Triathlon

Hell of the West

Hell of the West takes place on Sat, Feb 27, 2027 in Goondiwindi, Australia. The main route is 102 km.

Queensland's toughest long-course triathlon features a 2 km freshwater swim in the Macintyre River, an 80 km flat cycle, and a 20 km run.

What this race demands

Hell of the West demands sustained aerobic power across a 2 km swim, an 80 km cycle, and a 20 km run in the Australian summer heat.

Extended endurance

The long-course triathlon format requires continuous pacing and metabolic management across three distinct disciplines totaling 102 km.

Thermal resilience

Racing in late February in Goondiwindi exposes athletes to significant heat stress, necessitating strict hydration and cooling protocols.

Aero positioning

The flat 80 km cycle leg rewards athletes who can hold a sustained aerodynamic position for long durations without muscular overload.

Aims for 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour to sustain output across an expected race duration exceeding three hours.

Race day at Hell of the West is 27 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.

01Base15 weeks · Aug 23, 2026 – Dec 5, 2026
Aerobic foundation: mostly steady endurance work that grows the aerobic engine and the durability the later phases stand on.
02Build6 weeks · Dec 6, 2026 – Jan 16, 2027
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
03Peak3 weeks · Jan 17, 2027 – Feb 6, 2027
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
04Taper2 weeks · Feb 7, 2027 – Feb 20, 2027
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
05Race week1 week · Feb 21, 2027 – Feb 27, 2027
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.

Organising this race?