the chance. For anyone considering giving it a go, sign up and go for it, you will not regret it. There will be so much encouragement from the organisers and other participants and the buzz you feel when finishing is amazing.”

Events cover triathlon (swim, bike, run), duathlon (run, bike, run) and aquathlon (swim, run), and all focus on providing participants with an experience that they will enjoy and give them confidence to take part again.

Designed to be accessible distances and low in price to take part, GO TRI Events have been used by novice triathletes as a way to get involved in the sport since 2013 and opened the door for thousands of participants to be introduced to the sport.

In general, they are smaller in the number of participants, shorter in distance and on routes that will challenge participants without them feeling overwhelmed. They’re also run by deliverers who are dedicated to providing opportunities for more people to get active.

Currently being trialled in a number of locations is GO TRI Local, where identical events are run on a monthly basis for participants to measure there progress. Operating as an on-going series of events, they’re open to new participants as well as those who’ve taken part in previous races and offer community and challenge in a supportive environment.

To find out more about GO TRI opportunities near you and to get involved, visit the GO TRI website.