LONG DISTANCE RACES FOR LESS

Struggling to stomach the cost of a full or middle-distance tri? These picks will test you physically and mentally, without being as painful on your pocket...

- CHARLIE ALLENBY

Laponia Triathlon Date: 6 July

Location: Gällivare, Sweden

Distance(s): Full, sprint

Race fee: £228.50, £30

Scandinavia might not be the first place that springs to mind when planning a cheap tri, but this one’s surprisingly easy on the pocket. It’s a real bucket list race, too, offering you the chance to start the swim leg beneath the midnight sun – a phenomenon experienced in the Arctic Circle at the height of summer when the sun never sets. The undulating bike course (1,100m elevation) only has one climb of note, before a mixed terrain marathon concludes proceedings – and depending on your speed, you could be wrapped up before midday. Gällivare can be reached via Stockholm for £350 return, although you’re going to have to juggle two separate airlines, with Swedish company PopulAir running the internal leg. laponiatriathlon.com

Outlaw Date: 28 July

Location: National Water Sports

Centre, Nottingham

Distance(s): Full, aquabike

Race fee: £350, £300