Triathlon course - Triathlon

Hilly

03/09/2003 at 09:20

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.

cougie

pirate

03/09/2003 at 09:27

Hmmmmm - good question Hilly. Do they have course measuring like they would if it were an Athletics or a Cycling Time Trial Event ?

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 ?

Dr Nic Twinks

03/09/2003 at 09:28

27 mins for 5 miles! Wowsers.

I think BTA races do have to be measured..don't they?

moosey

03/09/2003 at 09:57

hilly, maybe you forgot to get off your bike for the run bit?

Hilly

03/09/2003 at 10:06

LOL moosey, I must have had another gear I wasn't aware of!!

Sorry couldn't resist!

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

03/09/2003 at 10:28

Hilly which TRIs were they?

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

03/09/2003 at 11:00

I've found that most non-standard length TRIs arent accuratly measured

I normally ride the routes (bike & Run) in advance to check for myself

Daz

03/09/2003 at 12:17

dont even bother comparing anymore. your right, they are not accurate, apart from the pool swims obv......and a lot of those splits inc T1.

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.

Pantman

03/09/2003 at 15:00

Do you guys think that HIMUK was accurate - there were some mighty fast run times there...

Daz

03/09/2003 at 15:05

no pantman. i would have broken my half marathon pb if hadnt stopped with backache. must have been short.

according to my cateye we had done around 44.4miles. but my cateye does skip a revolution every now and then...

cougie

pirate

03/09/2003 at 15:19

Is that for the 56 mile bike Daz ?

Very short ! Or you need it recalibrating seriously. ;-)

Daz

03/09/2003 at 15:57

whoops, sorry i got distracted by w*rk ;O)
i meant 54.4

cougie

pirate

03/09/2003 at 16:00

Awwwww. That sounded much better.

Typical of them to get the swim distances right. Pah !

Daz

03/09/2003 at 16:34

i wouldnt bet on that being right as well mate!

cougie

pirate

03/09/2003 at 16:41

(if they can reduce it to 100metres or less, I'm in !)

Daz

03/09/2003 at 16:48

one idea - grab as many of the zip chords around you as you can like one of those fellas that sells balloons at the fairground.
then when the hooter sounds....off you go!

Pantman

03/09/2003 at 16:52

Can't believe that Richard Allen ran 66min off the bike...

Pantman

03/09/2003 at 16:52

And what does this mean re. IM next year? If they can't get the distances right then they can't really call it an Ironman...

LizzyB

03/09/2003 at 16:54

Think even the swim distances can leave a lot to be desired.

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!.

Hilly

03/09/2003 at 16:58

WW-the tri's I did are organised by Concept sport, but going by what everyone says on here it seems most tri runs are short. Oh well I know not to think I've done a run pb on a triathlon!