To begin with, I started doing TNT in 2006 and have done at least 2 a year since then. Doing 7 of 8 races on 2 occasions and all 8 only one year, this year. I have completed a total of 48 TNTs. The first year I did them on my Lemond Sarthe, road bike with clip-on aero-bars, and in 2007 started using a tri-bike, my current 2006 QR Seduza.
Below are all my results for TNT starting in 2006. I have done other TTs during this time, but I have not included those results. In 2014, the course was totally different than the previous years. This year it was longer, 13 miles instead of 11 miles, and a loop, instead of out and back. I would argue that this course is much more challenging, not only because of the distance, but because it has more hills\climbs on it.
I think that the new course requires a little more patience at the beginning, because there are two climbs, one of them longer, on the beginning stretch that head north, before you turn east (ish). If you go out too fast, I think you can really blow up. The old out and back course, had 5, or 6, cannot remember, defined hills to climb, since it was out and back you went up and down the same hills. On this course, since it is a loop, you don't go up and down the same hills. The climbs on the new course seem more frequent, and there are a number of shorter, steeper, climbs.
I think that this is probably my best training ride during the triathlon season. Almost all of the bike courses on triathlons in the area are at the same level, or easier, than the TT course. It makes for a really good workout. Combined with the fact that I usually do a run immediately after the TT, it also makes for a really good brick workout.
Most of the people who do this race are serious, very serious, cyclists. Many of them race bikes and they are fast. As you can tell by where I finish, I am not competitive. For me, this is purely training, and lets me know where I am in my bike fitness.
2008 was my fastest year. On the old course I was never able to get back to that speed after my stress fracture. This year was my fastest year on the bike in triathlon, hard to say if it would have been my fastest year on the old course. Considering that my average speed this year, was about the same as last year, and it was longer and more difficult, I would like to think I was faster this year :)
Hopefully, they keep the same course next year. I would like to be able to evaluate my performance year after year.
2006 TNT Results (Lemond Sarthe)
Last place and almost last place, gotta start somewhere
2007 TNT Results (First Year on Tri Bike)
2008 TNT Results (Fastest Year)
2009 TNT Results (Reversed Course Year, Recovering from Stress Fracture)
2010 TNT Results
2011 TNT Results
2012 TNT Results (Reversed Course Year, I think)
2013 TNT Results
2014 TNT Results (New Course)
I think that the new course requires a little more patience at the beginning, because there are two climbs, one of them longer, on the beginning stretch that head north, before you turn east (ish). If you go out too fast, I think you can really blow up. The old out and back course, had 5, or 6, cannot remember, defined hills to climb, since it was out and back you went up and down the same hills. On this course, since it is a loop, you don't go up and down the same hills. The climbs on the new course seem more frequent, and there are a number of shorter, steeper, climbs.
I think that this is probably my best training ride during the triathlon season. Almost all of the bike courses on triathlons in the area are at the same level, or easier, than the TT course. It makes for a really good workout. Combined with the fact that I usually do a run immediately after the TT, it also makes for a really good brick workout.
Most of the people who do this race are serious, very serious, cyclists. Many of them race bikes and they are fast. As you can tell by where I finish, I am not competitive. For me, this is purely training, and lets me know where I am in my bike fitness.
2008 was my fastest year. On the old course I was never able to get back to that speed after my stress fracture. This year was my fastest year on the bike in triathlon, hard to say if it would have been my fastest year on the old course. Considering that my average speed this year, was about the same as last year, and it was longer and more difficult, I would like to think I was faster this year :)
Hopefully, they keep the same course next year. I would like to be able to evaluate my performance year after year.
2006 TNT Results (Lemond Sarthe)
Last place and almost last place, gotta start somewhere
2007 TNT Results (First Year on Tri Bike)
2008 TNT Results (Fastest Year)
2009 TNT Results (Reversed Course Year, Recovering from Stress Fracture)
2010 TNT Results
2011 TNT Results
2012 TNT Results (Reversed Course Year, I think)
2013 TNT Results
2014 TNT Results (New Course)
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