What's harder - Breaking 2:00 hours in OD or 4:00 in Half IM?

Triathlon Forum
1

Well?

2

OD = 0.94 mile swim, 25 miles bike, 10 km run

1/2 IM = 1.2 miles swim, 56 miles bike, 21 km run

1/2 IM - 2 x OD = - 0.68 mile swim, 6 miles bike, 1 km run

So, what is tougher, 0.68 mile swim or 6 miles bike plus 1 km run?

I did not put the transition time in there, but I would say that a 4:00 1/2 IM is tougher since it requires to race about two 2:00 hours OD back to back.

3

This may depend a bit on the person (I really don’t think so) but for me, and I go under 2 hr Oly, the 1/2 IM in 4 hours is much, much, much more difficult. In fact, I’d personally say that sub 4:15 1/2 IM (I can’t do it) is more difficult than a sub 2:00 OLY.

4

definitely the 4 hour half. there are a lot of solid age groupers out there that can break two in an oly race. seems to me that the only people breaking are the middle to upper echelon pros.

5

The quick answer is to look at any pro race for Olympic and you’ll see the entire men’s field way sub 2 and in fact, mainly sub 1:50. Look at the pro field in most half Ironmans and there are usually zero sub 4 performances. If anything, the guy who sets the course record goes sub 4 and the rest go 4:0x.

6

Personally, I think it would be easier to do a sub 2:00 OD. I have gone 2:02 at olympic Distance but neve come that close to sub 4 @ 1/2 Ironman. I prefer the 1/2 IM distance though- less violent.

7

If I remember right the winning time for the Men’s Pro was 4:01…so pretty close to going under 4 hours and the bike was hilly and windy…so could a pro do it ? or has it been done yet?

thanks

jonathan