When to Race What

When to Race What If you want to get the most out of your races, you've got to map out a plan.

By Amanda Loudin There are so many races out there these days that it's easy to get carried away and schedule a race practically every weekend. After all, 5Ks are a dime a dozen and the number of triathlons is growing every year as well. It can make it hard to choose. But if you have goals in mind-to set a PR or to step up to a new, longer distance-you need to get out the calendar and make mindful choices of what you do when. Otherwise, you risk overdoing it and not being fresh for your goal races. With a little time spent in the planning stages, you can set yourself up nicely for a season you can look back on with pride. Making a schedule The first thing you want to do is determine which one or two races are your "A" races. These are the events where you really want to achieve something, be it with a faster time or with a new distance. For instance, if you're gunning for your first marathon in the fall, then make that your top priority of the year. Or if you're competing in a triathlon for the second year in a row and you want to chop some time off your result from last year, put that race at the top of your list. In reality, you probably only have room for one or two "A" races each year. That doesn't mean you can't do well at your other races as well, it just means that your body can only truly peak a couple of times each season. Once you've picked out you're "A" race or races, take into consideration the other races you might want to add to your schedule. Good choices might be those that help you prepare for the "A" races. For instance, with a fall marathon on the schedule, a half marathon scheduled about four to six weeks before can serve as great training event. There also might be local events that you love to do each year. These can all play a role in strong racing later on at your key race(s). The trick is to not over-race, and to use less of a taper for the events that aren't top of your priority list. Try not to schedule too many events; more than one a month is not going to give you the time you need to get in all the training for your big event. For those lower priority "B" and "C" races, try tapering just a couple of days in advance so that you don't lose too much training. The same goes for recovery afterward. Don't push it in the first few days after the races, but don't take as much downtime as you would after a big event By putting this approach into action, you can not only enjoy a full race season, but make sure that you are ready to rock those events that mean the most to you. Good luck! Amanda Loudin is a Maryland-based freelance writer, runner, triathlete and certified RRCA running coach. She's completed seven marathons, including Boston, and countless triathlons ranging from sprints to Ironman distance. You can follow her adventures at www.misszippy1.blogspot.com.