TSP5: UK Triathlon Magazines 1986-1990

I started buying Tri-Athlete UK in July 1988. Then early editions of 220 Magazine and British Triathlon Scene. On a family holiday to Florida in 1989 I even picked up a few copies of the US version of Triathlete.

Over the last couple of years I’ve been buying up vintage triathlon magazines on eBay. Some of them I’d previously owned. But they hadn’t survived multiple international house moves and a few loft purges.

Then I started researching the early UK triathlon magazines.

This episode is therefore just a gathering of my resources rather than an in-depth historical study. But I hope it sets the scene. Starting in 1983 with the emergence of the first two triathlon titles in the USA.

Images:
Tri-Athlete (FR) Juin 1985
Triathlete (UK) February 1987. Last blue edition.
Tri-Athlete (UK) May 1987. First colour edition.
220 (UK) April 1989. Issue 2.
British Triathlon Scene (UK) April 1989. Issue 2.
Triathlete (UK) May 1990. The UK Comeback Issue.
Triathlon (UK) May 1990. Running Magazine supplement.

Links:
1987 Nice Triathlon
Early220 by John Lillie

Sources:
TriHistory: The Birth of Triathlete Magazine. An Insider’s Story
Triathlete (USA) May 2008. Looking Back.
Triathlete (USA): A Look Back At 40 Years Of Triathlete Magazine
Harald Johnson: 36 Years Ago Today.