#Glasgow2014 Preview: Triathlon

If 400 hectares of woodlands, park and wetlands sounds like your slice of heaven, chances are you’re not a triathlete.

The above account describes the layout of the 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run that awaits the competing 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games triathletes at the Strathclyde Country Park.

Located on the south-eastern edge of Glasgow, roughly 20km from the city centre, the course is a popular recreational facility for many natives and visitors alike.

In 1994, the venue hosted the first ever T in the Park music festival that was headlined by groups such as Blur, The Manic Street Preachers and Oasis. But while those names conjure images of Brit pop giants of yesteryear, the only rock and roll receptions on offer in Strathclyde during the Commonwealth Games will be for those athletes crossing the finish line in the medal positions.

Western Australian athlete Ryan Bailie will be hoping to do just that, having qualified for the Australian team and making his Commonwealth Games debut in Scotland, but he won’t need to spend too much time acquainting himself with the athletes’ village, with his event – the men’s triathlon – raced on the opening day of competition.

For fans keen to catch the action, the race is on at 10.00pm Perth time on Thursday July 24. Although unburdened by expectation in Glasgow, if Bailie could spring a surprise, he would be Western Australia’s first medallist at this year’s Glasgow Games, a nice trivia question for future generations.