THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

Runner and triathlete friends, have you planned your 2018 races? Do you have your training plan ready? Are you now training for the big race?

If the big race is near, are you following a periodized progression, peaking and recovery plan?

If it's far, are you targeting other races and working on the base, lactate threshold, VO2 max, strength and nutrition that you need to excel?

I write periodized custom training plans for races 4 to 24 weeks out (a 24-week plan is highly recommended; a 4-week plan is dicey) and year-round training schedules incorporating all races. The longer the targeted training, the more likely you will be ready for your best race!

Here's a 2018 longer distance race calendar aimed at athletes in the Annapolis area, showing number of weeks you have to train for each race (as of the second week of January). My experience says that your race will come faster than you think!

February

18 George Washington Marathon 6 weeks

March

10 Washington DC Rock & Roll Marathon 9 weeks

April

8 B&A Trail Marathon 13 weeks

16 Boston Marathon 14 weeks

June

10 Ironman 70.3 Eagleman 22 weeks

July

7 Revolution3 Williamsburg Half Ironman 26 weeks

22 Ironman Lake Placid 28 weeks

August

19 Annapolis 10 Mile 32 weeks

September

8 Patriots Half Ironman 34 weeks

9 Ironman 70.3 Lake Placid 34 weeks

16 SavageMan 60.0 Triathlon 35 weeks

23 Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City 36 weeks

29 Ironman Maryland 37 weeks

29 Waterman's Half Triathlon 37 weeks

October

7 Chicago Marathon 38 weeks

13 Ironman 70.3 North Carolina 39 weeks

20 Baltimore Running Festival Marathon 40 weeks

28 Marine Corps Marathon 41 weeks

November

4 New York Marathon 42 weeks

10 Richmond Marathon 43 weeks

17 Annapolis Running Classic Half Marathon 44 weeks

December

8 Rehoboth Marathon 47 weeks