Get the Most from Your Race Season with A, B and C Races

Planning your season using A, B and C races helps you stay focused, build fitness steadily, and arrive at your key events in peak condition. Each race type serves a different purpose in your training plan.

What Are A, B and C Races?

A Races – Your Main Goals

These are your priority events for the year. You’ll tailor your training to peak for them, and your taper will be longer and more structured.

A Races are typically:

• 1–2 events per season

• Your biggest performance targets

• Scheduled so you can train specifically toward them

B Races – Important but Lower Priority

These events support your preparation for an A Race. They are still meaningful but not your main focus.

B Races usually:

• Require a reduced taper (a few days rather than a full week or more)

• Act as test events to practise pacing, nutrition, transitions and equipment

• Provide confidence and race-day experience without needing a full peak

C Races – Low-Pressure Training Races

These are training opportunities, often added to build experience or fitness. You won’t taper or alter your plan significantly, and the goal is simply to participate and learn.

C Races can:

• Replace a key training session

• Help you identify pacing or technique improvements

• Build confidence without performance pressure

How Many Should You Choose?

A simple structure is:

• 1–2 A races per season

• 2–4 B races depending on schedule and goals

• A handful of C races as training fits

Spacing matters — avoid placing races so close together that recovery or peak training becomes compromised.

How to Use Race Priorities in Your Plan

• Match training loads to race goals. You’ll build highest volume and intensity before A races, with strategic tapers.

• Use B races to fine-tune skills. Practise pacing, race nutrition, kit choices and transitions.

• Treat C races as workouts. Go in without tapering and focus on execution rather than speed.

• Review each race. After every event, note what went well and what needs attention so you can adjust before your peak races.

Why This System Works

Using A, B and C race classifications helps you:

• Stay focused on what matters most

• Avoid burnout by not treating every event as a peak

• Build experience throughout the season

• Arrive fresh and confident for your most important races

A clear race hierarchy keeps your training purposeful and helps maximise your performance on the days that matter most.

Guidelines for Adjusting Your Training

For lower priority 'B/C' races, we don't normally recommend that you follow a full taper and recovery. It can be harder to re-join your plan after an extended period of reduced training.

Check here for tips on adjusting your scheduled training to include a reduced taper and recovery for your lower-priority races.

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