Planning your 2026 Triathlon Season
Planning Your 2026 Triathlon Season: How to Pick and Prioritise the Right Races
The difference between a busy season and a successful season usually comes down to one thing: planning.
As we head toward 2026, now is the perfect time to step back and design a race calendar that actually supports your goals, your life, and your long-term development as an athlete—not just your Instagram feed.
One of the most effective tools I use with athletes is the A / B / C race framework. It brings clarity, reduces stress, and helps you show up fit when it actually matters.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Start With the Big Picture
Before you even look at a race calendar, ask yourself a few key questions:
What is my primary goal for 2026?
Podium? Qualification?
First finish at a new distance?
Consistency and injury-free racing?
What does my life look like next year?
Work travel, family commitments, big transitions
What distances do I realistically want to race well?
Sprint, Olympic, 70.3, Ironman (or a mix)?
Your race plan should serve your life, not compete with it. More races isn’t better—better-timed races are.
Step 2: Choose Your A Race(s)
Your A race is the centerpiece of your season.
This is the race you want to be at your absolute best for—physically, mentally, and logistically.
A races typically:
Get a full build and taper
Have minimal distractions around them
Align perfectly with your goals (qualification, PR, championship, bucket list)
Are limited to 1–2 per season (occasionally 3 for very experienced athletes)
Ask yourself:
If everything goes right in 2026, where do I most want that to happen?
That’s your A race.
Examples:
Ironman Frankfurt as a Kona qualifier
National Championships
A first Ironman or first 70.3
A local race where you want to truly compete, not just participate
Once your A race is chosen, everything else gets built around it.
Step 3: Add Strategic B Races
B races are important—but they’re supporting actors, not the star of the show.
These races help you:
Practice race execution
Test nutrition, pacing, and equipment
Gain confidence under fatigue
Build fitness without a full taper
B races typically:
Sit 6–10 weeks before an A race
Get a short or partial taper
Are raced “hard but controlled”
May still result in great performances—but that’s not the primary goal
Think of B races as dress rehearsals.
You might finish them thinking:
“I can see exactly what I need to improve before my A race.”
That’s a win.
Step 4: Use C Races as Tools, Not Tests
C races are low-pressure and highly useful.
They’re there to:
Practice transitions
Learn race-day routines
Break up training blocks
Inject motivation and fun into the season
C races typically:
Are done straight out of training
Have no taper
Carry zero emotional weight
Can be used as hard workouts or skill sessions
If you have a bad day at a C race, it means nothing.
If you have a great day at a C race, great—confidence boost.
Either way, training continues.
Step 5: Respect Recovery and Spacing
One of the biggest mistakes I see is athletes stacking races too close together—especially longer distances.
As a general guideline:
Sprint/Olympic: 2–3 weeks between key races
70.3: 4–6 weeks
Ironman: 10–14+ weeks
Remember: you don’t get fitter from racing—you get fitter from recovering and training afterward.
Every race has a cost. Spend your race “budget” wisely.
Step 6: Build a Season, Not Just a Calendar
A smart 2026 season usually includes:
A clear early-season focus (speed, skills, shorter races)
A mid-season peak (your main A race)
Optional late-season reset or second peak
Not every year needs to be massive.
Some years are about:
Development
Consistency
Staying healthy
Learning how your body responds to load and stress
That’s not a step backward—that’s playing the long game.
Final Thoughts
Your best seasons won’t come from chasing every race available.
They come from intentional choices, patience, and knowing when to go all-in—and when to simply show up and learn.
If you can clearly answer:
Why am I racing this?
What role does it play in my season?
You’re already ahead of most athletes.
Plan smart. Race with purpose. And let 2026 be a season you’re proud of—not just tired from.
