General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How many races per season? Rss Feed  
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2016-05-23 6:38 PM


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Subject: How many races per season?
Just out of curiosity, how many races do you typically compete in each season? I'm trying to figure out my max number before my performance takes a nose dive.


2016-05-23 7:03 PM
in reply to: #5183386

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, North Carolina
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
I think the average age grouper gets 2 maybe 3 peak races. Meaning other races are classified as b and c races. It's hard to peak for that long of a time.
2016-05-23 7:06 PM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Expert
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Pfafftown, NC
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
I have one "A" race I'm training for. It's in Sept. I haven't done a tri in 6 yrs before this year (and, I only did 4, then). I wanted to put myself in as many situations as possible, leading up to my HIM......so, I scheduled one race/month. I also had a deferment from a race that was cancelled last year, due to the SC flooding....that I'll do in Oct.

So, nine total races for 2016 - 6 sprints, 2 internationals and a HIM.

Is this an ideal scenario? To me, it is. I'm gaining more and more confidence with each race. I've also mixed in a 10K and a 1.2 mi. OWS. Honestly, it seems like everything's working out really well.
2016-05-23 7:35 PM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Regular
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Pueblo, Colorado
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
Depends on race distance and $$$ for me. I'm doing a few sprints this year. Registered for a total of 4 between May and August. May choose to fit a nearby 5th one in during the middle of the summer. Last year I did an IM and at $700+ just for the registration, that was my only race. On average, I'll do between 2-3 triathlons a year plus some other races (mostly running) thrown in.
2016-05-23 7:48 PM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
4 or 5 , recently it's been 4 sprints and 1HIM
2016-05-23 9:09 PM
in reply to: Goggles Pizzano

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Expert
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Floriduh
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
I did 5 one year and thought it just too much. I now target 3. Living in Florida I found that I need to think about the fact that training in the middle of summer needs to be approached carefully.


2016-05-23 9:16 PM
in reply to: #5183391


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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
Last year did 2 sprints, one oly, and one half. This year, looking at 3 sprints, 2 olys, and not registered yet for a fall half but I'm guessing I'll get the urge to register soon. I'm in CT so all these are between June and late Sept
2016-05-24 5:10 AM
in reply to: Nick B

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, Kronobergs lan
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
Originally posted by Nick B

I think the average age grouper gets 2 maybe 3 peak races. Meaning other races are classified as b and c races. It's hard to peak for that long of a time.


wow, cool, I am "average" I thought I was below average with my 2 races
2016-05-24 6:54 AM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Champion
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Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: How many races per season?

At my peak, I was racing almost every weekend, and sometimes would do two sprints in a single weekend. That was over 20 years ago... Ah, to be a young DINK and bulletproof.

My most recent tri-active season was two races.

2016-05-24 6:54 AM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
I am sure a coach would tell me that I do too many and they aren't allowing me to peak or something, but I am out there for fun. The number of races does depend on the distance, and I will do shorter races as tune ups for longer ones. I also don't just do triathlons, but I also do trail races. So far this year, I have done two trail races (15K and 25k) with a HM planned for this weekend. Those are tune ups for my first ultra in June. I have also done a HIM. I don't have any more tris scheduled until August, but between August and October, I have an oly, a HIM, and my first IM.

Will I be at peak performance for most of these? Probably not.

Will I enjoy the challenge and have fun? Probably.
2016-05-24 7:38 AM
in reply to: PBT_2009

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Expert
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Fort Riley, Kansas
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
living in the South (South GA) I would do 8-11 a year. Since moving to Kansas nearly 2 years ago I'm lucky to get 4-5


2016-05-24 7:58 AM
in reply to: #5183415

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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
Living/Racing in Michigan (and surrounding States), my season runs from June 1 - October 1. The last two seasons, I ended with a late season IM, doing it again this year. Usually, 1 Marathon (May), 1 Oly/Sprint (June), 1 HIM (July/Aug), 1 Oly (Aug/Sept), 1 IM (Oct/Nov).

As other have said, it depends on $$$$, training commitment, and family obligations. With 3 kids under 7 years old, I have to balance my racing.
2016-05-24 8:00 AM
in reply to: 0

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Master
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Eugene, Oregon
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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
For me it all depends on what races I can get to! I race very little because I simply don't have money/time to get to races. There are usually only 1-2 events a year in Vietnam (sometimes not even that), I only get two personal days a year, and it's really hard for me to get to/from a race elsewhere (usually Singapore) with bike in tow unless it's a long weekend or school vacation. Last year, I did four events, with pretty awful timing--one HIM (in Vietnam); another HIM six weeks later (because I was sick for the first race and felt my performance didn't reflect my fitness at all), an Oly 13 days after that (the only hometown race I could get to all year), and an Oly-distance aquathlon about a month after that.

