RunTri does a great job with the stats, but there underlying analysis leaves much to be desired. And then ranking the difficulty of IM courses based on finish times is pure GIGO.
@ Cary. Definitely, but probably WTC is the only one in the position of doing the correct analysis and they probably consider it proprietary. Course elevation profiles, EXACT distances, water temperature, air temperature, humidity, end of day cut-off (15 vs 16 vs 17 hours) depending on the race, number of first timers, etc would all provide a much more nuanced look at which are harder.
If I remember correctly, the number of first timers was pretty close to last year. If I had to guess it was the massive headwind on the back section of the course from the start of the race. Usually this is a headwind section, but it builds over the course of the day & more impacts the second loop. This year it was kicking horizontal flags from the first loop.....but this is definitely my subjective opinion
as an observer at roughly mile 55/111 on the bike and 13/25 on the run, i would say it was both the wind on the bike course and heat on the run and probably on the 2nd bike loop as well. we saw many people clearly way behind on their second bike loops as we waited for when we thought they should show up for the second go around. Just watching the amount of runners that were hurting as they approached the turnaround on mirror lake drive was notable from the beginning. Even at the pointy end of the pack, we saw many people walking as they approached us on the first loop, i was rather surprised by this. Having done IMKY last year in not very dissimilar conditions (mid to hi 80s and no humidity) the heat takes a toll. I don't think anyone goes to LP expecting to deal with real heat, but it was a very hot day for the Adirondacks.
Eners were doing pretty good as a group on running at any pace, and of course a little prodding at the Ashworth cheering section took care of any stragglers. I think the threat of Patrick popping out from behind a tree (as he did on more than one runner) also helped.
as an observer at roughly mile 55/111 on the bike and 13/25 on the run, i would say it was both the wind on the bike course and heat on the run and probably on the 2nd bike loop as well. we saw many people clearly way behind on their second bike loops as we waited for when we thought they should show up for the second go around. Just watching the amount of runners that were hurting as they approached the turnaround on mirror lake drive was notable from the beginning. Even at the pointy end of the pack, we saw many people walking as they approached us on the first loop, i was rather surprised by this. Having done IMKY last year in not very dissimilar conditions (mid to hi 80s and no humidity) the heat takes a toll. I don't think anyone goes to LP expecting to deal with real heat, but it was a very hot day for the Adirondacks.
Eners were doing pretty good as a group on running at any pace, and of course a little prodding at the Ashworth cheering section took care of any stragglers. I think the threat of Patrick popping out from behind a tree (as he did on more than one runner) also helped.
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we saw many people clearly way behind on their second bike loops as we waited for when we thought they should show up for the second go around. Just watching the amount of runners that were hurting as they approached the turnaround on mirror lake drive was notable from the beginning. Even at the pointy end of the pack, we saw many people walking as they approached us on the first loop, i was rather surprised by this. Having done IMKY last year in not very dissimilar conditions (mid to hi 80s and no humidity) the heat takes a toll. I don't think anyone goes to LP expecting to deal with real heat, but it was a very hot day for the Adirondacks.
Eners were doing pretty good as a group on running at any pace, and of course a little prodding at the Ashworth cheering section took care of any stragglers. I think the threat of Patrick popping out from behind a tree (as he did on more than one runner) also helped.
we saw many people clearly way behind on their second bike loops as we waited for when we thought they should show up for the second go around. Just watching the amount of runners that were hurting as they approached the turnaround on mirror lake drive was notable from the beginning. Even at the pointy end of the pack, we saw many people walking as they approached us on the first loop, i was rather surprised by this. Having done IMKY last year in not very dissimilar conditions (mid to hi 80s and no humidity) the heat takes a toll. I don't think anyone goes to LP expecting to deal with real heat, but it was a very hot day for the Adirondacks.
Eners were doing pretty good as a group on running at any pace, and of course a little prodding at the Ashworth cheering section took care of any stragglers. I think the threat of Patrick popping out from behind a tree (as he did on more than one runner) also helped.