Subject: Ratios of Swim/Bike/Run I spotted some articles over on slowtwitch about the ITU's new long course distance of 3K/80K/20K (1.9mi/49.7mi/12.4mi) as well as a newly proposed "Triathlon 101" - a distance of 3K/130K/30K (1.9mi/80.6mi/18.6mi). There appears to be some controversy about the ITU's decision to make long course equal to a double olympic. Ironman distances are based on long-standing tradition, but there isn't much "science" to their relation to each other. 2.4 miles is the distance across Kailua-Kona bay. 112 miles is (more or less) the distance around the perimeter of Oahu. 26 miles is the distance from Marathon to Athens. The ratio of S/B/R of Iron and HI events is 1/47/11. Tri 101 has an S/B/R ratio of 1/43/10 ITU distances are based on existing Olympic events. the S/B/R ratio for ITU short and long course is 1/27/7. An "equilateral tri" has been proposed with ratio of 1/8/3.5. (In theory each leg would take roughly the same amount of time.) Sprint ratios more random - the swim and bike are dictated by the size of the venue, and the run is generally a 5K. If the swim venue is small, the ratio can be as hith 1/56/15. Personally, I like the ratio of the ITU distances, even if they don't have the traditional appeal of the Iron & HI distances. I think an equilateral tri would be fun, but they don't seem to have caught on. One of my favorite events is a sprint with a relatively long swim for a ratio of 1/18/5. What do you think is the right ratio of Swim/Bike/Run? Ironman & HI - 1/47/11 Triathlon 101 - 1/43/10 ITU Long & Short - 1/27/7 Equilateral Tri - 1/8/3.5 Edited by tim_edwards 2007-01-03 8:01 PM
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