Joe Friel knows a thing or two about training and racing triathlons.
So when the International best seller author of countless books including "The Triathlete's Training Bible" says that Surging is the most common Ironman mistake, we listen.
In a recent blog entry Joe was asked to look at an athletes power-data file from Kona to help determine what went wrong.
Joe's explanation is somewhat technical for many amateur athletes. He calculated the athletes Variability index (VI) and sums it up best when he tells the athlete:
"What these VI numbers tell me is that you were surging a lot—in and out of corners in town, into head wind, up and down small hills, when someone passed you or you passed others, etc. Surges sap you of energy very quickly and also play havoc with your gut’s processing of fluid and fuels. Steady state pacing is a far better use of your energy. I expect your long rides did not have nearly this high of a VI. They, just like your race, should have a VI less than 1.05. Until you can do that it is unlikely that you will ever produce your best possible long course ride."
If you love numbers, and you really want the details you'll find them HERE.
But for many of us mere mortals the take home lesson from allof this data anaysis is that surging is really a bad long course race startergy if you want a fast time.