This year it's looking like it will be five races--two sprints and three HIM. Originally it was two HIM--Vietnam 70.3 in May and Calgary 70.3 in July (the latter part of a family race-cation--I thought it would be a good venue for that and hopefully cooler conditions than here). Then I ended up qualifying for Worlds at Vietnam 70.3. It's been a goal for a while but somehow it never registered that I might actually #1 Qualify and #2 Get leave to do that event, which is hideously timed just after the busiest three weeks of the year at work (beginning of school year--I'm an elementary teacher). Now that both of those have happened, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. Actually planning to use Calgary as the "A" race, due to the fact that I'm probably not fast enough to be competitive at Worlds, and how horribly it fits with my job and the way I switch continents.

There isn't really a tri "season" per se in SE Asia. There are races in the "spring" (actually the hottest season of the year) from mid-February on, in the summer up to mid or late June, and in the "fall" from late August to late November. The only time when not much is going on is over the western and Chinese winter holidays (Christmas/New Years/Lunar New Year), and in July, which is really wet in most places. I kind of create my own "off season", usually taking about six weeks in September and October off structured training.


Edited by Hot Runner 2016-05-24 8:06 AM
2016-05-24 8:56 AM
in reply to: 0

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Master
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Bellevue, WA
Subject: RE: How many races per season?

Originally posted by Nolabuckeye Just out of curiosity, how many races do you typically compete in each season? I'm trying to figure out my max number before my performance takes a nose dive.

If you want to maximize performance, for an age grouper generally its one big A race or an early season A race and late season A race.  A couple B races mixed in, with less focus on performance and more on training benefit / experience.

But if you want to have fun, race as often as you like.  Since January of 2015 I've been doing some kind of race at least once a month, so 22 races since then.  Mostly running races, since those are so common. This year I've raced 4 half marathons, a full marathon, a 10K, and a 12K.  For triathlons, I have two so far on my schedule: 70.3 Hawaii in two weeks and 70.3 Austin on October 30th.  I also will be doing the NYC marathon on November 6th.  I'll probably find a local Olympic and maybe add another 70.3 somewhere in there.

I have the benefits of grown children and my wife likes to travel, thus many of my races are race-cations.

You can see all may races on Athlinks here: https://www.athlinks.com/athletes/13335926



Edited by brucemorgan 2016-05-24 9:01 AM
2016-05-24 9:02 AM
in reply to: brucemorgan

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Regular
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Euless, Texas
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
I would think it definitely depends on the distance you are wanting to compete in.

My first year (2011) I did 5 sprints. 3 of those were back to back to back weekends in June.
Since then my normal is 4-6 where 1 is an Oly in September and the rest are sprints.
This will be my year with the least because of money and I'll only be doing 2 (1 sprint & 1 oly).
2016-05-24 9:29 AM
in reply to: jjupiter100


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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
Last year I raced in 3 1/2 marathons, 1 ten miler, 1 5k, 2 sprint tri's.

This year I have already raced in 2 1/2 marathons, 1 OLY and 1 HIM tri's, with plans to do my traditional july 4th 5k, 10miler in Nov, another 1/2 marathon and another HIM in Sept. If I can squeeze another TRI in this summer sprint or OLY, I will certainly do it.



2016-05-24 9:56 AM
in reply to: Nolabuckeye

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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
5 half marathons. 2 full marathons. 2 half ironmans. 2 full ironmans. 3 olympic triathlons.
That is my 2016 race season.
2016-05-24 11:27 AM
in reply to: DeVinci13

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Utah
Subject: RE: How many races per season?
With long course for budget reasons I might do one or two for a season. This year is a short course year, so I am racing much more since the races are all local and significantly cheaper. It just depends on my goals that year. This year I've got 5 sprints scheduled and registered for, and I might add more heading into the fall. However, next year will be back to long course so I will probably only do 2.
2016-05-25 3:21 PM
in reply to: KatieLimb

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Subject: RE: How many races per season?
4 to 5 HIMS a year and 5 or so sprints
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