My first A race is in 12 weeks: where do I start?

The 12-week setup

You have a first A race 12 weeks out. The Hub's standard A-race periodization wants 20 weeks; 12 is workable but condensed. Treat this as build-peak-taper without a long base.

Week minus 12: assess and plan

1. Confirm the race is on your calendar with the right date and priority tag A. See Adding a race.
2. Pick a periodization model. With 12 weeks, reverse linear or linear are the typical defaults. See Choosing a periodization model.
3. Open the race readiness page. See Race readiness checklist. Note which threshold metrics are stale or missing.
4. Schedule retests for week minus 11 and 10: * Swim CSS test (see CSS Test). * Bike CP or 20-min FTP test (see Critical Power Test). * Run threshold (a 10K race or 30-min TT).
5. Confirm equipment: primary bike is set up correctly, race wheels and tires identified, helmet logged. See Equipment pre-race checklist.

Weeks minus 11 to 10: testing block

1. Run the retests on consecutive days only if recovery allows; otherwise spread across the two weeks.
2. Confirm new threshold values land in MetricHistory. If the 20%-anomaly flag fires, accept the new value via the metric review queue.
3. Set the periodization tag on the A race. Save.

Weeks minus 9 to 4: build phase

This is the volume-and-intensity ramp. Six weeks. The macrocycle plan, if one exists, drives the structure; if not, the coach (or you) writes the weekly volume and key sessions.

• Volume ramp: 8 to 12 percent week over week.
• Recovery weeks: every 3 to 4 weeks at 60 percent of peak load.
• Key sessions: one threshold and one VO2 per discipline per week.
• Long sessions: peak distance achieved by week minus 5 to 4 at the latest.

Log wellness daily. Watch for concerning flags.

Week minus 5 to 4: race specificity

• Run the planning wizard for the race. See Race planning wizard tour. Output: CSS pace, CP, CdA, projected bike split, finish time, calories per leg, fueling plan.
• Practice race-pace intensity in each discipline.
• Brick workout: at least one race-pace bike to run brick in the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Weeks minus 3 to 1: taper

3-week taper for an A race. See Race week taper by priority for the day-by-day structure.

• Volume drops 30 to 50 percent across the 3 weeks.
• Intensity is preserved.
• Long sessions cut significantly.

Race week (minus 1)

1. Carb load from race week minus 3 days. See Carb loading protocol.
2. Equipment final check mid-week. See Equipment pre-race checklist.
3. Race morning routine. See Race morning routine.
4. Transition setup practiced. See Transition setup.

Race day

• Follow your saved race plan. See Reading the saved race plan.
• If conditions are hot, adjust pacing. See Pacing the run when it gets hot.

After

• File a race recap within 48 to 72 hours.
• Import results. See Importing race results.
• Plan the next 2-week recovery before any further training.

See also: Race planning workflow, Macrocycle plan basics.