Is a sub 7 Ironman possible?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.153Keywords:
triathlon, Ironman, performance, endurance performance, cycling, running, swimmingAbstract
An IronmanTM (IM) triathlon is an event where athletes have to run 3.8, cycle 180 and run 42.2 km. As of 2021, the IM world record time is 7 h 27 min and 53 sec. Hence, people in the triathlon community are starting to wonder whether it would be possible to break the 7-h mark for the distance, and this as soon as in 2022. To the best of our knowledge, we are aware of no theoretical paper which attempted to determine whether the breaking of the 7-h mark is humanly possible. Therefore, the first objective of this article was to determine whether an IM distance triathlon under 7-h might be achieved without external assistance and with the swimming, cycling and running equipment currently available. Our different analyses showed that this is very unlikely, which led to the second goal of this paper that was to demonstrate how external aid could contribute and be used to achieve the breaking of the elusive 7-h mark. First, we made the demonstration that pacers for each sport, through their ability to substantially reduce the aero- and hydro-dynamic drag encountered by the racing triathletes, are an absolute requirement to achieve the targeted swimming, cycling and running times required for a sub 7-h performance. Second, we explain how the wearing of a wetsuit for the swim, the optimization of the cycling equipment and the cycling position to minimize aerodynamic drag on the bike, and the use of carbon fiber plate shoes on the run will contribute to further cut racing time not otherwise possible to achieve with drafting alone. The last aim of this article was to expose the key course characteristics that should be sought by race organizers to optimize the chance of success of this endeavor. The main requirements are a calm body of saltwater, a flat cycling and running courses with a limited number of turns and low temperature, humidity and solar radiation, especially for the run part. The ideal location may be Bahrain in the Persian Gulf since it fits this description, and it is where the current half-IM world record was broken in 2019.
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