Results/Photos

Date: July 25, 2026 Participant: Luke Olson #3225 Race: 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon Event: Olympic Triathlon Weather: Hot, but otherwise a great day for a triathlon.

Doubling the Distance, Discovering New Limits Luke Olson made his Olympic-distance debut this year after racing the Sprint distance in 2025, and the added mileage showed both strengths and areas to build on. He exited the water in 23:15, then settled into a bike leg that averaged roughly 14.2 mph over 23 miles. His pace varied by section hitting a strong stretch near miles 1419 at close to 3:40/mile pace, likely aided by terrain, before easing back through the closing miles. The run proved to be the toughest test of the day. After a solid opening mile near 13:00/mile, his pace slowed steadily, dropping to roughly 15:09/mile through the final stretch. This kind of fade is common when tackling a new distance for the first time, and it highlights an opportunity to build run endurance specifically for the back half of longer races. Overall, a strong bike leg paired with a challenging run makes for a solid foundation to build from at the Olympic distance.