Have you ever wondered what the average time is for a half, or even what a good time would be for each discipline?
Check out the results analysis I have done on 5 of the UK's biggest Half Distance Events: Outlaw Half Nottingham The Vitruvian
The Lakesman
The Cowman
Outlaw Half Holkham
I did not use Ironman event results due to the difficulty of analysing the data.
Half Distance Triathlon Average Times by Age Group: Analyzing The Data
This data represents average times from half distance triathlons (also known as 70.3 events) across different age groups, based on 3,355 results from five of the UK's biggest triathlon events. The data highlights differences in performance between various age groups and between men and women. It’s important to note that some age groups have fewer participants, which may skew the results.
Overall Average Times for Half Distance Triathlon
Overall Time: 5:56:19
Swim: 40 minutes 41 seconds
Bike: 2 hours 57 minutes 57 seconds
Run: 2 hours 4 minutes 12 seconds
Men’s Averages (Based On 1935 Results)
Overall Time: 5:44:59
Swim: 39 minutes 58 seconds
Bike: 2 hours 50 minutes 49 seconds
Run: 2 hours 1 minute 23 seconds
Women’s Averages (Based On 683 Results)
Overall Time: 6:24:23
Swim: 42 minutes 32 seconds
Bike: 3 hours 12 minutes 26 seconds
Run: 2 hours 15 minutes 21 seconds
Breakdown by Age Group
Age Group | Men (Overall) | Swim | Bike | Run | Women (Overall) | Swim | Bike | Run |
Under 20 | 6:18:18 (7 Results) | 0:41:15 | 3:03:22 | 2:17:46 | 6:43:30 (3 Results) | 0:38:06 | 3:24:42 | 2:31:43 |
20-24 | 5:22:02 (97 Results) | 0:36:04 | 2:47:26 | 1:49:48 | 6:01:39 (42 Results) | 0:37:16 | 3:15:02 | 2:01:23 |
25-29 | 5:24:42 (198 Results) | 0:36:21 | 2:48:55 | 1:51:05 | 5:55:37 (76 Results) | 0:38:41 | 3:08:38 | 2:00:40 |
30-34 | 5:29:14 (281 Results) | 0:38:20 | 2:50:16 | 1:52:48 | 6:12:13 (107 Results) | 0:40:14 | 3:14:23 | 2:09:10 |
35-39 | 5:42:49 (312 Results) | 0:40:10 | 2:53:38 | 1:59:11 | 6:19:56 (85 Results) | 0:42:01 | 3:16:11 | 2:12:51 |
40-44 | 5:43:06 (328 Results) | 0:39:57 | 2:53:14 | 2:00:24 | 6:21:48 (110 Results) | 0:43:02 | 3:15:20 | 2:14:37 |
45-49 | 5:47:08 (246 Results) | 0:40:32 | 2:54:29 | 2:03:09 | 6:39:16 (98 Results) | 0:44:57 | 3:21:47 | 2:22:30 |
50-54 | 5:59:18 (279 Results) | 0:41:44 | 2:56:52 | 2:10:12 | 6:43:31 (93 Results) | 0:44:56 | 3:21:25 | 2:26:10 |
55-59 | 6:06:02 (162 Results) | 0:42:45 | 3:00:07 | 2:12:20 | 6:43:37 (56 Results) | 0:45:31 | 3:23:54 | 2:25:14 |
60-64 | 6:15:16 (76 Results) | 0:43:43 | 3:06:17 | 2:16:24 | 6:45:05 (28 Results) | 0:46:01 | 3:24:03 | 2:25:41 |
65-69 | 6:44:13 (17 Results) | 0:42:54 | 3:26:07 | 2:34:33 | *65+ 7:02:11 (7 Results) | 0:48:31 | 3:26:48 | 2:36:41 |
70+ | 7:27:09 (7 Results) | 0:51:25 | 3:46:08 | 2:48:13 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Why Do Age Groups Perform Differently?
Performance across age groups in half-distance triathlons varies due to several physical and experiential factors:
Physical Peak and Decline: Most triathletes hit their physical peak in their late 20s to early 30s, where their endurance, strength, and recovery are at their best. After the age of 35, natural declines in muscle mass and VO2 max (oxygen efficiency) start to occur, leading to slower performances in older age groups, especially in high-intensity legs like the bike and run.
Experience and Strategy: Athletes in the 30-40 age range often have more experience and a better understanding of race strategy and pacing, allowing them to perform well despite the beginning of physical decline. Older athletes may sacrifice raw speed for better pacing and efficient use of energy, which can result in relatively strong performances despite slower overall times.
Smaller Sample Sizes in Some Groups: For certain age groups, especially the under 20s and 65+, the smaller number of participants may skew the results. These groups may have more variability in performance because they feature a mix of highly competitive and recreational athletes.
Impact of Recovery Time: Older athletes may require longer recovery times between high-intensity sessions, which can affect their training consistency. This often results in slower run times for those in the 50+ age brackets, where endurance becomes more challenging to maintain.
Why Do Men and Women Perform Differently?
Differences between men and women in triathlon performance are largely driven by physiological factors:
Muscle Mass and Power Output: Men generally have more muscle mass and a higher power output, especially in the bike leg. This is why men tend to have significantly faster bike times compared to women.
VO2 Max: Men tend to have higher VO2 max values, which allows for more efficient use of oxygen during exercise. This leads to better performance in endurance-heavy activities like cycling and running. In contrast, women’s lower VO2 max can limit their performance over long distances.
Body Composition: Women often have higher body fat percentages than men, which can reduce efficiency in longer endurance events. However, this higher fat percentage may provide an advantage in swimming, where buoyancy plays a role in maintaining good body position, leading to less of a performance gap between men and women in the swim leg.
Pacing Consistency: Women generally demonstrate better pacing over long distances, often running more consistently throughout a race. However, they tend to finish slower overall due to the factors mentioned above, particularly in high-power segments like cycling.
How Coaching and Training Plans Can Boost Performance
While these performance trends give a general picture of how different age groups and genders perform in half-distance triathlons, the right coaching and training plan can make a significant difference, regardless of where you currently stand.
A well-structured training plan helps athletes focus on the key areas that will improve their performance—whether it’s building endurance, enhancing technique, or fine-tuning pacing strategy. Having a tailored approach to training can lead to substantial improvements, from swim technique refinement to efficient energy use on the bike and run.
Coaching adds another layer of benefit by providing accountability, expert advice, and personalized adjustments to your training. A coach can help you identify strengths and weaknesses, create strategies to overcome performance plateaus, and ensure that your training is both time-efficient and effective. This is especially important for athletes with busy schedules, looking to maximize their performance in the time available.
If you're looking to boost your performance and achieve your personal best, check out the Efficient Endurance coaching services and training plans. Whether you’re aiming to improve your time, manage your training better, or simply complete the event in your best form, we have detailed, personalized plans and expert guidance to help you get there.
About the Author:
Chris Searle is a Level 3 Qualified British Swimming Coach and a Level 2 British Triathlon Coach, also holding various running and cycling coaching qualifications.
With over 14 years of experience coaching athletes of all levels, Chris has developed British Champions in swimming and guided triathletes to podium finishes on the world stage.
You can read more about Chris's coaching journey on the About page.
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