Education

This analysis dives into the intriguing results of Ironman Texas finish times for 2024. Explore how age groups, gender, and even returning athletes from 2023 impacted results.

With 16 weeks to race day, I started with some slow base endurance work with short strides added in for speed. After a few weeks of base work (to add to my already strong base), the focus turned to time at marathon pace. Taking the approach of being consistently good, I was running 5-6 times a week with a load of 40-50 miles.

In this analysis, we'll surface and analyze the average finish times at IRONMAN Texas from 2017 to 2023, both overall and by age group, and provide some recommendations to assist athletes in achieving their best performance at this iconic event.

Traditional strategy suggests scheduling a 70.3 tune-up race 4-6 weeks before a full Ironman. However, data shows a potential PB boost with a longer lead time of around 14 weeks.

In the T100 Singapore, Sam Long delivered an impressive performance, securing a second-place finish with a total time of 3:22:38. Known for his quick wit and strategic racing, Long humorously described himself as the "first land animal" out of the water.

Lionel Sanders wins oceanside to start the 2024 IM Pro Series. Can he win it all?

This analysis, spanning over a million Ironman finish times, offers invaluable insights into selecting the right course for setting personal bests.

It is common knowledge that exercise improves mood, and that mood impacts a person’s ability to complete tasks. There are specific hormones and neurotransmitters associated with high-endurance athletics that impact the psychological side of training.

Picture this: Crossing the finish line Top 10 at Ironman New Zealand 2024, I screamed, a whirlwind of joy and exhaustion. This was the culmination of a journey that began with the thrill of hitting 'register' right after my Challenge Roth personal best. I'll walk you through the meticulous prep, the unexpected setbacks, and the insane path it took to reach this incredible moment.

I set a bold ambition of finishing a full Ironman in under 10 hours. During this period of my life, I embraced a self-coached, high-volume training approach that spanned years, culminating in this significant achievement.

Caleb Bendewald recounts his experience at the 2023 San Francisco Marathon, where he achieved a personal best time of 2:35. He credits rigorous hill training, pace-focused workouts, and acclimating to challenging conditions as pivotal to his success. Caleb emphasizes the value of gratitude and flexibility, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes both discipline and enjoyment in running.

In this post, I aim to build upon the analysis presented in my prior entry, where I explored the projected number of qualification slots by age group for 2024 events and developed a ratio of slots to participants based on historical race completion rates. For those interested, you can find my earlier discussion [here]. This entry expands upon the methodology previously outlined, incorporating a key modification: the use of historical data spanning the past eight years to examine the qualifying times, informed by the minimum, maximum, and average number of slots available.