Triathlon - most important - run, bike or swim?

I've done mostly road and mountain bike racing and riding but I love triathlons. I'd like to do more but my knees are shot and the run kills me. So my question is ...what is the consensus out there on which leg of a tri is most important? If I lose alot of time on the run, is a great bike leg and an OK swim going to get me anywhere near the front? what are your experiences?

That is a very tough one to answer. One line of thinking is that since the bike leg is usually about 50% of the total time that makes up a tri, it is the most important and will produce the greatest results. On the other hand, my coach loves to point out that if you look at the run splits, the fastest run times will almost always mirror the overall finishing times. Big N.S. did win the IM with a great bike leg this year, but a lot of people have lost it on the run after a great bike split. Also, the shorter the distance the more important the run leg. I will never run a sub 16 5K and it's hard to get a 5 minute lead built up during the bike leg of a sprint. I can, however, build up enough of a lead on a 56 mile bike to stay away running 8 minute miles in a half IM. Just a thought...

Most people consider the bike leg the most important because you spend nearly half of the entire event on the bike, so therefore you can make up, or lose, the most time there.

Depends on the distance.... You simply can't make up the time in a sprint tri if you a have one week leg... I sink like a rock and would loose about 15min. over a 1/2mile swim, which you simply can't get back on the bike or run as they distances are just too short... I would venture to guess that most people having one weak leg has it in the swim... That's the reason why I compete in du's instead while working on the swim...

To somewhat answer the question... I think you make up the most lost time on the bike, but as said, not all... Even a super run won't be enough...

Also, think internationally where the bike leg is draft legal.. You just have to stick with the first group of swimmers, draft through the bike and sprint like h**l and the price is yours! Here running would be the most important... and of course, the ability to stick with the faster swimmers...

I think the bike is most important, followed by the run, and then swim. I'm hoping Aquathon catches on. In those events you swim and bike only. The only running you do is from the edge of the water to the transition area.

I hope you don't think I'm being sarcastic, but the most important part is the transition. And the shorter the race, the more important it is. You can save a minute or more just by practicing and being organized. Imagine how hard you'd have to train to save a minute on the run.

I think the bike is most important, followed by the run, and then swim. I'm hoping Aquathon catches on. In those events you swim and bike only. The only running you do is from the edge of the water to the transition area.

Aquathon...now that's right up my alley. is that something that actually exists yet?

Bike is THE most important as it's the one you will typically spend the most time on in most events. It's the one that should be focused on for improvement if you are not already an accomplished rider. It will also keep you fit for run and swim. Left weights especially chest, shoulder and triceps to help if you can't make the pool. Biking will help your runnning, BUT, you will still need to spend time road running. If all you'll do are sprints - try and get 12-15 miles a week in. You'll need to do more than that if you are considering olympic plus distances.

Aquathon...now that's right up my alley. is that something that actually exists yet?

Well, I know I read about it but now I can't find any information on it. I searched for aquathon and found some swim/run events. Now I just have to find the magazine where I read about it....

Interesting to see so many commenting on the bike being most important. I think it's the run. Historically the runners have posted the most wins in Ironman events, many a times a strong cyclist builds a good lead only to get run down in the last few miles. Stadler proved a cyclist can win the Wolrd Championships but until this year there were many doubts, as he himself was run down a few times after a great bike split.

As well, if you do the ITU/Olympic style where drafting is legal then clearly the run is the most important. I wish it wasn't the run as I suck, but just my 2 cents from what I've seen.

More on the aquabike series:
http://www.trifuel.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=5&search=aquabike

I've done mostly road and mountain bike racing and riding but I love triathlons. I'd like to do more but my knees are shot and the run kills me. So my question is ...what is the consensus out there on which leg of a tri is most important? If I lose alot of time on the run, is a great bike leg and an OK swim going to get me anywhere near the front? what are your experiences?

Wake-up, Wake-up...you must be dreaming.....:)
Nope - not even a chance, sorry ain't going to happen.
With a weak run leg, not even near mid-pack for that matter......the longer the event the longer your day.


A Story as told at the awards dinner, Ironman Hawaii in 2003
2 guys are whining about their "bad day" at Ironman Hawaii, that they didn't break 10:30 for the race. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A BAD DAY IS! A BAD day at Ironman Hawaii is when you are out there long after sunset, walking along the Qween-K Hwy. trying to finish the marathon...you see a paperboy go by "delivering a paper" with race results of a race - YOUR STILL IN! Now that's a bad day.............

My friend and former training partner was a national class swimmer in his college days, his Ironman PR is just under 10:00 hours...cycling we are close, running I have the edge and have the better marathon only PR. But my Ironman PR is more than 2.5 - hours slower than his, and it's not because he can crankout a top 15 swim in Hawaii either. It's because he is much better about putting the entire package together, the Swim, Bike, Run, transitions, fueling and dealing with what mother nature has to dish out.
I do a weekly "open water", mass start swim 1-mile, and run 5k race series (10 races) every Thursday night starting in June. The swimmers have the edge here for the most part, where I bust my A** trying to catch the pack from behind. But I'm a runner - yet I still placed top 20 overall in the series points out of over 400+ who race in the series - so go figure, you just never know....as they say on any given day....

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Sans Car...My concern...But, glad you enjoy all three..But I ran for about 10 years...The part I worry about.."My legs are shot."
I gave up running because of the same concerns..Hope my legs stay strong enough for the rest of my life to keep me going atop my bike...

Bike is still the place to focus. Runners can and do make great bikers.

im a noob at this but i was jw what is a PR

im a noob at this but i was jw what is a PR


errmm...if you want to know what "PR" stands for it's "personal record"

speaking from someone who has never raced a triathlon in his life, (but swam for 11 years) I think all you need for your swim is a base. All you need is to fly through water comfortably - you won't be thresholding your muscles as you have more to do afterwards

errmm...if you want to know what "PR" stands for it's "personal record"

k thx

It's the bike segment that means the most (by far!) But don't be bad in any area.

Tyson