Ironman Kona 2017 Results Analysis: Finish Times, Splits, by Age Group, vs Previous Years

Ironman Kona 2017 saw a record 2235 athletes cover the grueling 140.6 mile course, finishing in an overall average time of 11:39.

• It was tougher than the average 11:31 finish time spanning the 16-year period 2002 to 2017, 
• A near-record 132 athletes did not finish, more than 80 qualifiers did not start  
• Average splits indicate athletes suffered most on the run -- 1:11 swim, 5:49 bike, 4:27 run
• Things could have been worse -- a far cry from 2004 finishers' 12:06 experience in the wind-laced, blast-furnace heat, 
• But it was a long way from what would be considered fast, a full 25 minutes slower than the wind-aided 11:06 average time turned in by finishers in 2013. 

We dove into details of the 2017 race, overall, by split, by division, and did side-by-side comparisons across each dimension going as far back as 2002. For extra credit, we conducted a bike vs run correlation analysis, illustrating the degree to which bike speed strategy impacted run splits for each athlete.

For more, see our Comprehensive Historical Ironman Kona Coverage.

Train Safely: How Many Runner/Pedestrian Accidents Each Year?

By Raymond Britt

We all train as safely as possible, whether cycling, running or walking. Unfortunately, accidents happen, a staggering number of accidents, actually. Here, we lay out the details, as collected by Department of Transportation and related government agencies.

As you take in the numbers, we suggest you consider your personal safety with reflective gear like this Running Safety Kit, a new product in development, currently raising funds on Kickstarter.

Accident Statistics: Pedestrian -- Walking, Running, Stationary

In 2012, Department of Transportation stats reported 67,000 'Pedestrian' (Walk, Run, Stationary) accidents requiring a trip to the hospital, While data specific to runner accidents were not reported, we can get a better sense of the proportion of runners, based on type of accident and time of day. We'll make an unofficial estimate of 35,000 runners with injuries requiring a hospital trip.

Of the most frequent reasons for reported injuries, runners are likely to have higher representation in the 'tripped on uneven/cracked sidewalk' (24%) and 'hit by car' (12%) categories. Yes, there are other 'tripped' categories, but I'd venture more walkers than runners fit that category.

Time of Day is paints an even clearer picture of the degree to which runners are seriously injured. Out of the 67,000 injuries to Pedestrians (remember, walkers, runners, stationary), the injury time of day shows peak times are after dark, when I'd argue a far more number of runners are training than walkers taking a stroll.

How to Improve Safety on the Run at Night? Most runners are aware that reflective gear should be worn after dark. But, honestly, most don't take that added safety precaution.

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Accident Statistics: Cycling

All Reported Accidents = 321,000 = 158,000 men and 163,000 women. Note that these numbers are most certainly understated; many more accidents are not formally reported.

Serious cycling accidents requiring a trip to the hospital = 45,000 = 36,000 men and 9,000 women. It's remarkable to see the rate of men involved in serious accidents, at 22%, far exceed the 6% rate for women.

See the following pie chart, distributing causes of cycling injuries. Notably, 29% or 13,500, are hit by cars. But a majority of the injuries, according to this data, appear to result from some form of rider error. Many of these can be prevented.

How Much Time Does It Take to Finish A Marathon? Average Marathon Finish Times

How long does it take to finish a marathon?

The answer, based on our analysis of 230,251 finishers in 25 races: 4:24, on average.

Here's how the average finish time stacks up against the 25.

Naturally, the time it takes to finish a marathon will depend on your age. Based on our analysis of results by age group at Boston, Chicago and New York marathons, plus our own experience on those courses, we developed an Adjusted Marathon Finish Time by Age Group.

Want to run an above average marathon? Beat these times.

A lot of first-time marathoners define their goal as 'Beat Oprah'. They want to run faster than Oprah Winfrey did in her first and only marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon. What was Oprah's marathon time? She ran a 4:29 in the women's 40-44 age group, beating the adjusted time of 4:35.


New for the 2011-2012 marathon season: we've analyzed 75 of the top marathons in North America -- with 330,000 finishers and 50,000 Boston Qualifiers --  to determine which ones are the biggest, toughest, fastest, and more.

Beyond the numbers, we've got personal experience, having competed in many of the marathons listed here, a total of 85 marathons overall, to add credibility to the rankings.

Toughest: Boston is toughest of our top 25, but with a deceptively fastest overall time, being exclusive to the qualified marathoners. Among marathons open to all runners, Los Angeles, Disney World, Portland (Oregon), RnR San Diego and Marine Corps are most challenging, based on average finish times.

Noteworthy: Chicago's 4:43 in 2010 ranked it 6th toughest overall. For more, see our detailed analysis of Chicago Finish Times by Age Group.  

Easiest: There is no such thing as an easy marathon. 26.2 miles is 26.2 miles, and competing in one is an awesome undertaking and an extraordinary achievement. But when it comes to faster marathon courses, Hamilton, Bay State, Pocono Mountain, Sugarloaf and Hudson River top the list.

And yes, we know very well that there are many, many smaller marathons not on this list that are wicked hard. We limited the analysis to these races, representing hundreds of thousands of finishers. For more see our Complete Marathon Coverage, and more detailed analysis, below.

Top 50 Best Marathons

Top 50 Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston