I write this with a huge risk to my future. My future placement in big races, my risk of elevating my competition to a level I can't reach, my risk of ever beating you guys again. But I'm a numbers guy and I can't let this go unsaid! Your transitions SUCK and you're losing valuable time in BIG races where every second is so important. (Please DON'T share this blog to anyone in the 40-44 Age Group...PLEASE!)
I took the last three races I competed in and did some number crunching. I wasn't surprised. Age Group Nationals Olympic, Age Group Nationals Sprint both in Omaha and Ironman 70.3 World Championships this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN were the three races. Simple math: I added T1 and T2 together for three different groups, Myself, Top-10 in my AG of 40-44 (which I believe is an apple to apples comparison), and to account for totally different rack placements scattered in transition with no clear advantage, Top-10 Overall Amateur.
Results below:
Race: Mace: Top-10 AG Top-10 Overall Amateur
AG Nats Oly 3:15 3:43 3:17
AG Nats Sprint 3:05 3:39 3:00
70.3 Worlds 5:04 5:35 5:12
A few tips and tricks:
- Practice, practice, practice. Last couple weeks prior to the race, take advantage of your decrease in training volume of taper and replace that time with transition practice.
- Perfect practice makes perfect. Don't just practice, but make it perfect and realistic. Set up transition in a grassy park and go through both T1 and T2 as fast as you can. It can be as simple as a folding chair for a bike rack. Bring all your equipment, yes even the swimskin and/or wetsuit,
- Courtesy of MP athlete Mike Dunn: after bike dismount you can lean on the handlebars of your bike and actually run faster! Let the bike roll you through to your rack.
- Keep it simple. Don't bring anything extra into transition. If you don't need it, don't have it in there to even think about.
- Research your transition of your next race. Maybe this doesn't happen until the day before. Walk/jog through prior to race and know exactly where you are going. Can you find your bike? Shoes on pedals? Can you find your rack placement in T2?
- Always be moving forward. Grab your hat, bib number, glasses, etc and put them on while you are running to exit transition.
- Don't jog! Why would you run at a slower pace then your actual run leg? See it all the time, run fast!
There are a TON more tips and advice, let MP Coaches know how we can help!
I took the last three races I competed in and did some number crunching. I wasn't surprised. Age Group Nationals Olympic, Age Group Nationals Sprint both in Omaha and Ironman 70.3 World Championships this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN were the three races. Simple math: I added T1 and T2 together for three different groups, Myself, Top-10 in my AG of 40-44 (which I believe is an apple to apples comparison), and to account for totally different rack placements scattered in transition with no clear advantage, Top-10 Overall Amateur.
Results below:
Race: Mace: Top-10 AG Top-10 Overall Amateur
AG Nats Oly 3:15 3:43 3:17
AG Nats Sprint 3:05 3:39 3:00
70.3 Worlds 5:04 5:35 5:12
A few tips and tricks:
- Practice, practice, practice. Last couple weeks prior to the race, take advantage of your decrease in training volume of taper and replace that time with transition practice.
- Perfect practice makes perfect. Don't just practice, but make it perfect and realistic. Set up transition in a grassy park and go through both T1 and T2 as fast as you can. It can be as simple as a folding chair for a bike rack. Bring all your equipment, yes even the swimskin and/or wetsuit,
- Courtesy of MP athlete Mike Dunn: after bike dismount you can lean on the handlebars of your bike and actually run faster! Let the bike roll you through to your rack.
- Keep it simple. Don't bring anything extra into transition. If you don't need it, don't have it in there to even think about.
- Research your transition of your next race. Maybe this doesn't happen until the day before. Walk/jog through prior to race and know exactly where you are going. Can you find your bike? Shoes on pedals? Can you find your rack placement in T2?
- Always be moving forward. Grab your hat, bib number, glasses, etc and put them on while you are running to exit transition.
- Don't jog! Why would you run at a slower pace then your actual run leg? See it all the time, run fast!
There are a TON more tips and advice, let MP Coaches know how we can help!
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