Planning Your Race Season

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It’s that time of the triathlon season where most people are wrapping up 2019 and looking ahead to 2020. Yes, Ironman Arizona, Ironman Florida and Ironman Cozumel loom large in the next few weeks. But it’s hard not to look ahead, especially when several popular IM-branded races sell out quickly.

I have a few Good Wolf athletes who are taking some time away from the sport for the next few weeks and vowing to return in January 2020. Others are trucking right on through.

Healing from injuries notwithstanding, the difference I see between the two athlete types are their goals. If athletes have a goal, it’s easier to build a roadmap to achieving them. Which helps an athlete maintain motivation during the holiday season.

That’s not to say it’s wrong not to have goals right now. I’ve been there, trust me! (Heck, I was there from this past July until very recently!) It’s just that triathlon is a hard-enough sport to begin with. If you aren’t ready to be specific with WHY you’re putting in all the work, then maintaining the discipline required to perform well in the sport gets that much harder.

Here’s a list of questions that may be useful as you determine your race season goals and priorities, as well as questions to help you pick the best triathlon for you to emphasize as a key race in 2020. I’ve been going through this checklist for a Good Wolf athlete and thought it would be helpful to share it.

This is not an exhaustive list. I’m sure you can come up with your own questions and answers. But it’s a start, and a start or spark is all we need sometimes to find the motivation that’s been missing.

General Questions

  • Are you enjoying triathlon training? If not, why?

  • Have you been injured recently, or are you nursing injuries right now?

  • Did you battle illness frequently throughout the season? How was your diet and rest?

  • What haven’t you yet accomplished that you want to? How realistic is that goal right now?

  • How hard are you willing to work starting right now to achieve those goals in 2020? (There’s no wrong answer, just be honest with yourself.)

  • What was successful for you in 2019? What could have been better? What can you personally own about what could have been better — to improve upon in 2020?

  • What does your 2020 look like in terms of other commitments? Do your goals line up with your availability and willingness to achieve them?

Race Specific Questions

  • Do you have any bucket list races on the horizon?

  • Are you trying to quality for a spot at Age Group National Championships, IM 70.3 Worlds, or even Kona? Something else?

  • How will your work and family or social life affect participating at those races?

  • What else is causing you to hesitate before signing up for one of those (non-qualifying) races? (Again, no wrong answer, just be honest with yourself.)

  • Do you have a busy season at work, or at home? How will that affect your training and racing?

  • Do you race well in certain weather? And vice versa…is there certain weather that’s particularly bad for you? What about elevation changes?

  • What are your triathlon racing strengths and limiters (swim/bike/run)?

  • What are you able to commit to in 2020 to improve your limiters? How are you thinking about changing your training so as to change your results?

  • Can you or do you want to build races into existing travel plans in 2020? When are those trips planned for?