Swim faster?! Bike faster?! Run Faster?! Or all of the above?
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Airborne posted 32 weeks ago.
No contest -- I'd choose to be fastest overall, in the run leg.
Why? Running is already my strength, and I typically feel better on the run than during any other part of the race. I also tend to do better relative to the field on the run than in any other part. But to have the fastest run split? That'd be a dream.
Plus, my new favorite distance is the Ironman. Can you imagine having the fastest run split for an Ironman? You're talking about a 2:45 marathon or so -- much faster than I can run right now (my marathon PR is 3:13).
Interesting question. My guess is that the elites would choose the other option.
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derek5 posted 32 weeks ago.
Great answer airborne that is exactly what I am looking for. I think this could turn out to be a really fun question!
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ChunkyB posted 32 weeks ago.
I am really new to triathlon. I've done a few sprints and am planning on my first Olympic this Summer. I would choose to be 10% faster in everything. One reason is because I just want to improve my overall fitness, and I enjoy all three sports. But, I would also feel pretty lame if I had the best bike leg and then got passed my 2000 people on the run. Even if I chose to do the best at the run, I would just be passing my fellow clydes and newbies. So, there you have it, I would choose to be 10% faster in every sport.
BTW, great question.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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Sully800 posted 32 weeks ago.
If I was going to be fastest in something, it better be the run and not the swim....I'd much rather come from behind than be passed by crowds in the end.
But I would choose to be a little better in every category over being a lot better in a single category. I think right now I am fairly evenly matched in each discipline, so improving equally in each would be very nice.
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Triguy98 posted 32 weeks ago.
I'd wanna swim the fastest. I am already up there in the bike and run, the swim is what reallly hurts my overall standings in the end.
If I was equal in all three, I'd wanna run faster. The finish line is at the end of the race, and you know exactly who you need to beat then.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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gfd posted 32 weeks ago.
I would choose to have the fastest run split. The few times I have had strong runs were great feelings. To go faster than everyone else in the race would be awesome.
My swim is so bad that improving 10% isn't going to make that big of a difference anyway.
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Leroy Bonkers posted 32 weeks ago.
I did the math on this from my first/only IM. Of the three, my time imporved most by calculating in the fastest run split.
My events were slower than firs by swim- 24min bike- 68 min run-91 min. Interestingly, my run was the strongest event when compared to the rest of the field! Yikes! So to take 91 min off my total time put me at 9:46. Taking 10% off the total 'only' got me to 10 hours even!
However!!! When I did the math using my fastest sprint from last year the 10% method was faster (my run was not so far off the lead). And given my weak swim I'd guess 10% would be better at Oly distance too
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Ultrarunner posted 32 weeks ago.
I guess I would have to go along with most here, I would like to improve my run. Actually running is where I am strongest at, but it is the last leg of the race and there is nothing like finishing strong. When others are dropping like flies I will want to fly right past them.
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chsfootballgirl posted 32 weeks ago.
Let's see . . . 10% would mean averaging 1:48/100 on the swim, 22 MPH on the bike, 8:24/mile on the run . . . Which means an Olympic race time would be 27 min swim, 1:07 bike, 51:15 run, a total of like 2:25. Not gonna win any gold medals there, but not a bad time.
Fastest swim split would generally be like 16:00-17:00, for a total of around 2:50-3:00.
Fastest bike split would probably be under an hour, right? Like maybe 55 minutes. Not going to cut any more than 20 minutes off of my overall time, so still comparable to the swim.
Fastest bike split would have to be around a 30 minute 10 k, which would subtract about 30 minutes from my time.
That means that knocking 10% off all three would by far be the best option for me. But even having done all the numbers, I'm torn . . . would I rather be in the middle of the pack throughout the race, or completely hammer the run? I dunno, Derek! I think I'll go with the 10% faster in every category, because that's fast enough to maybe get me an age group win at smaller races, and it keeps me in the thick of things throughout a race.
Great question!
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TriSooner posted 32 weeks ago.
Bike. It is the longest (distance and time) and a 10% reduction in time on the bike would pay the biggest dividends overall at any distance.
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UFTriGator posted 32 weeks ago.
I'd pick the run.
I figure I can swim mid-18s and make 1st pack on the bike at an slow-ish Continental Cup, 2nd pack at a more average one. I'm not crazy enough to go solo on the bike, so that's out. If I can run a 30 off the bike from the 1st pack I'll win, and I'll have a shot from the 2nd pack.
Taking 10% off might bump me from the 2nd pack to the 1st pack and bring my run from a 38 to a 35....still not going to place top 5....maybe not even top 10....not as good odds as having the best run.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
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derek5 posted 32 weeks ago.
Obviously the distance is a big key here. I love reading what people have said. So far I think having the fastest run has been chosen the most. It sure is nice having dreams of being 10% faster at everything though!
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Leroy Bonkers posted 32 weeks ago.
Now for the $1 million question: Do you improve that run performance by being less tired after the bike (work more bike) OR by being a faster runner (work more run)?
