By accounting for a fast or slow course and conditions on race day, I’m able to come up with an adjusted result that is course-independent. This way I can compare finishing times from different courses and list the top performances of the year that is a bit more realistic than just comparing actual finishing times. Here is my list of the best performances in 2011 as discussed on the IMTalk podcast.
TOP 10 Results of 2011
| Rank | Name | Adjusted Result | Actual Result | Race |
| 1 | Andreas Raelert | 08:02:02 | 07:41:33 | Challenge Roth on 2011-07-10 |
| 2 | Craig Alexander | 08:05:27 | 08:03:56 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 3 | Marino Vanhoenacker | 08:10:12 | 07:45:58 | IM Austria on 2011-07-03 |
| 4 | Pete Jacobs | 08:10:43 | 08:09:11 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 5 | Eneko Llanos | 08:11:38 | 07:59:38 | IM Arizona on 2011-11-19 |
| 6 | Andreas Raelert | 08:12:40 | 08:11:07 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 7 | Paul Amey | 08:13:32 | 08:01:29 | IM Arizona on 2011-11-19 |
| 8 | Eneko Llanos | 08:14:17 | 08:08:20 | IM Texas on 2011-05-21 |
| 9 | Dirk Bockel | 08:14:31 | 08:12:58 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 10 | Timothy O’Donnell | 08:15:48 | 08:09:50 | IM Texas on 2011-05-21 |
TOP 10 Female Results of 2011
| Rank | Name | Adjusted Result | Actual Result | Race |
| 1 | Chrissie Wellington | 08:40:20 | 08:18:13 | Challenge Roth on 2011-07-10 |
| 2 | Chrissie Wellington | 08:45:41 | 08:33:56 | IM South Africa on 2011-04-10 |
| 3 | Chrissie Wellington | 08:56:49 | 08:55:08 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 4 | Mirinda Carfrae | 08:59:39 | 08:57:57 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 5 | Leanda Cave | 09:02:14 | 08:49:00 | IM Arizona on 2011-11-19 |
| 6 | Catriona Morrison | 09:04:24 | 08:57:51 | IM Texas on 2011-05-21 |
| 7 | Leanda Cave | 09:05:12 | 09:03:29 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
| 8 | Linsey Corbin | 09:07:55 | 08:54:33 | IM Arizona on 2011-11-19 |
| 9 | Mary Beth Ellis | 09:08:14 | 09:03:13 | IM Canada on 2011-08-28 |
| 10 | Rachel Joyce | 09:08:40 | 09:06:57 | IM Hawaii on 2011-10-16 |
Analysis
Here are a few notable points:
- The best results are still dominated by IM Hawaii.
- Andreas Raelert probably did "too much" in Roth and didn’t have enough left for Kona (then again, his injury may have been an issue, too) – but he still had the best and 6th best performances.
- Andreas (from Roth) and Crowie (Hawaii) way ahead of everybody else
- Eneko Llanos also with two TOP10 performances (but didn’t deliver in Kona)
- Chrissie totally dominating the female performances: All TOP 3 results!
- Leanda Cave with two results in the top 10 had a breakthrough year in 2011.
Are there any performances that you think are missing in these lists? Please let me know in the comments!