London plays host to some of the greatest mass-participation sporting events in the world and three of them – the London Marathon, RideLondon-Surrey 100 sportive and the two-mile (3.2km) Swim Serpentine – have now united to form the London Classics series.
People who have finished each of the three events will get a special medal and whatever you say about the joy of taking part, it’s always nice to get a medal, especially when that medal is engraved with Et ego Londinium vici – “I too have conquered London”.
If you have run the London Marathon in any year since 1981 and cycled the RideLondon-Surrey 100 since it began in 2013 they will count towards your London Classics tally, leaving just the swim.
The first opportunity to complete the trio will come at the Swim Serpentine open-water swimming festival in September, when you can enter the inaugural London Classics swim on Saturday 16th (£49).
If you have already completed the run and the cycle you can even enter the special London Classics wave at Swim Serpentine this year.
According to London Marathon Events, more than 2,500 people have completed the marathon and RideLondon since 2013. If that includes you, get down the pool and start training for Swim Serpentine – you could be one of the first to enter the London Classics Hall of Fame.
Your next chance to run the London Marathon will be in April 2018. The ballot for entry is already closed, with the results likely to be announced in October. If you missed out on the ballot, you can still try to secure a charity place in next year’s race.
The next RideLondon-Surrey 100 takes place on 30th July but unless you’ve already bagged a spot you’ll have to wait until next year’s event. Why not make 2018 a year to remember and sign up for all three of the London Classics in one year? The events are perfectly spaced out so the training periods
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