Perhaps there is a real way of comparing..mathematically or with charts, graphs...let's see if the tri geeks here can solve this mystery for me.
We all know and can see from results that men are just physically stronger and faster than females who are trained to the same level. I accept that as a fact (cuz I have to ;)
I have this training partner who is a man, who I LOVE training with. He pushes me and I have gotten faster training with him. He is 9 years older than me, has more experience in triathlons than I do - although I have done more longer distance stuff than him- AND I am an IRONMAN ;)...but...regardless, he is faster than I am, especially on the run, but also on the bike, and more recently, he has gotten faster on the swim (because I TOLD him if he works on his mechanics, he will improve, and indeed, he did). He has big freakin paddle hands and I can still beat him on kicks...
So ANYWAY! my question is, how do we fairly compare our friendly competitions? Is it possible?
For example: last week we raced the same race. He beat me by about 10 min total. We both placed 2nd in our AGs, he was 16 OA male and when I counted females, I was 8th OA female. Does that mean anything?
I am just curious because he always beats me, but I tell him it's not b/c he's actually better than me, only because we are comparing apples to oranges.
It's all in fun regardless. I am grateful that he lets me train with him and waits for me on bike rides when I don't know where we're going ;) It's all good, but I'd like to know what ya'll think (and if anyone can prove undeniably that I am more awesome than he is, I would be eternally grateful ;)
Compare your age-graded
Compare your age-graded score: [url=http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/agegradingcalculator/0,7977,s6-238-277-4... from Runner's World[/url]
It just does running events, but you'll get the idea.
you could also give yourself
you could also give yourself a "handicap" kind of like they do in golf. Essentially taking the avg times of say 5-10 races to establish a base-line for the both of you. Then if you beat your handicap by 5 minutes and he beats his by only 4 minutes. You win!
TriSooner wrote:Compare your
[quote=TriSooner]Compare your age-graded score: [url=http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/agegradingcalculator/0,7977,s6-238-277-4... from Runner's World[/url]
It just does running events, but you'll get the idea. [/quote]
ya, that just tells me he's a better runner. c'mon! where are your pie charts and line graphs?! and the histories of man vs. woman in sports?!
jtrimom wrote:ya, that just
[quote=jtrimom]ya, that just tells me he's a better runner.[/quote]
You needed a calculator to see that? We can [i]all[/i] see that. ;)
You could just race him in
You could just race him in an ultra, straight up. That might be an even playing field:
[url]http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-238-511-0-13...
jarhead wrote:Then if you
[quote=jarhead]Then if you beat your handicap by 5 minutes and he beats his by only 4 minutes. You win![/quote]
Reminds me of a bar bet I once had on Who Was Faster? Me or a woman ten years my junior. We raced a 13.1 and I finished ahead of her, which technically won the bet. Notice I didn't write that I "beat" her or was faster. I knew her AG percentile was much higher than mine, but I didn't point that out. So, to compare apples-to-apples for a tri, compare your AG percentiles for the swim, bike, run, and overall. You'll age-grade yourself and he'll age-grade himself by ranking his finish amongst peers. Then compare who has a higher percentile. I think that's the bottom line (other than the big ol' clock above the finish).
PJT wrote:You could just
[quote=PJT]You could just race him in an ultra, straight up. That might be an even playing field[/quote]
True. Women often smoke the dudes in ultra long course runs.
compare your place
compare your place percentage withing your gender or age group.
example: he finished 10/100 guys, he is 10%.
you finish 9/100 women, you are 9%.
You win!
or go run an ultra. you should do that anyways.
TriSooner wrote:jtrimom
[quote=TriSooner][quote=jtrimom]ya, that just tells me he's a better runner.[/quote]
You needed a calculator to see that? We can [i]all[/i] see that. ;)
[/quote]
cute, REAL cute!
Wait.....who's at the
Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
I kid. I think what chekmarks said (and what you eluded to) makes the most sense. It might not always work when one field (guys vs. gals) fills up with talent disproportionately but over time it's a good indicator.
