Setting 2014 Annual Hours and Prioritizing Races

I've already completed Step 1: Setting Annual Goals and Step 2: Setting Training Objectives. Now I move on to Step 3: Annual Hours and Prioritizing Races

 

Setting Annual Training Hours

This is where things can get a little tricky.  I want to set training hours that will push me, yet at the same time be realistic.  TrainingPeaks does give you a nice piece of advice:



 

 

 

 

In addition to the advice above, TrainingPeaks also provides a nice guideline to follow:



 

 

 

 

 

 

Using this as a guideline, I calculate my annual training hours as follows:

In 2013 I completed 279 hours of training. Adding 15% to that brings my annual training hours to 322 hours.  The low training hours for 2013 reflect my crash in motivation and physical burnout by July.  I was just putting too much pressure on myself instead of focusing on the bigger picture (training objectives and annual goal).  In addition to that, the majority of my training focused on swimming and running which is generally shorter workouts than cycling.  Going forward, I believe I'll have a better grasp on the bigger picture, thus I'm going to increase my annual training hours to 600.  This increase can also be attributed to my new challenge of completing my first full Ironman in August.  This 600 hours equates to roughly 12.5 hours per week (on average).  I'll post a weekly break-down in the next step of my annual training plan.

Prioritizing Races

Priority A Races: The most important races.  No more than two or three races a season.  It’s best these races be clumped together (2-3 week blocks) or widely separated.  My priority ‘A’ races are as follows:

Barry Roubaix Gravel Road Race (62 miles): March 22, 2014 confirmed date.
Grand Rapids Triathlon Half-Ironman Distance: June 8, 2014 confirmed date.
Ironman Steelhead 70.3: August 10, 2014 approximate date.
MiTi Full Ironman: August 24, 2014 confirmed date.
Iceman Cometh: November 1, 2014 approximate date.

Priority B Races: Select as many as 6 of these races.  With these races you will not build to a ‘peak’.  These races are considered 'training races'.  Part of my training objectives was to add more training races to my schedule.  My priority ‘B’ races are as follows:

Lowell 50 Gravel Road Race: April 5, 2014 confirmed date.
Yankee Springs Time Trial: April 20, 2014 approximate date.
Pontiac Lake XC: April 27, 2014 approximate date (may do this one instead of the CPS race given their character issues).
5/3 Riverbank Run 25k: May 10, 2014 confirmed date.
Fort Custer Xterra: May 18, 2014 approximate date.
Tri Del Sol Olympic Triathlon: July 19, 2014 confirmed date (REGISTERED)

Priority C Races: These are training races used to gain experience or as hard workouts.  It would not be unusual to cancel one of these races at the last moment (without feeling guilty about it).  Be careful with C races since they could result in a bad experience, thus hurt your motivation.  They can also cause you to go into over-training.  Every C race should have a clear goal on what you want to accomplish.  Entering these races with no goal can end badly.  My priority ‘C’ races are as follows:

Fort Custer Stampede: May 4, 2014 approximate date.
Torn Shirt Xterra: June 15, 2014 approximate date.
State Games of Michigan: June 21, 2014 approximate date. (CPS race so slim chance I'll be involved anymore).
Pando XC Race: September 21, 2014 approximate date.  (CPS race so slim chance I'll do it).
Lowell 50 Gravel Road Race: October 25, 2014 confirmed date.