What is the formula that RDs use to determine the first run distance when a triathlon has to become a duathlon due to weather, etc? Is there a standard distance for an IM, HIM, OLY, etc? Any idea how these distances are arrived at?
formula is as follows: “Ah crap I have to cancel the swim, what silly thing can I make them do to keep them all from getting on the bike at the same time…hmmm…where can I put a run turnaround?”
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Think jpb has hit the answer but I think sometimes they try to make
the 1st run last about what the swim would take
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a few years ago, I had a 5K added in place of the Olympic swim due to flooding.
I don’t there is a set distance, its whatever works for the course.
My guess is that there’s a highly scientific approach used by the RD, something like:
- let’s not make the first run longer than the second
- is the RD a good runner and/or swimmer? a great swimmer / poor runner might go short, vs. a great runner going long
- what roads or trails are convenient to quickly throw together a path that goes from swim start or transition out and back in so that it’s not too confusing, can quickly be staffed with volunteers, and won’t demand a lot of pre-thought for police locations.
- have to pick a course that won’t cross the path of the bike or second run course, especially if you still need to do wave or time-trial starts for the runners
Also known as, “DAMN! What’s the simplest thing I can cobble together that will still make things work?” Some just throw in the towel and go directly to a time-trial bike start.
At a Sprint here last year, they cancelled the swim because of high surf. They had us run along the beach the same distance as the swim (1/2 mile).
Kinda silly to run for 4 minutes in the sand.
formula is as follows: “Ah crap I have to cancel the swim, what silly thing can I make them do to keep them all from getting on the bike at the same time…hmmm…where can I put a run turnaround?”
And there it is. This is exactly the formula that is used.