Ironman Louisville 2009 vs 2010: Impact of Difficult Weather Conditions

Our analysis of hardest and easiest ironman distance triathlons considers the differences from year to year in racing conditions, and makes appropriate adjustments as necessary to the overall ranking.  The difference between Ironman Louisville 2009 and 2010 merited such an adjustment. This year's stifling heat in Ironman Louisville led to an increase in the average finish time by 45+ minutes. Most of the change was in marathon times, resulting in the remarkable differences shown here. One outlier: W55-59 -- from 8 to 14 finishers, 2009 vs. 2010, nearly the same average time. Also see Correlation Between Bike and Run Splits 2009 vs. 2010 and North American Ironman DNF Analysis.

Triathlon vs Duathlon: Predicting Bike and Run Splits

What will your duathlon finish time be if you've completed a triathlon with similar bike and run distances? Based on our analysis of last year's Steelhead half ironman and this year's duathlon on the same course, expect both bike and run splits to be 3% or more faster.

Bad weather conditions led organizers to cancel the Steelhead triathlon's swim leg, reducing the event to a bike/run duathlon, giving us the opportunity to compare duathlon vs. triathlon bike and run splits. Resulting duathlon splits in most age groups were at least 3% or more faster, as shown in the chart below. Notable exceptions were M18-29 bike and run splits, and run splits for W18-24, W40-44, W55-59 and WPro categories.

Behind the percentage differences, here are average bike splits for the 2011 duathlon compared with the 2010 triathlon, by age group.

Here are average run splits for the 2011 duathlon compared with the 2010 triathlon, by age group.

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Most Half Ironman Finishers? 5393 in a Single Day

On August 18, 2011, five half ironman events took place around the world, in Germany, the Philippines, Yeppoon, Michigan and Washington State. A combined total of nearly 5,400 triathletes finished these triathlons, perhaps the largest number of half ironman finishers in a single day.

An additional 192 triathletes had begun their respective half ironmans but did not finish, a 3% DNF rate. Notably, nearly 6,700 had initially registered to compete, but 17% never made it to the starting line. Lake Stevens' DNS rate of 34% is the largest we've ever seen. The Europeans are driven to compete; it appears that only 2% of registered entrants chose to skip Germany's half ironman, the lowest we've ever seen.

Of the five events, the Philippines half ironman appears to be the toughest challenge, as indicated by average finish times by age group. Germany comes in a close second, followed by the race in Lake Stevens.

Yeppoon's inaugural half ironman featured remarkably fast finish times across all age groups. The Steelhard half ironman swim was cancelled due to weather conditions; it was transitioned to a bike/run duathlon. Interestingly, the Steelhead duathlon times approach Yeppoon's full half ironman times in several age groups.