Triathlon Post-Race Analysis

Find out how to analyse your triathlon post-race data so you can train and race better in the future.

Finishing Time and Splits

The first thing we all do after a race is look at our race finishing time and splits. These can lead you to feel one of three ways:

• over the moon with happiness
• crushingly disappointed
• happy with one or two disciplines and crushingly disappointed with the other(s).

However, taking your race times or race splits at face value is not an accurate analysis method. Unless it is the same race you have done before with the same conditions, you will never compare apples with apples. Dozens of variables can significantly affect your race splits. 

Comparing Your Finishing Positions

There’s another way of analyzing your race performances. Looking at the results PDF for most triathlons, you’ll see how you ranked against other competitors by discipline. For example, your swim ranked 10th, your bike ranked 15th, and your run split ranked you in 25th.
 
Comparing your finishing position for different disciplines is helpful because it shows your strengths and weaknesses on that given day in relation to everyone else.

However, it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions from this information. There are two big reasons why.

1. The level of competition varies massively between events.
2. Your performances in each discipline are affected by your pacing in the previous discipline. You could have a fantastic swim and bike but a relatively slow run. But that doesn’t mean you’re a bad runner. It might just say you were over-tired because you swam and cycled too hard.

The Best Way to Analyze Post-Triathlon Results

You will have performed your three fitness tests eight weeks before your race and used this information to plan your pacing strategy. You can now use it to evaluate your results. Check planned values against actual values within TrainingPeaks over different parts of the race. You will need to consider the nature of the course and the variables that may have affected your performance (positively or negatively).