04/08/2026
Any triathlete can run fast fresh but few can run well fatigued….
One of the biggest misconceptions I see are athletes judging their run ability based on how fast they are on fresh legs, on the track, in intervals or during standalone sessions.
But triathlon doesn’t start with a fresh run.
It starts after the swim and more importantly after the bike where everything changes.
Athletes can hold strong paces in training but once they get off the bike that pace fades, stride changes, posture drops.
So the question is not:
“How fast can you run when you’re fresh?”
The right question is:
“How well can you run when you’re fatigued?”
When your legs are heavy.
When your heart rate is high.
When your body is asking you to slow down.
In triathlon, the best runners are not always the fastest in isolation.
They are the ones who maintain control, hold their form and perform under fatigue.