Planning your competition season early is more than just an organizational step – a large part of your training year will depend on deciding which competitions you want to compete in. Here you can learn how to find the right target competition and align your training accordingly.
Setting Goals
The first step in season planning is to define clear and achievable goals. This could be achieving personal best times, ranking goals, or overcoming a distance that has been a great challenge so far (the first marathon, a longer bike ride, or a demanding triathlon).
The SMART method is generally recommended for effective goal setting:
- Specific: Goals should be clear and concrete. In the context of competitions, this is usually the case (time, rank, distance). Goals like “feeling good” are rather unspecific.
- Measurable: It is important to be able to measure progress. Not only in relation to the final goal but also along the way.
- Achievable: Goals should be challenging but realistic and expand your own potential. If the goals are set too high, they can quickly become demoralizing and negatively affect training motivation in the long term.
- Relevant: Goals should have personal significance and reflect individual motivation and passion.
- Time-bound: A clear timeframe is crucial. It should be established by when the goal should be achieved. This is given in the case of a targeted competition goal.
Finding the Right Competitions
Selecting competitions is an important part of season planning. It should be based on personal goals and preferences. It is crucial to identify the type of event that best matches the set goals.
To find suitable events, various online platforms such as the running.COACH calendar can be used. Cycling event pages and triathlon lists are other valuable resources to discover a variety of events.
When making your selection, it is important to look closely at the details of the event. This includes aspects such as the course description, elevation profile (if you aim to set a PB, there should not be too many meters of altitude), the expected weather conditions, and the logistical aspects of the event. Testimonials from other participants can also be valuable to get a deeper insight into the event and make an informed decision.
Aligning Training with the Competition
Preparation for main competitions includes several weeks of training (depending on the goal), followed by tapering. An intensive endurance block and a subsequent intensity block, which ends around 10 days before the competition, are important. During the following tapering, the volume is reduced, but short intervals are maintained to preserve form.
Main competitions should be carefully planned as focal points of the season, complemented by B-competitions and training competitions in the intensity phases.
How to use 2PEAK to align your training with competitions
2PEAK takes care of all the planning and alignment of training for you. Follow these steps:
Web
Click the “Goals” tab and select “Race & Goals”. On the page that appears, you can define the key details of the target competition.
App
On the homepage, click the three dots “…” at the top right to open the menu. Now click on the trophy and then on “Add Race”
Database
2PEAK has a very large competition database, which allows you to automatically fill in numerous parameters like date, distance, elevation, … After entering the name in the dropdown, click on the desired competition and the associated race distance.
Does your main competition not appear in the dropdown list? Enter it via this link into the database.
Create a training plan for triathlon, cycling, and running based on artificial intelligence with 2PEAK that adapts to your performance after each training session. Download the app and start revolutionizing your training.
