I’m trying to plan out next year and was wondering - how many races do you usually do in a year? How many are recommended?
It all depends on your focus (i.e. long course or sprints, etc.) If you are the shorter end of the distance spectrum then racing multiple times a month is not unusual, but if you go long, then the number shrinks pretty quickly. For me, I do a mixture of Xterra, HIM and a few Oly’s and so I race about 12-15 times per year (with the odd TT or MTB XC or 10k thrown in for fun or training). I wish I could race more, and I feel like I could, but my professional life limits me.
Cheers!
As above, it depends on your distance preference and goals. I have raced 7 sprint races in the last 10 weeks. Those 1:10-1:30 workouts are great speedwork and can be done without too much lingering fatigue, though I will admit it is building up abit here late in the summer. Olympic distance or better demands a different mindset but I know folks, even my age (50+), who can pull it off a few times a month during the season.
Here in the midwest we have lots of races to choose from…but the season only really lasts from (very) late May to early September at the best so people tend to race frequently while they can.
That’s why I love sprints, besides the feeling that you’re actually racing, is that in our area we can do one every second weekend all season within a two hour drive. In contrast, I have long course friends who only do one race, an IM, per year.
I wish it were a matter of training and feeling like I COULD race week after week! For me it’s a matter of what I can afford! This year I did/will do a total of 7 races… but that’s living at home and working full-time… I move out in 2 weeks, and am going BACK to Uni for another 4 years and will TRY to keep up the full-time work, but it’s all about the chedda 
I AM signed up for the muskoka 70.3 though, and plan to do 3 of the same races I did this year I do a mix of all distances, mostly olympic/HIM… but a goal for next year is also to qualify for Boston, so I’ll be doing an early season Marathon (end of May), and then get right into my HIM training, leading up to Muskoka, but doing some races (like another HIM in July and Olympic in August)…
As many as I can. I have raced pretty much every weekend for July and August and will likely do the same next year.
Mark
I will do 12 this year. I just finished doing 5 races in 15 days. I’m too old to be doing that but it was fun.
About once a month from March-October, either running races, duathlons or triathlons.
I would like to race more, but between entry fees adding up and personal committments, once a month works best for me.
Somewhere between 8 - 12 races of varying disciplines and distances.
I generally do a 1/2 marathon in the winter, as well as a couple of du’s, just to keep the competitive juices flowing. Then I will try to get in about 3 HIM’s and 3-4 of shorter tri’s during the “season”. I have pretty much decided on the IM every other year plan, so on IM years, I will generally race a little less frequently.
FWIW, I enjoy traveling to races that have a larger-than-normal fun element or maybe cult races that are just a little more difficult or different in some way. Not so much interested in doing the “sprint down the street” just 'cause it’s there…'course, that’s just me. 
G
So far this year:
Running:
25k trail
30k trail
1/2 marathon road
50k trail
1/2 marathon trail
20k trail
10k road
Tri:
1/2 IM (3)
IM (2)
Open water swim:
2 mile
I plan to do a few more running races this fall and a few cyclocross races. Then the TRI 101 race in November.
clm
I’m the odd one out here since I only race 2 - 3 times a year. This year is unusual since I’ve raced twice already and I’ve got two more planned. I just find it hard to plan races around my family. I will probably race more as my kids get older and don’t want to spend time with me anymore!
This year I planned for 2 HIM and 2 Oly but ended up 5 HIM, 5 Oly, 2 half and 1 full marathons. Not finished all yet but find your weakness and strenghts and plan accordingly. I would have been more tired if I raced 5 Sprints and 5 Oly races.
What else are you racing Dawn?
If I include tri’s, du’s, bike races, running races, I would say 30+ times/year.
Tri’s: ~10
Duathlon: ~1-3
Bike: ~15
Run: ~5 (early season)
That being said, I don’t have a family and a VERY understanding girlfriend…I only really plan out tri’s though. HIM’s and Oly’s, other than that it is a mixture of when there is races, who I know is doing it, and if there is a “no t-shirt” registration option to save a few $$.
I want to do a half marathon. Looking at Toronto 1/2. That, plus Woodlands 101 will put me at 4 races this year. Most number of races I’ve ever done in one year!
6 times max. The race season where I live is May to September, so that does not leave too much time for recovery and training between races. Plus having a life.