The race, in three figures
The race, in words
Ben Simpson finished 389th of 456 men in the Open division at Cardiff 2026, in 1:42:35.
The stations carried this race: faster than 48% of the field across all eight, against 7% on the runs. Paced to finish: the second half went 6:35 better against the middle of the field than the first. The roxzone cost time: 8:05, behind 95% of the field.
This was a quick course. Against their other races this season, the people who raced Cardiff gained about 0:39. 10:22 slower than at Auckland 2025, the previous Open race.
Eight blocks
Bar = field beaten · tick = median
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Block 01 12:22Running 1 7:45v median +2:35
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Block 02 9:18Running 2 6:45v median +1:59
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Block 03 10:21Running 3 6:20v median +1:12
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Block 04 15:22Running 4 7:59v median +2:51
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Block 05 13:28Running 5 8:03v median +2:49
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Block 06 10:04Running 6 7:44v median +2:23
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Block 07 9:40Running 7 5:20v median +0:29
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Block 08 13:58Running 8 6:49v median +0:50
Roxzone, per block
Approach · Exit 8:05
Against the middle of your field
Men · n = 452
A pace, not a person: at every mat, the middle of the 452 men who finished.