Season Planning for Triathlon and Open Water

Triathletes and open water swimmers "live" from one racing season to the next. Even if, during a competition, you tell yourself, "never again," soon after the event ends, plans emerge to improve your performance, tackle the distance again, or take a step forward in your athletic journey.

So, how do you plan your next season to stay healthy, achieve sporting success, explore Poland, and have fun? It seems that only a well-prepared race plan can help reconcile the logistical, financial, and athletic challenges. Piotr Stanik, an expert from Garmin Iron Triathlon – the largest triathlon series in Poland – shares tips on how to prepare a plan and implement it effectively.

Preparing a Race Plan

How should you approach creating a race plan, and when should you start thinking about it? Should you do it on your own or with a coach?

There are several ways to set up a race calendar for the upcoming season. One approach involves selecting the events with the highest priority. For example, let’s say your main goal is a 1/4 IM distance race in the first half of July. By setting this as your primary objective, you can plan other races around this high-priority event (Priority A).

The remaining races will serve as preparation, opportunities to gain experience, or training events leading up to your main race in early July. These could include races at the same or shorter distances, or events focused solely on running, open water swimming, or cycling – any format that helps you achieve your Priority A goal is valid.

However, it’s crucial not to overdo it and to always keep your main priority in focus, ensuring your peak performance aligns with your primary goal.

Working with a Coach

This is where the guidance of an experienced coach becomes invaluable. Another approach to planning a race calendar is to schedule several Priority A events (e.g., two or three main races throughout the season), such as aiming to compete in the National Age Group Championships at the Olympic distance or striving to secure a slot for the European or World Championships.

In this scenario, maintaining peak performance for two or three key races becomes even more complex.

Another way to plan your race calendar is to commit to participating in an entire series of events, for example, every two weeks, without focusing on any one race in particular. However, this approach means accepting that some races might not go as well as others.

A good strategy is to divide the season into two periods separated by time for structured training. This is because it’s challenging to train effectively when you have races week after week. In such cases, your training sessions are more focused on maintenance and recovery rather than building peak performance.

Logistics, Finances, and Sport

What factors (logistical, financial, and athletic) should influence the choice of race dates and distances for competition?

This is entirely individual, but I would divide the question into two subcategories:

1. Mandatory Factors - These include unavoidable aspects like financial resources and time availability. Often, attending a race involves a three-day trip, which some people cannot manage due to responsibilities like running a business, maintaining a household, or dedicating time to their children.

2. Optional Factors - Once the mandatory conditions are met (you can afford it and have the time), optional determinants come into play. These could include a sentimental connection to a place you enjoy revisiting, having family or supporters in the area, setting a personal best at a race there, the event being exceptionally well-organized, or it being the location of your triathlon debut, making it a special place you want to return to. Another optional factor could be the characteristics of the racecourse. For example, you might want to compete in a mountain triathlon or, on the contrary, on the fastest course available.

Triathlon and Open Water as an Adventure!

How can you create a group of athletes or find training partners to later travel to races together, sharing costs like transportation and accommodation?

The best way to achieve this is likely through social media, especially Facebook groups that bring together triathletes or open water swimmers from a particular city or region. Another option is joining a local club, which creates a community of athletes.

Should a race plan focus solely on competitions and rivalry, or can other events be included for relaxation and fun? If an exciting event comes up that isn’t part of the plan, can we participate?

Absolutely, a race plan can be flexible and adaptable—especially for Age Group athletes who view triathlon as an adventure meant to bring joy.

I’m all for occasionally competing purely for fun, as that’s the beauty of amateur sports. It’s a different story for professionals, who have clearly defined priorities and typically stick rigidly to their plans.

A Break in Competitions – Is It a Problem?

What should you do if something goes wrong during the season plan, such as missing a race or dealing with an injury? What determines whether the race plan was successfully executed?

Some things are unpredictable, like injuries, canceled races, or factors beyond our control. You have to be prepared for this because that’s the reality of being an athlete – sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and it’s up to us how we respond.

We can break down, which is the easiest choice, but athletes don’t give up. Triathlon offers the flexibility to adapt—if your knee hurts and you can’t run, you can use that time to focus on improving your swimming skills.

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