The Big Picture Of Athlete Development 

Long-term planning is not easy for an athlete. From aiming to progress to a certain level over multiple seasons, choosing the events that suit you best, and properly structuring a full race schedule, things can get a bit overwhelming. That is why we decided to outline a few things to consider in your planning decisions, which should act as a framework for all of the more granular decisions. One of the guiding tenants of my overall coaching philosophy is to have athletes progress season over season, avoiding short-term thinking and decisions at all costs. Below are a few elements that are critical in enacting this approach.

Think About What You Want Out Of The Sport

This is harder than it sounds. Athletes need to be completely honest with themselves during this mental exercise. Too many athletes have an emotional pull to IRONMAN racing when it often isn't truly what they want. I see athletes rushing into IRONMAN, as they feel like they should complete one. The truth is, you can have a wonderful 'career' by developing and competing in shorter distance races. Make sure you are truthful with both what you want to do, but also what you can realistically commit to. Once you have done this, you can apply yourself to the journey with real purpose. 

Development Is Built On Top Of Development

Athletes tend to view each season as stand-alone events on which they set up their training and judge their performance. Contrary to popular belief, the reality is that each season is not its own entity. True development rolls on top of months and months and years and years of previous work. The body doesn't care about the calendar, so even though you may well take a break from training, last year's training is still a platform to build from. Always keep this in mind, as you can only truly develop toward your potential over several years. Enjoy the journey :) 

Set Up The Seasons To Embrace Development

While you can race in late winter, early spring, spring, summer and into fall, your training and season set up shouldn't reflect this kind of event-hunting approach. Racing is a good thing, and the reason we do the sport; however, a season of only preparing for one race after another will quickly lead to plateaued performance. Athletes must go beyond this. I tend to think about the initial months of training as building the physiology, which is code for athlete development. This is when we raise the potential of an athlete by increasing what an athlete is actually capable of. The less race-specific training allows you to progress as an athlete. It is only after this that we get truly race specific in preparation for the months that include our key races and targets. Sure, you may race in the 'building block' phase, and you may race well, but the difference is that your training is about much more than simply training for that event.

Planning Your Races 

When it comes to planning your race schedule, there are important questions to ask, as well as, some heavy duty work to do with the calendar. Before we dive into the questions, let's discuss some of the considerations I take when mapping a season.

What Are The Key Objectives 

This drives all discussion and is dependent on an athlete's experience, goals, and where they are in their development. I like athletes to hang their focus on a couple of races, or phases of racing, over any one season. Generally, I expect athletes to have two mini-seasons. The first is a small build of race-specific work following the initial phases of training, normally culminating in one or two key events in the middle of the race season. Following this, and a break, I like to see a more concerted build toward a single key race at the end of the year. Mapped out as an example, this may be:

• Initial training & building the physiology in an early season race
• Build to an IRONMAN 70.3 race in June or July
• Take a little break
• Go into an extended race specific build
• Enter your season break

Allow Time For Development

Unless including a special race, or bucket-list type event, I aim to avoid corrupting physical development with early season key races. We may include a March IRONMAN, but only if it is a stepping stone to a more important IRONMAN later in the same year. 

Horses For Courses

Once we have established the general development goals, and timing of races, it is time to pick specific events. This has a high variance based on the athlete, but we always refer to the mantra: "Horses for courses", which means aim to build races that are suitable to your strengths, objectives, and maximize your chances of performing best. A few examples: 

• A new IRONMAN athlete who is traveling alone, but would love a community at her first race and hates the hills and heat:
  • Avoid Texas, Whistler, and international racing
  • Instead, choose a more predictable course, with good support and the Purple Patch community
  • With this in mind, opt for IRONMAN Arizona or IRONMAN Santa Rosa
• A strong athlete hoping to qualify for Kona, who loves the hills and excels on challenging courses. He has done well in previous races, yet has missed the coveted qualification spot several times:
  • Develop an approach that includes hilly terrain and tougher courses.
  • Opt for a later season race in and around the build-up to that season's Kona
  • Options include Mont Tremblant, Wisconsin, Tahoe and Cabo (There are more, just what comes to mind)
• An athlete who doesn't care about place or podiums and isn't in a place to qualify for Kona, yet. Instead, she loves to travel to race and experience new cultures. She calls her Ironman and Ironman 70.3 racecations:
  • Set up a fun racing adventure
  • Choosing more pristine and historic race sites such as Challenge Roth, IRONMAN New Zealand, St. Croix 70.3 or Ecuador 70.3 (not all in the same season)
  • Despite this fun schedule, aim for overall development and improvement, as this is part of the joy

Questions to Ask When Planning Your Season

What Is My Mission?

Do you want to qualify, execute a PR, finish your first IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3, or simply improve and have metrics to show it?  We all have different motives, and it influences that determine when and where we should race. 

What Suits You?

Think through your horses for courses discussion. A few quick examples:

• Weaker swimmers choose wetsuit courses or those with fast swims such as New York City Tri
• Strong runners with weaker riding ability: Choose courses with less riding 'terrain' in them, but tough runs
• Struggle in the heat: Avoid very hot and humid races and choose cooler locations or those with cool mornings that only heat up later in the day
• Excel in the cold or tougher races: Then go and find the hilly courses that provide lots of challenge to weaker riders
  • IRONMAN Wales, Nice, Wisconsin, New Zealand, Mallorca are all great examples

Remember that faster races are not always the most memorable, and while there is great joy in hitting a PR, the challenge of a scenic and beautiful course that delivers real terrain is often the most memorable and fun. 

Special Extra Tips For The Kona Dreamer

It Is Not Free

• No matter the ambition, not every athlete will make it
• Be realistic or, at the very least, have a coach who will be honest with you 

Commit to the Journey 

• It doesn't always happen in a season
• Map a strategic plan over several seasons if necessary

Love the Sport

• Obsession of the goal can often defuse the real enjoyment and performance
• Make sure you have fun and love the sport throughout the journey
• It ensures your best performance in the long run 

Be Strategic 

In your previous racing, what races have you done well relative to your peers? This is critical since you are racing your peers, for a predetermined total number of slots.

• Consider the type of courses that fit you best, the number of spots available at each race, as well as the timing of the races (which can help determine qualification level)
• This takes homework, and it is worth scouring races that suit your strengths for previous results and qualifiers
• It is not about speed, it is about being high enough in your age group, at a race with enough qualifying slots 
• Absolute speed has nothing to do with it, placing and qualification spots determine your success

Keep The Racing Simple 

• You have one goal: To execute the best race you can on the day under those conditions
• Making it more complicated than this only results in failure