Obviously both would be nice, but I've got a job and a family so I have to prioritize!
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jhudalla posted 32 weeks ago.
I'd say 10% overall in everything. I'm VERY slow out of the water but I can usually reel everyone in my age group back in on the bike/run and typically finish in the top 10 ( age wise ) at the olympic distance. If I could be a little better out of the water, stronger on the bike and really kick it on the run I'd be a top 3 every time. I'm doing the california half in march so I'm hoping the training will improve my overall by 5% over last season.
If I had to choose to go the other way, best in 1 event, I'd say the bike. If I could beat Norman I'd be in good position to qualify for Kona every year even with my current swim and marathon times.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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severymt posted 32 weeks ago.
Without running the number like some of you have my first impression is 10% on each.
But....if fastest on the swim means way more EFFICIENT (i.e. not completely spent) and less tired for everything else then I'll take the swim because I think that is most likely my limiter and it [has/should have] a trickle down effect.
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beads1985 posted 32 weeks ago.
I think I would like to improve 10% on each event. I want to balance it all out.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
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deepbluex posted 32 weeks ago.
I would want to simply run faster. I feel ok about my swim and good about my biking. I don't get passed on the bike much but I get passed by everyone on the run. So just to hold my position and protect the gains made on the bike, I wish I could speed up my run.
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CadenceGuy posted 32 weeks ago.
If I had to choose, it would be the run. I come from a soccer background so this whole long distance running thing is very new to me. I come out of the water in the top of my agegroup and hang with it on the bike but get burned on the run. If I could knock a minute and a half off my run splits its game over for my age group haha.
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Socket posted 32 weeks ago.
10% in each would be nice. I'm not trying to win the whole thing, just to win vs me. (and considering I haven't actually done a tri yet, that's a pretty easy goal right now ;-) )
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PrinceofClydes posted 32 weeks ago.
Fastest overall split? At IM distance? Bike. No contest.
Why? That's easy.You pull major sponsorship with the fastest IM bike split. That's thousands of dollars, if only in equipment.
I remember the hype that surrounded the "Zach attack" at Kona in the 90s. You knew Jurgen wasn't going to win the race but we loved watching the ZachMeister go really fast on his Softride, beating everybody to the bike prime. Then we watched The Grip or Welchie run past him before the Energy Lab. heh.
If you have the fastest swim split, what do you get? A new Speedo?
PoC
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catwood posted 32 weeks ago.
Let's analyze this....
Current Oly PR: 2:24
10% off all disciplines = 2:10
=14 min improvement
Current splits: 23, 1:10, 44
The fastest women I raced against last year's individual splits: 20, 59, 40
None of those differences approach 14 minutes, though on an off day the bike is close.
I would definitely prefer a 10% improvement in everything.
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danpatgal posted 32 weeks ago.
For me I'd like to bike 10% faster, since I feel more naturally able to run and swim (less so) fast. Biking is also the longest discipline and you can't do well in triathlons without a stellar bike time. I do like the question, and reading all the answers.
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MarkyV posted 32 weeks ago.
UFTriGator wrote:
I'm not crazy enough to go solo on the bike,
Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)
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UFTriGator posted 32 weeks ago.
MarkyV wrote:
UFTriGator wrote:I'm not crazy enough to go solo on the bike,
Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)
Going solo in no-man's-land between two packs is more demoralizing than going solo off the front. If I could swim as fast as SOME people here, I'd be perfectly happy going solo on the bike if I knew everyone was behind me! :D
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
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kylie posted 31 weeks ago.
I'd pick the 10% in each event. For me it's not mainly about how I'd place, or any number crunching, but my goals as a triathlete. And that goal is to improve in each area, so that's the one I'm working towards :)
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johnny_Toronto posted 31 weeks ago.
Age is a factor I think. The guys in my 45-49 age group typically have faster splits on the bike segment compared to other age groups. Most of them will probably want to run faster. But keeping up the hard miles training volume gets tougher as you get older, so it's wishful thinking. My PBs are behind me on the run, but I think I still have some gains left on the bike!
As TriSooner said, the bike is the longest segment of a race, so a 10% gain there will pay off big time! If only I could afford a custom built Guru Chronos, or even a P3!
Johnny T
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kakman posted 31 weeks ago.
No question for me - fastest run split. I've only done 4 tris but with the fastest run split I would have podiumed in all of them (as it was I was MOP). I'm not a great swimmer but in my AG (45-49) I'm usually in the top 5 out of the water. I'm about average on the bike but I lose everything on the run.
where do I sign up? :)
/k
I have an interesting question for all of you triathletes. Humor me and choose one of the two options. Option one: In any particular triathlon you could be the fastest overall in one of the three disciplines of your choice, but remain the same as you are now in the other two disciplines. Option two: In any particular triathlon you could be 10% faster in each of the three disciplines than you currently could go. Explain why, obviously your talent level could dictate your answer. As you can tell being a triathlete in North Idaho in the winter can bring about odd questions!! i would love to hear your responses. Thanks!