Yes, you’re also an elite athlete

Jogging routes

With the Championships taking place across the Olympic Park, we’ve found a couple of jogging routes in East London, both around 10km. Strava’s East London towpaths route starts in Limehouse and sweeps up to the stadium itself, before cutting back down along the River Lea.

The Runner’s Guide to London have also found a spectacularly scenic route through the Docklands, encompassing Canary Wharf, Jubilee Park and the Greenwich museums.

Long-distance running

The city is well-served for long-distance events, with the action extending well beyond April’s London Marathon. One of the largest events is the annual Ealing half marathon in September, taking in a swathe of tranquil West London parks. Further south the Richmond Running Festival is a weekend of events covering 10k, the half and full marathons also in September, while the stunning Royal Parks Half Marathon sees racers travel through the Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

Olympic swimming pools

For a capital city London is pretty poorly served when it comes to its pools, with only three venues meeting the 50m Olympic length. There’s the Olympic pool used in 2012 in Stratford, while the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace has long had a range of impressive facilities. More recently opened is Gurnell Leisure Centre’s 50m pool in Ealing.

Cycling events

Cycling events offer a great chance to enjoy a serious ride while also visiting some of the beautiful towns surrounding London. Going beyond the famous Ride London, races take place each year heading from the capital to Reading (40 miles) and Canterbury (65-80 miles), while the 54-mile London to Brighton route means you can finish with a dive in the (very) brisk ocean.

Click here for more of our recommended cycle routes.

For a great selection of clubs and groups organising sports ranging from sailing to table tennis, have a look at our guide here.