One of the biggest mistakes distance runners make? Racing too often, too hard, with no long-term plan.

We are spoilt for choice nowadays. The weekend rolls around, there’s another race in town, and FOMO kicks in. Suddenly, that easy long run turns into a race effort at a C-type event, and your training suffers.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned Comrades campaigner, if you’re serious about improving, avoiding burnout, and showing up ready for your target race, you need a structured annual training and racing plan—built around your A, B and C races.

Let’s unpack why this matters.

The Power of Planning

Just like a builder wouldn’t throw bricks around without a blueprint, you shouldn’t build your season without a plan.

Training should be tailored to key races. That means building fitness gradually, tapering at the right time, and recovering smartly—not reacting week-to-week based on what your friends are doing or what race medal looks nice.

A well-structured race calendar (Annual Training Plan) is a strategic roadmap which allows for:

• Clear focus and motivation
• Strategic fitness peaks
• Balanced load and recovery
• Improved performance in key races

Know Your Race Types: A, B & C

A-Races – These are your big goals: your Comrades Marathon, Cape Town Marathon, or a Boston Qualifier. You train specifically for this event, peak for it, taper beforehand, and recover afterwards. Ideally, you only have 1–2 A races per year. Yes, that’s all. This is what world champion runners do – that means it’s more than likely that you won’t handle more than them.

B-Races – Important but not your main focus. You might race them hard but won’t taper significantly, if at all. They’re often used to test fitness or race strategy and are mostly shorter than the goal race.

C-Races – These are training runs in disguise. No taper, no racing hard, no ego. You run these at easy or marathon pace, practising nutrition, pacing, and mindset. Think of it as going for a run with your club mates.

Periodisation: Training with Purpose

The entire concept of a structured training year relies on periodisation—the principle of building training in specific phases with different goals. This allows your body to adapt, peak, and recover in sync with your racing calendar.

Here’s an over-simplified look at how it works over 6–12 months:

1. Base Phase (12–20 weeks)
   Build endurance, strength, and aerobic fitness. No hard racing.
2. Build Phase (8–12 weeks)
   Introduce race-specific sessions and B/C races.
3. Peak Phase (2–4 weeks)
   Focused preparation and taper for your A race.
4. Race + Recovery
   Execute the plan and recover properly. Don’t rush back.
   Review, reflect, and set your next goal.

The Problem with Over-Racing

Running too many races, or running your C and B races at full-tilt, kills progression. Here’s why:

• You never recover properly after running too hard
• You can’t build consistent aerobic fitness
• You risk injury and burnout
• You’re always chasing performance instead of building it

Over-racing makes every race an average or ‘weak’ performance —you’re never truly fit, fresh, or focused.

“But I Love Racing…”

That’s fine! Just understand that racing and racing well are two different things.

C races have value when used correctly—run them easy, practise fuelling, learn pacing, enjoy the social side. But don’t ruin your big goal for the sake of proving something on a random Sunday.

Plan It. Don’t Chop and Change.

One of the biggest signs of an uncoached runner? Constantly switching race goals, entering events last-minute, and racing every weekend. Don’t do it.

Discipline beats distraction.

Sit down and carefully select 6–12 months in advance. Pick your A, B and C races. Then, stick to the plan.

Your training, recovery, strength work, and life schedule can all align when the race calendar is locked in. It is always much, much easier to plan around a structure. Oh, and don’t go planning a holiday where you cannot run during the peak training phase. I know too many athletes that have done this.

Work With Experts. Plan With Precision.

If you want to maximise your potential, avoid wasting training blocks, and race with confidence, a coach can make this a reality.

At A-Team Coaching, we specialise in building race-specific annual training plans that align with your goals, lifestyle, and target events. Whether you’re going for a Sub-3 marathon, your first ultra, or just want to feel in control of your season—we’ve got the tools and experience to guide you.

Get in touch today. Visit a-teamcoaching.com and get started with a personalised coaching plan.

We’ll help you plan, peak, and perform.