I ask because I got my clock cleaned this morning at a local 5K in spite of being a consistent top 10% run split of my age group for any distance triathlon. I know the pure runners will generally be faster, it only makes sense but now I am wondering if for the purposes of protecting my ego should I just stay away from these type events. Anyone run open road races consistently even if you don’t do that well overall?
I usually run a couple a year. Even when I was a straight runner I didn’t place very often, now that I do multi sport I usually don’t place in my age group till late season. However my overall times in shorter distances has dropped considerably since I started tri, and I find I can do longer distsnce races on less training.
I like to when possible but I’m not very good at them, except ultras, which I am pretty good at.
Have one on monday as a matter of fact. I like to pepper my season with several types of non-tri races like aquathons, running, mtn biking, snowshoe, and extreme flailing on skate skis. I may do a Mtn Biking Biathlon this summer just for fun. It works for me because it gives me variety and is damn fun to boot! F ego protection, say I.
I’m surprised that if you are a top 10% runner in tris you would get you clock cleaned in an open 5K. I’d assume to be in the top 10% on the run in most tris, you’d be at least a 17:30 open 5K guy. This isn’t blazing, but this would be a respectable time for most 5Ks.
My perception is that most triathletes at an elite amateur level can do quite well (i.e win awards) in open bike (cat 3 or 4 level) or running events. So if you want to take it to the next level you need to do open events. Plus it’s really fun dropping the hammer on the runners and bikers in their races, “Yeah, I’m just doing this race for training, I’m not really a runner (biker)”
In open running events I probably do as well or better than my triathlon performance, and on the bike I can hold my own in a CAT 4 race, but I still don’t have the tactical sense to pull out a podium. I actually probablyy have more fun in the open bike and runs, since you are actually racing people, not doing a time trial.
I thinkyou’ll find that when your running your fastest running races you’ll also be runnig your fastest in tri’s. Running fast is about training. That being said I’ve noticed that the run times in tri’s get slower much faster than they do in a decent open road race.
I came to triathlons back in the 80’s from a modest running back-ground( 31 min 10K). When I was not doing a triathlon race I would do running races - typically one a month all year long. In addition to being fun and competitive, they also served as a good benchmark of my fitness. The clock does not lie.
Generally speaking, I find that many triathletes don’t race enough - running races included. They are so focussed on the big training, they don’t get it that a hard 5K, 10K or 10 mile race will actually push the key endurance fitness parameters further, than yet another 3 hour slog of a run.
Ditto all of the above for ITT’s on the bike - a 20K or 40K ITT done regularly will push the bike fitness further than yet another 100 mile grinder.
Fleck
Generally speaking, I find that many triathletes don’t race enough - running races included. They are so focussed on the big training, they don’t get it that a hard 5K, 10K or 10 mile race will actually push the key endurance fitness parameters further, than yet another 3 hour slog of a run.
Ditto all of the above for ITT’s on the bike - a 20K or 40K ITT done regularly will push the bike fitness further than yet another 100 mile grinder.
Fleck
I think you can’t figure out how to race fast in a tri unless you can race fast each leg individually. I never saw big gains in the run until I learned how to race a 5k, 10k properly. This meant doing more running races.
I won’t debate that one with you 
Suffice it to say if you can break 40 for 10K you are prob in the top 10% of most race fields.thats not fast it just has to do with how most triathletes run. Now maybe my definition of getting my clock cleaned is different. Today I ran 17:52 and was a minute out of 3rd place for my AG, I was like 19th overall out of 200. 1st,2nd,3rd went 16;30,16;42,16;55. A minute out of AG placing over short distance well that to me is getting my ass stomped. 17;52 is not my PR, I have gone in the high 16s before about 5 yrs ago and that was good enough to usu be top 5 overall,now then I felt like a true runr.
Hell yes (except for the rest of this year to prep for IMWA). I expect next year to be heavy on the running races. I love to race, so for me it can be far more beneficial to do a 10k or 5k road race instead of my weekly tempo run every once in a while. Allows for smaller, interim goals, breaks up the training, forces me in 1 discipline just a little bit more…
Sure I don’t do as well as I’d like, but a couple AG placings each year are a nice balance to the days I get creamed by the real runners.
AP