Duathlon Post-Race Analysis

Find out how to analyse your duathlon 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 legs, and crushingly disappointed with the other(s).

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

Comparing Your Finishing Positions

There’s another way of analyzing your race performances. If you look at the results PDF for most duathlons, you’ll see how you ranked against other competitors by discipline. For example, your Run 1 ranked 10th, your Bike ranked 15th, and your Run 2 split ranked you in 25th.
 
Comparing your finishing position for different disciplines is useful because it shows where your strengths and weaknesses were 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 leg are affected by your pacing in the previous leg(s). You could have a fantastic Run 1 and Bike, but a relatively slow Run 2. This may be because you went a little too hard in the first Run and Bike, rather than because of your running ability.

The Best Way to Analyze Post Duathlon Results

You will have performed your three fitness tests 8 weeks before your race and used this information to plan your pacing strategy for your race. You can now use it to evaluate your results. Check planned values against actual values within Training Peaks over different parts of the race. You will need to take into account the nature of the course and the variables that may have affected your performance (positively or negatively).