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I'm planning on entering my first Tri in Sep this year but don't really have an idea of the time I should aim for.
I cycle regularly (obviously) but have never competed on the road. I have completed a couple of half marathons (PB 1h 44m) and one full marathon (3h 52m). Assuming I can get to a comparable standard in my swimming and taking in to account the above run times what would be a realistic target for the Olympic length tri.
Hope that all made sense and thanks in advance.
but don't really have an idea of the time I should aim for
If you aren't aiming for as fast as possible, then I think you've got the wrong idea about racing.
I'd imagine you'll get a better idea nearer the time.
A lot of racing is pacing yourself so you'll want to be doing some race pace sessions to get an idea.
You're nearly asking how long is the trusty piece of string - but as you're run times would be fairly cose to mine I'd saying you're looking at around 2h 30m to 2h 45m for an Olympic Tri. Are you doing London? The course is fairly flat and the bike is slightly short which always helps 🙂
Good Luck!
I done a coastal tri last year and wanted to get under 3 hrs. I done very little training due to breaking a rib and finger out in the alps 3 weeks before and struggled in the running section( although it was a hard run across a beach and up and across a coastal path ). I had really bad cramp and had to walk for about 15 mins and I was gutted to come in on a time of 3.01hrs. I'm hoping to do it in around 2.45hrs this year. It's regarded as a tough tri so these times are going to be slower than others. I suppose it depends on where your doing it
Well given all that information you've given us to work with, I'd say about 2 hours, 43 minutes, 19 seconds. Though I may be a few seconds out either way.
This might give you an idea if you follow my ungainly progress
http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2012/02/22/12-into-70-3-will-go/
iDave, that sort of run up to a 70.3 is seriously impressive, best of luck.
Pushbikerider, haven't decided on the event yet but good luck with yours.
Molgrips, should maybe have said what time would be realistic considering current performaance.
Instead of trying to guess what your time should be, why wait til September? Tri season starts in May, do an early season race and give yourself something to aim at?
Even a sprint would give you a better idea of what you may be capable of over an Oly distance than trying to extrapolate from a few run times.
Yeah I don't like to set arbitrary targets - my wife does this - in general life not racing - but I find it a bit strange. I aim to be fully exhausted at the end without collapsing in the middle. Whatever time that turns out to be depends on loads of things including what my training was like previously.
OP - Your title say "predicted time". If you're asking about the time you put down on the entry form then worry about the swim time right as that dictates where you get put on the grid or which wave you start in. Put a too fast time and the quick boys are swimming over the top of you, too slow and you're stuck behind someone doing breaststroke. Forget the bike & swim times.
If you're setting a target time, well mine is generally "as fast as I can" or "1 sec quicker than I did this event last year"
2h39m15s. Depends what colour your bike is though.
Yeah I don't like to set arbitrary targets - my wife does this - in general life not racing - but I find it a bit strange.
So how do you know if you've "succeeded"? Or is that not something you worry about? All the good coaching guides recommend having targets - very motivational to have something to strive towards and then reach.
goals can be limiting
If you don't set targets and goals you're never disappointed. Works for me 🙂