The London Classics is an extra medal you can earn for completing the all three of the London Marathon Events races. To earn this extra BIG medal, you need to complete the London Marathon, RideLondon-Surrey 100 and Swim Serpentine in any order.

There are no special entry options into each of the three races, which makes gaining entry into them, especially the London Marathon, the hardest part of the challenge. We all know how difficult it is to gain entry into the London Marathon. The RideLondon-Surrey 100 is via a ballot and also tricky to get into. Swim Serpentine 2 mile swim is the easier of the three and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Take a look at the www.thelondonclassics.co.uk website for the latest info, you can also find the form to claim your London Classics Medal upon completion of the third event.

I found out about this new challenge back when it was launched at the Swim Serpentine in 2017. I already had a place in the 2018 London Marathon so I decided to sign up for the 2 mile challenge at the 2017 Swim Serpentine which only left the RideLondon-Surrey 100 to do. I was unsuccessful in gaining a ballot place in 2018 but was offered a VIP place with a friend, who could say no to that!

I completed the Swim Serpentine in Sept 2017, London Marathon in Apr 2018 and Ride 100 in Aug 2018 where I picked up the London Classics Medal.

Swim Serpentine 2017:

Swim Serpentine is held in hyde park where the 2012 Olympic Open Water swimming events were held. They offer various distances and start times throughout the day but to be eligible for the London Classics medal you need to complete the 2 mile challenge. Back when I did it in 2017, there was one specific wave for the London Classics swimmers but I am not sure whether that is still the case.

You can read a more detailed account of my Swim Serpentine 2017 experience but briefly cut down. I only started back swimming in mid 2017 after a 25 year break and to put it bluntly, I was not very good at it. Swim Serpentine is an open water swim and I only did three open water swims in the few weeks beforehand. I had to hire a wetsuit for the month and just had no idea or experience at open water swimming.

The lake where I did my three open water swims was a lot warmer than the serpentine, I was a little scared of swimming in the colder 15’c water. Actually, typing that now makes me laugh, having swum in far colder water since that day.

I got around the 2 miles but slowed a lot in the second half but I felt so proud to have managed my first 2 mile swim. I hadn’t even swum 1 mile in open water before that day!

London Marathon 2018:

We all know about the London Marathon right? a 26.2 mile marathon running through the streets of London.

I have tried to gain entry via the ballot in 2017 – 2021 and have failed on each occasion. In 2018 I decided it was my time to run and I applied for a charity place with the British Heart Foundation and would run in memory of my mother who passed away following a heart attack a week after I completed the Swim Serpentine. I ran the 2018 London Marathon in fancy dress as a love heart.

This was my 6th marathon (1st as a love heart) but back then I had not got my training together and was struggling in the latter miles of marathon distance runs.

2018 was a warm day and running in a foam costume made for a sticky day. I struggled around in one of my slowest times but sneaked under the 4 hour mark to complete the marathon and second part of the London Classics. More importantly, I raised over £2,500 for the British Heart Foundation.

RideLondon-Surrey 100 2018:

The RideLondon-Surrey 100 is another legacy event created off the back of the 2012 Olympics following a similar route to the 2012 Olympic road race.

This is a 100 mile cycle sportive which starts at the Olympic Park and finishes on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace where the Queen is watching you from the balcony. Ok, I made that last part up but the palace makes for a decent backdrop to the finish.

I didn’t write a blog in 2018 but I did do the ride again in 2019 so you can have a read of 2019 RideLondon-Surrey 100 to get the low down. That said, 2018 and 2019 could not have been more different! 2018 was cold and very wet from start to finish whereas 2019 was a nice warm sunny day.

Cycling is something I have loved and I have been riding bikes for a lot longer than running and certainly swimming. That said, I had only gone up to 100 miles on one occasion before the 2018 Ride 100.

With the poor weather and large amount of cyclists on the route, we came across a number of accidents along our way and had to stop or take detours. In the end, we ended up riding under 93 miles but still took nearly 9 hours to get around. In 2019, I was in one of the first waves and as such, got ahead of the traffic and accidents. I covered the full 100 miles in just over 4hr 45min. Like I say, big differences between 2018 and 2019.

Despite the wet weather in 2018, Phil and I had a great time on our bikes and picking up the super heavy London Classics medal on the Mall just added to a memorable day.