Yee’s time is #3 in the UK this year. Last year in the Olympic year it would have been #7. He’s clearly competitive at the national level, in his secondary sport. Pretty incredible.
Imagine running 13.13 and finishing 25th. And a guy who ran 13.16 finished 35th.
^^^ This is all you need to know. Before super shoes, then bicarb, and whatever else people are using now, this was a solid national class time, knocking on the door of true world class. For 2025 this ranks about 100th on the world list so far. Solid, but ...
Times have changed, but most people still have the mentality of before for what is fast. Look at the number of people breaking 4:00 in college/HS, sub 3:50 college/pro. 13:30 5K was a top 5 ncaa season time, now it ranks about 30th. Similar for 28:30 10K.
Imagine running 13.13 and finishing 25th. And a guy who ran 13.16 finished 35th.
^^^ This is all you need to know. Before super shoes, then bicarb, and whatever else people are using now, this was a solid national class time, knocking on the door of true world class. For 2025 this ranks about 100th on the world list so far. Solid, but ...
Times have changed, but most people still have the mentality of before for what is fast. Look at the number of people breaking 4:00 in college/HS, sub 3:50 college/pro. 13:30 5K was a top 5 ncaa season time, now it ranks about 30th. Similar for 28:30 10K.
Imagine running 13.13 and finishing 25th. And a guy who ran 13.16 finished 35th.
^^^ This is all you need to know. Before super shoes, then bicarb, and whatever else people are using now, this was a solid national class time, knocking on the door of true world class. For 2025 this ranks about 100th on the world list so far. Solid, but ...
Times have changed, but most people still have the mentality of before for what is fast. Look at the number of people breaking 4:00 in college/HS, sub 3:50 college/pro. 13:30 5K was a top 5 ncaa season time, now it ranks about 30th. Similar for 28:30 10K.
Adjust your awe accordingly.
No one is saying it is world class. It is absolutely national class though.
Wait, does he? A little credit to the mom-coached new dad for throwing down (4th) in the races that matter — in the Olympic run up (10,000m) and this year (5,000m).
Between this run, Hayden Wilde’s 27:39 road 10k earlier this year, and Morgan Pearson’s 61:01 half marathon, I don’t know what is the most impressive standalone run performance from a triathlete.
Perhaps Webb’s 3:46 mile still remains the best run result by a triathlete though ;)
For those following, triathlon is getting pretty crazy now. Plenty of athletes who could be national class in an individual discipline. But the reality is that top athletes really don't have any weaknesses. It used to be that maybe you didn't have the best swim but could make it up on the run. You're getting left behind if your swim isn't elite now. Yee is an amazing runner. This is a fantastic result. He can also throw down on the swim & bike. Hoping we get to see him step up to T100 at some point.
Not a track race. If it's road, may not be accurate. I think he's legit track 13:25-13:30 though based in his previous 28:00 track.
Doubt he'd be capable of 13:13 on track. Not happening.
Confirmed - he did it, 13:13.80 in Oordegem (express track) Belgium.
My bad for thinking he was not capable of such a time. 13:13.80 is equivalent to approx 27:28.00/10,000, phenomenal for a triathlete.
How fast is his swimming, btw? For 1500 swim, world class swimmers do the distance in approx 14:30-14:40. I'm thinking Alex could swim 16:00-17:00. Triathletes, confirm please?
Anywhere from 17:30-20:30 in races but triathlon is less about time & more about time gaps. Distances aren't always exact. Open water swimming presents challenges. Idk what he could do in a pool but my guess is faster than 17:30. He was 27s off the front at the Paris Olympics.
1. Yee is an aerobic beast. No doubt all of the swim and bike work improves his VO2 despite not being run specific.
2. Triathlon is getting better because of runners and cyclists that have the self-awareness to know that they are not elite in their individual sport. Rather than muck about being the local road or crit king, they go multi and get pro contracts.
3. Is it possible that training more like a triathlete would benefit sub-elite runners? Instead of cranking out huge running mileage and getting hurt, perhaps 6-8 hours of easy Zone 2 work on the bike and more focused quality running would yield better benefits? For 10K and under, this might be a viable strategy for mortals.
Re #2 -- sort of what I was trying to get at. That's not 100% it at the moment. There are athletes, like Yee, who could get a pro contract in an individual discipline. It's pretty insulting to say rather than muck about being the local road or crit king -- Yee just ran 13:13. Plenty of men & women could be single sport athletes. I'll give you that decent college swimmers & runners are getting into the sport in much bigger numbers. The athletes winning races are doing each sport at an elite level now.
3. Is it possible that training more like a triathlete would benefit sub-elite runners? Instead of cranking out huge running mileage and getting hurt, perhaps 6-8 hours of easy Zone 2 work on the bike and more focused quality running would yield better benefits? For 10K and under, this might be a viable strategy for mortals.
why do you say for 10k and under. seems to be it would be most beneficial for marathoners because they need to extra aerobic work and are less likely to get injured whilst cross-training than if they try and run 100+ miles a week consistently.
The marathon beats the crap out of your legs and the only way to minimize that is through high mileage. Most low mileage marathon runners fail due to leg cramping and muscle damage from pounding. Very seldom does a marathon runner fail due exceeding their aerobic abilities.
Would have to think he's more than capable of his 13:14 lifetime PB
especially after finishing 4th behind some really good guys and ahead of Teare who has a 12:54 pb and that was a very good race that played to Teare's strengths
To be honest swimming is by far the weakest sport in terms of relative performance with swimmer pros and running the strongest. Which isnt that much strange because swimming is the most technical of the 3 sports.
Many of the norwegian cross-country skiers are also good runners. You don't need to run more than a hour a day if you got the muscle fiber composition for your distance. Running economy is not increased above that one hour
3. Is it possible that training more like a triathlete would benefit sub-elite runners? Instead of cranking out huge running mileage and getting hurt, perhaps 6-8 hours of easy Zone 2 work on the bike and more focused quality running would yield better benefits? For 10K and under, this might be a viable strategy for mortals.
Most mortals don’t have 8 hours to bike/arc/… and also get in like 4 hours of running…
Most people also hit recovery limits even cross training. Lack of impact doesn’t make up for lack of sleep.
Yee’s time is #3 in the UK this year. Last year in the Olympic year it would have been #7. He’s clearly competitive at the national level, in his secondary sport. Pretty incredible.
Imagine if he qualified for the UK Olympic team in the 5 or 10 and Tri? That would be something!