Better Define: BOP/MOP/FOP

randomguymike - 2010-01-06 9:56 AM The only reason I, personally, would liek to better know what FOP/BOP/MOP are estimated to be is I see on the training plans 'times are based on BOP pace'. I'm worried in some disciplines I may actually be slower than that, while in others I may be overtraining since I'm high end MOP.

the bear - 2010-01-06 9:59 AM

My pace is based on my pace, but the duration of the workout is based on BOP pace. So, for the same plan (20 week Oly BT plan) I could be doing 9 mile runs and somebody else could be doing 6 mile runs, since the plan is duration based. Somebody else is likely doing 11 miles for that plan.

jgerbodegrant - 2010-01-06 11:10 AM I like to establish a "best-fit" bell curve using race data and pick the BOP and FOP....okay, just kidding.

What is the purpose of knowing the answer?  It's very subjective and quite honestly will get you nowhere.

DJS - 2010-01-06 10:10 AM

I agree, it is all relative to who is competing that day. One day your time may be good enough for FOP and those same times on another day could be BOP.
For myself, I look at it as 20-60-20.

jsklarz - 2010-01-06 11:14 AM

I'll email my regression analysis on all posted BTers finisher times cross referenced with actual race results (accuracy matters) which will definitively answer the question.

DJS - 2010-01-06 10:10 AM

I agree, it is all relative to who is competing that day. One day your time may be good enough for FOP and those same times on another day could be BOP.
For myself, I look at it as 20-60-20.

the bear - 2010-01-06 9:56 AM

those in front of me are FOP, those behind me are BOP, and that's me alone in the MOP.

graceful_dave - 2010-01-06 8:37 AM The best answer I've ever seen.

jgerbodegrant - 2010-01-06 8:10 AM I like to establish a "best-fit" bell curve using race data and pick the BOP and FOP....okay, just kidding.

What is the purpose of knowing the answer?  It's very subjective and quite honestly will get you nowhere.

those in front of me are FOP, those behind me are BOP, and that's me alone in the MOP.

Kido - 2010-01-06 10:38 AM

what if you are last or first?

Baowolf - 2010-01-06 10:59 AM Alright...... middle of the bell curve is the average race time + and - 1 standard deviation so the middle 68 percent (MOP).  This leaves 16 percent for the FOP and BOP (Those finishing more than 1 standard deviation above the average and those finishing more than 1 standard deviation below the average time for completion).

If you wanted to tweek the numbers to have extreem FOP and BOP with an extended MOP you could stretch it to only being FOP or BOP if you are 1.5 standard deviations above or below the mean resulting in the top 6 percent FOP, middle 88 percent MOP and back 6 percent BOP.  

As a comparision Kona qualifying times are typically top 2 percent and Boston qualifying times are typicaly top 6 percent.  So Kona is looking at a full 2 standard devaitions above the mean where Boston is only looking for 1.5 standard deviations above the mean for their FOP qualifiers (Extreme FOP).

Academically your standard FOP is a B/B+ or better (1 standard deviation), Boston is an A (+1.5 standard deviations) and Kona is an A+ (+ 2 standard deviations).