Ironman Lake Placid: Correlation Between Bike and Run Splits

It's the most consistent challenge in all long-distance triathlons: how hard to ride the bike, while still leaving enough in the tank to have a great run. When it comes to balancing the bike and the run, there are four groups:

1. Fast, Balanced: Rode fast along that fine line that also allowed a fast run
2. Energy to Burn: Ran a faster than expected after the bike, could have ridden harder
3. Rode too Hard: the Big Fear, riding too hard, and blowing up on the run
4. Smooth and Steady: longer bike and run splits on the way to a solid, if slow finish

You want to be with #1 or #4. Which group were you in at Ironman Lake Placid 2010?

Ironman Louisville 2009 vs 2010: Correlation of Bike and Run Splits

It's the most consistent challenge in all long-distance triathlons: how hard to ride the bike, while still leaving enough in the tank to have a great run. When it comes to balancing the bike and the run, there are four groups: 1. Fast and Balanced; 2. Energy to Spare for a fast run; 3. Left it on the Bike Course; 4. Smooth and Steady for a slow bike and slow run.

You want to be #1 or #4.  Interesting comparison between 2009 (chart below) and 2010: bike times were within 10 minutes of each other, but the run in 2010 was devastatingly harsh. Lesson: ride too fast, in good conditions or not, and it'll cost you on the run. Especially if conditions are hot. That's what happened in 2010, when far more triathletes found themselves in #3 and even #4. And being in #1 wasn't much better for those below the slope line. Also see our Ironman Louisville Impact of Tough Conditions Analysis.

Ironman Canada 2009 and 2010: Correlation Between Bike and Run Splits

It's the most consistent challenge in all long-distance triathlons: how hard to ride the bike, while still leaving enough in the tank to have a great run. When it comes to balancing the bike and the run, there are four groups: 1. Fast and Balanced; 2. Energy to Spare for a fast run; 3. Left it on the Bike Course; 4. Smooth and Steady for a slow bike and slow run.

You want to be #1 or #4.  Interesting comparison between 2009 and 2010: bike faster in 2009, run was faster in 2010, as was overall finish time. Lesson: ride too fast, in good conditions or not, and it'll cost you on the run. Especially if conditions are hot. That's what happened in 2009, when far more triathletes found themselves in #3 and even #4. See charts below.