I've done 2 triathlons organised by concept sport and both were supposed to have 400m swim, not a problem easy enough to measure yourself in the pool. One had a 14 mile bike section the other had 15 and the runs both supposed to have had 5 miles runs to finish. I know from my own road races that the 5 miles must have been short on both course as my times were 27 mins and I've not run that time for 5 miles on a road race nevermind after 2 other disciplines.
So how do we know if the courses we do are accurately measured? It seems to be the runs more than the bikes as I drove round the bike sections and they were about right.
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Or is it more like Cycling Road Races, where it's not really the distance as the race.
I guess one course isn't comparable to another, so the distances don't have to be as spot on. More of a guideline ?
I think BTA races do have to be measured..don't they?
Sorry couldn't resist!
I normally ride the routes (bike & Run) in advance to check for myself
the way i get an idea of how i improve is just by looking at the names of those that finish around me. you'll start to recognise names and can compare your times with them over different races.
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
according to my cateye we had done around 44.4miles. but my cateye does skip a revolution every now and then...
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
Very short ! Or you need it recalibrating seriously. ;-)
i meant 54.4
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
Typical of them to get the swim distances right. Pah !
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
then when the hooter sounds....off you go!
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
I had to swim 30 lengths to do a 500 metre swim ... I´m sure that there´s no pool in the world which is 16.6666666 metres exactly!.
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
Lizzy-that's certainly a weird size pool!
As you say though Daz, I don't really compare times across events because apart from the changes in terrain etc, the transitions are so different. Some are very close to the swim exit, some you have to run up a couple of flights of stairs. Some have people to rack your bike for you, some don't.
I know that all season I have had similar times to a clubmate (he beat me by just under a minute on Sunday) yet he did a 9hr50 Ironman in Austria compared to my 11hr21 in Switzerland, mostly due to a much flatter bike course which in turn makes you run better.
Best not to compare times, just enjoy your good performances and learn from bad ones.
I ran one mile (11 to 12 I think) in around 5 mins!
The distance from mile marker 12 to the finish was also well short.
I think the bike course was about right, and the swim - even if that was short, the overcrowding made up for it!
My impression of the event was that it was a beautiful setting, but as for full IM I can't see it happening.
Let's go back to Llanberis for a real race!!
That venue was heaps better in my opinion.
Paul.
Would you sort of look at it as the equivalent of training for a marathon where you should only really do 2 in a year if you want to get the best out of yourself?
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
noice
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner