Do larger (i.e. taller) athletes tend to do better at either the shorter (fast) or longer (high endurance) distances?
I’m fairly big (6’5’') and have only raced Sprint distances, but will do an Olympic this fall, half-iron next year and, maybe, ironman distance in 2009. I’m very new to the sport (no athletic background) and just curious if my body type will end up making me a better racer at either longer or shorter distances. Or will it make any difference at all?
I’m assuming a tall but not terribly overweight body.
Dont get caught up in details like that, thay will make you slower. whatever your body type, you will probably do pretty well in whatever distance you focus on.
Mate, I’m fairly big, 6’4, 100kg (you can look that up in pounds), I’ve done everything from less than a sprint to IM. The way I look at it, Olympic to Half IM is roughly the same type of event, assuming you can’t go sub 2 hours for an Olympic, I think that post 2 hour zone is roughly the same for Oly to HIM, its just longer in a HIM. IM is its own kettle of fish, basically, I reckon once you get over 80kgs, you are never going to be lightening quick at an endurance sport but doesn’t mean you still cant be very competive (or blow, I think you yanks say bonk) like the best of em.
Your swim will be fine, thorpie still swam great at over 100kgs, you should have bigger lung capacity for the bike being bigger etc but you will still be hauling round more weight than a small bloke no matter the distance. Don’t get me wrong ability matters a heap, but the extra weight still has to be carried. Probably upset a few smaller men, but you will probably be stronger and can hold your own running with anyone over a km/ mile with some training, but that weight will add.
My thoughts, might be crap, might not be and i think alot of our demons are in our heads. Basically anything over two hours, you need to dig a bit deeper and I think that will be the same for most people on here.