How to Plan Your Race Season (A, B, and C Events)
Planning your race season strategically helps you peak at the right time while maintaining consistent progress. The A, B, and C event structure allows you to balance training, tapering, and racing effectively.
1. Define Your "A" Race (Main Goal)
Your A race is your top priority—the race you want to perform at your best. This should be the event where you peak, meaning training builds toward it with a structured taper.
- Choose 1-2 per year (e.g., a Full Distance Triathlon (IRONMAN) or a key 70.3 race).
- Allow 8-12 weeks of focused build-up before tapering.
- Schedule recovery time after to prevent burnout.
2. Select "B" Races (Key Tune-Up Events)
B races are important but not the main goal. These help you test fitness, pacing, and race-day strategies without a full taper.
- Typically, 4-12 weeks before your A race (depending on the race distance and how hard you race).
- Minimal taper (a few days) to avoid disrupting training.
- Examples: Olympic triathlon before a 70.3, 70.3 before an IRONMAN, or a half marathon before a full marathon.
3. Use "C" Races for Practice & Fun
C races are lower-priority events used for experience, variety, and race-day simulation.
- No taper—treat them as hard training days.
- Great for testing transitions, open water swimming, or race pacing.
- Examples: Sprint triathlon, local 10K, or a cycling time trial.
Example Race Season Layout (Full Distance Triathlon Focus)
| Month | Event | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| March | Local Sprint Tri | C |
| April | Half Marathon | C |
| May | Olympic Triathlon | B |
| June | 70.3 Race | B |
| August | IRONMAN 140.6 | A |
Balancing Race Effort and Recovery Time
When planning your race season, pacing wisely on race day is key to ensuring you’re ready for your next event.
Starting at a sustainable pace helps reduce post-race soreness and speeds up recovery. On the other hand, going out too fast can lead to excessive fatigue and muscle damage, extending your recovery time. You'll recover faster and be primed for your next challenge by pacing yourself evenly throughout the race.
How Often Should I Race?
For beginners, it's a good idea to limit yourself to no more than four races per season to allow enough time for your body to recover. For experienced athletes, up to seven races per season is manageable.
Recovery time also varies depending on the race distance:
- Sprint triathlons typically require 1-2 weeks
- Olympic distances take 2-4 weeks, and longer races like
- IRONMAN 70.3 events can require 4-6 weeks of recovery.
- IRONMAN 140.6 events can require 6-12 weeks of recovery.
The key is to balance your race effort with adequate recovery to keep your performance at its peak.
Copyright MyProCoach™ Ltd © May 2018. All rights reserved.
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