Sharon went 1:52 vs. the
Sharon went 1:52 vs. the fastest female open time of 1:48 - 4 minute differential
Your friend went 1:42 vs. the fastest male Master's time of 1:33 - a 9 minute differential
Not even close, you win.
Plus, he finished almost four minutes behind me so you can throw that in his face too!
I would just like to say I
I would just like to say I love fast women, I just can't keep up with them ;-)
Amphibious Triton
[quote=Amphibious Triton]Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
[/quote]
Unless you've got a pair of cantaloupes in there - tits beats testicles every time - in the hauling around in tight spandex department.
[grabs popcorn...nom,nom,nom]
[grabs popcorn...nom,nom,nom]
groovyjen wrote:Amphibious
[quote=groovyjen][quote=Amphibious Triton]Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
[/quote]
Unless you've got a pair of cantaloupes in there - tits beats testicles every time - in the hauling around in tight spandex department.
[/quote]
Yeah. I guess that's true. And oh how we love you ladies of the produce aisle. :)
Comparing fruit sizes never
Comparing fruit sizes never gets old...the thread title was appropriately worded after all :p
I think you two should race
I think you two should race the same course and then compare you times to average pro times for similar distance course. Who knows how many what ability people sign up for your random race but pro times will be more consistent and will serve as a more representative gender "upper limit" allowing you both to say, "i race at xyz% of the average usat 70.3 pro field".
As for the off topic bit, @beads, yes! I like my current pace, not fast enough anymore to keep up with the fast men, but the eye candy is amazing just a few min back w the fast ladies!
dkhartung wrote:Sharon went
[quote=dkhartung]Sharon went 1:52 vs. the fastest female open time of 1:48 - 4 minute differential
Your friend went 1:42 vs. the fastest male Master's time of 1:33 - a 9 minute differential
Not even close, you win.
Plus, he finished almost four minutes behind me so you can throw that in his face too![/quote]
I like this theory. :)
any post that ends with the words "you win" makes me happy :)
groovyjen wrote:Amphibious
[quote=groovyjen][quote=Amphibious Triton]Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
[/quote]
Unless you've got a pair of cantaloupes in there - tits beats testicles every time - in the hauling around in tight spandex department.
[/quote]
awesome! although, luckily, we don't have to sit on them
jtrimom wrote:groovyjen
[quote=jtrimom][quote=groovyjen][quote=Amphibious Triton]Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
[/quote]
Unless you've got a pair of cantaloupes in there - tits beats testicles every time - in the hauling around in tight spandex department.
[/quote]
awesome! although, luckily, we don't have to sit on them[/quote]
exactly, that can tend to be very painful, but then again having them bob up and down on the run course is no fun either. Hey, but you do get and added advantage on the swim from the extra flotation now don't you?
groovyjen wrote: - tits
[quote=groovyjen]
[/quote]
- tits beats testicles every time -
[/quote]
I dont' think you'd find a guy in the world who would argue with that statement! ;-)
[takes handful of Tri-ACs
[takes handful of Tri-ACs popcorn... nom nom nom]
After reading your latest RR
After reading your latest RR you do not need a handicap on the bike, or at least you won't for much longer . 22MPH!!! You are fast.
gfd wrote:After reading your
[quote=gfd]After reading your latest RR you do not need a handicap on the bike, or at least you won't for much longer . 22MPH!!! You are fast.[/quote]
thank you, Garen!
Amphibious Triton
[quote=Amphibious Triton]
[quote=groovyjen][quote=Amphibious Triton]Wait.....who's at the disadvantage here? You don't have to carry man-junk all over the course in tight spandex. I think that makes for an even playing field.
[/quote]
Unless you've got a pair of cantaloupes in there - tits beats testicles every time - in the hauling around in tight spandex department.
[/quote]
Yeah. I guess that's true. And oh how we love you ladies of the produce aisle. :)
[/quote]
This thread reminds me of the lyrics to this classic
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeiSIsD1mVM&feature=artist[/url]