You might be excited that race season is here. But the worst thing you can do is just sign up for every race you can, without thinking about the time of year or the relationship each race has with another event.
You should strategically choose races and plan your training well in advance. Once you do this you will find yourself on having better race results or on that podium more often! The process is simple.
Set Your Goals for the Season
The first thing you should do is set some goals for yourself. Is one goal completing a sprint triathlon? Or perhaps beating your time from last year? Or maybe it’s qualifying for Age Group Nationals? Whatever your goals are, you should write them down and study them. Are they realistic? You may be able to physically complete them, but can you do it when you take into consideration your other commitments like work, family, etc.? If not, consider revising your goals and make them achievable, yet still challenging. Then post your goals where they are visible everyday as a constant reminder of what you’re working towards.
Choose Your Races and Training
With so many races to choose, which ones are the best for you? Obviously the ones that will help you meet your goals. But before you choose, consider these tips:
- Choose races that really excite you! Maybe it’s their location, the course, the weather, or the size.
- Assign a priority to all the races you plan on doing. Categorize them into either A, B, or C. Build your season around the A races – these are the most important races. Make sure you have no other commitments around the A races. Then add in 2-4 B races. These should be shorter, less expensive, or closer to home. Then the C races can be done instead of a hard workout. Schedule as many as you can of these races as they can provide you with a better training than a single workout. Expand these C races by including some swim meets, bike races, or 5Ks. Use your training through these races to improve your weakest leg.
- Pick races with swim legs in bodies of water you’re comfortable with – do you prefer pools, fresh water or the ocean?
- Be careful of timing. If you sign up for an A race in May and you need to train with long rides in March and April – are you able to do that where you live?
- Does the course fit your strengths? If you live in a flat area and that’s what you’ve been training on and you’re not a strong climber, then a hills course would probably not be a good fit for you.
- When you pick the location of your races, be sure there are things for family and friends to do at off times if they are coming with you to support you while you race.
- Find friends or a triathlon team to train with. It’s much easier and more fun to train with partners – so find someone else who is training around the same time or for some of the same races you are so you don’t have to do all your long rides alone.
- Don’t forget to budget. Take a look at how much each race costs and make sure it’s in your budget. Don’t forget travel and accommodations if you’re willing to travel for a race.
- Break your season up in two halves and plan a week long break in between. This will help you enter the second half refreshed and ready for a peak performance in that final A race!
There is more to triathlon training than just science. If you are looking for a coach to help you train for your season, Contact Me today and I can help get you on your way to your personal best!
