Results/Photos

Date: July 25, 2026 Participant: Ben Thatcher #5285 Race: 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon Event: Olympic Triathlon Weather: Hot, but otherwise a great day for a triathlon.

Strong Bike Surge Can't Offset a Fading Run Ben Thatcher completed the 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon in 3:41:14, placing 1154th overall out of 1987 finishers and 83rd in the competitive 40-44 age group. His race got off to a solid start with an efficient swim exit, and he found real momentum on the bike, averaging roughly 16.4 mph and climbing into the top 300 among male competitors at the midpoint of the ride a clear high point of his day. The run leg proved tougher, with Ben's position steadily slipping through each split as his pace cooled compared to the strength he showed on two wheels. By the finish, he had dropped several hundred spots from his best positioning on the bike. This year's result also came in about 21 minutes slower than his 2025 Spudman finish of 3:19:42, pointing to the run as the clearest opportunity for targeted improvement in future training cycles.