What’s the goal of this post?
This post is designed to provide some clarity and direction to athletes looking to plan out a season prioritizing events in order of where they would want to achieve the best result. It is a simplified version of a more complex macro conversation and can provide some insight into the race selection process.
What’s the focus?
We divide races into A, B and C categories throughout a block of racing or a season. A loose definition of each is as follows.
A Race – The race you want to nail your best performance at. The majority of your training focus is working towards this event.
B Race – The races we select as “B” races are essentially either to be a ‘test’ of current form as you build towards your “A” race or to sharpen the axe as part of your taper for your “A” race.
C Race – Races you can do on any given day as part of a larger harder training day or longer training weekend that come at limited physical cost to either your training progress or your recovery. They can also be inserted at strategic times to simulate ‘higher than race pace intensity workouts’ as part of your training or taper.
When looking at a race calendar it is a good idea to pick your “A” race and then work backwards from that point, selecting “B” and “C” level races to support peaking at your “A” race.
A sample prioritization template for a 20week build leading into a 70.3 “A” race might be;
Week 1 – Normal Training Week
Week 2 – Normal Training Week
Week 3 – Normal Training Week
Week 4 – C Race (Sprint Distance)
Week 5 – Recovery>Normal Training Week
Week 6 – Normal Training Week
Week 7 – Normal Training Week
Week 8 – C Race (Olympic Distance)
Week 9 – Recovery>Normal Training Week
Week 10 – Normal Training Week
Week 11 – Normal Training Week
Week 12 – B Race (Olympic Distance or 70.3)
Week 13 – Recovery Training Week
Week 14 – Normal Training Week
Week 15 – Normal Training Week
Week 16 – C Race (Sprint Distance)
Week 17 – Recovery>Normal Training Week
Week 18 – C Race (Olympic Distance)
Week 19 – C Race (Sprint Distance)
Week 20 – A Race (70.3)
Who is this article most appropriate for?
Any level of athlete age group looking to prioritize or periodize the race calendar. Depending on your level of experience some athletes like to ‘race’ themselves into form while others prefer to ‘train’ themselves into form. There is no one way. Trial and error is often the best way to find out what works best for you.
When could I use it and how could I apply it?
The above suggested timeline can be used for multiple blocks of racing and seasons. This is just one example and there are many ways to put this together to optimize individual performance. Many times depending on where you live your race options (both in number and distance) can be limited so you have to be a little more creative. Disclaimer
Athlete choosing to utilize these sessions, do so at their own risk. You agree to assume the risks of such training, and further agree to hold harmless Jarrod Evans & Triathlon Gold from any and all claims, suits, losses, and/or related causes of actions and damages, including, but not limited to, such claims that may result from my injury or death, accidental or otherwise, during or arising in any way from copying and or implementing these session suggestions. These session concepts have either been created from scratch by Jarrod Evans and or adapted from existing workouts from other athletes and coaches over the last 25years.