How to Use Your Training Data to Choose Smarter Races in 2026

In recent years, amateur athletes have started training with more information than ever before: GPS watches, power sensors, sleep metrics, running and cycling apps, and even simple handwritten training logs.
But there’s one thing most people still don’t do well: using that data to choose the races that truly fit their profile and goals.

With thousands of events available in Portugal, planning your season is no longer just picking dates from a calendar. Now you can make strategic decisions based on what your body is actually telling you.

Let’s break it down.

1. Look at your strengths — not just what sounds fun

Most athletes choose a race because:

• it’s close to home
• friends are doing it
• they saw a nice promo video
• “seems cool”

Nothing wrong with that. But here’s a simple trick to reduce frustration and increase success:

👉 match your training history with the race type.

Real examples:

If you train mostly on trails, you might be more prepared for a 20–25 km trail than for a fast road 10K.

If you’re a BTT rider who handles technical descents better than long climbs, a rolling course may suit you best.

If your weekly mileage rarely goes above 40 km, maybe a February half marathon isn’t the smartest way to start the year.

2. Analyse the average of your last 8 weeks

Your best workout from last year doesn’t matter — what matters is what you’ve been doing recently.

Look at these three simple indicators:

• Average weekly distance
Gives you a clear picture of the load you can handle.

• Average pace and variability
The more stable it is, the more ready you are for fast races.

• Perceived recovery
Even without tech: do you finish workouts exhausted or comfortable?

With this, you can understand whether you’re ready for:

• fast races (5K, 10K, short trail)
• long races (half marathon, marathon, granfondos)
• technical challenges (trail and BTT)

3. Your race calendar should follow your fitness curve

At RaceFinder, we’re seeing more athletes plan their season using three phases:

1️⃣ Build: short or low-technical races
2️⃣ Peak: the main goals of the year
3️⃣ Maintenance: lighter or fun events

If you know when you’re at your best — and when you need rest — you’ll pick races that push you without destroying you.

4. A simple rule: if you need a miracle to be ready, it’s not the right race

If a race requires:

• more volume than you’re able to train
• technical skills you don’t practice
• a pace you’ve never reached

… it may not be the smartest choice right now.

No stress — 2026 has hundreds of events. The perfect race for you exists.

5. Use RaceFinder as a planning tool — not just for browsing

RaceFinder is more than a platform full of events. It can become the blueprint for your entire season.

Try searching for events by:

🔍 discipline
🔍 month
🔍 distance
🔍 location

Save your favourites and build your own calendar — aligned with your real training.

Your data isn’t just for sharing on Strava. It’s meant to help you choose better races, with more joy and fewer injuries.

The smart athlete of 2026 doesn’t train more — they decide better.

👉 Explore upcoming events and start building your race calendar.