Training Tip

Race Selection -- Choose Carefully for Better Results - By Coach Troy

A common thread among successful, experienced triathletes is that they put a lot of thought into the race selection process. Painstaking attention to detail is taken when developing their race schedule and setting annual performance goals because they know this function has a huge impact on their overall success or failure for the season. In short, the successful athlete focuses on events that offer them the greatest opportunity for success.

There are several ways to look at events and improve your odds of having successful races. They include, in no particular order:

1. Distance of the Event: Let's face facts -- some people are better suited for the sprint distance while others are better suited to the Ironman distance. It's all a matter of personal desire, physiology, time availability, genetics and other factors. Through trial and error, smart athletes discover their 'ideal distance' and develop themselves to excel at that distance.
2. Terrain of the Event: How many times have you heard someone say, "I love the hills but get passed on the flat sections of the course!."? Due to hometown training geographics (do you live in a hilly area or flat area?), body size (bigger people usually don't excel on hillier courses) and temperament (do you have an 'attack!' personality or a 'laid back' personality?), people tend to do better over a specific type of terrain.
3. Temperature and other Environmental Conditions: Are you a super heavy sweater? If so, it's probably not in your best interest to choose to race in a key event in a hot area in the middle of the summer whereas scheduling a key race during cooler times of the year might elicit a better race result. Choose events that have a likelihood of giving you favorable weather according to your strengths and weaknesses.
4. Time of Year: Peaking for an early season event in the Southwest when you live in the Northeast is counterintuitive. Try to schedule your most important events at a time during the year that enables you to prepare properly in terms of training loads but also for environmental factors (heat acclimation, altitude, etc.).

Overall, by choosing events wisely and playing to your strengths and not your weaknesses, you'll greatly enhance your chances for success and better results!

Troy Jacobson is a former pro triathlete and has coached triathletes since 1992. He is also the creator of Spinervals Cycling and other training DVDs.