Kat Matthews says her seemingly packed early-season race schedule is all part of a carefully designed long-term plan as she prepares for the biggest targets of her 2026 season.

The British star opened her year with an impressive victory at IRONMAN New Zealand on March 7, a performance which immediately reinforced her status as one of the sport’s leading long-distance athletes.

Next up comes IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong this weekend, where Matthews will start as the clear favourite before continuing a rapid early-season sequence of races at IRONMAN Texas.

Making the right decision

And speaking to TRI247, Matthews explained that the heavy early schedule is deliberate – allowing her to build towards peak form later in the season for major targets including Challenge Roth, the 70.3 Worlds in Nice and ultimately the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.

Kat told us that while the schedule may look intense from the outside, the structure actually allows her to complete much of the racing part of her season early before key training blocks.

“I know the start of my year looks busy but when I saw Kristian Blummenfelt announce a similar programme it gave me a little boost we are making the right decision! New Zealand went smoothly and it was where the biggest risk in this plan lay, could I get fit enough in time to win whilst being healthy? Touch wood, that’s turned out to be a yes.”

The approach is also shaped by the increasingly crowded professional racing calendar.

“With two triathlon series on offer, as well as major stand-alone events like Roth and Kona, we’re in an era where every race has to count. You also need to race enough but not too much to then win those big events, something that’s eluded me so far.

“Racing New Zealand, Geelong then Texas in quick order ticks off the ‘non major’ elements of the year by April 18th.”

Roth on the horizon – and the sub-eight question

From there, the focus switches firmly to training.

“After these races I get a 10 week block before Roth then another 14 weeks till Kona (with a little trip to Nice in between!). So it’s sort of a split season for me where I will try not to reach true form until early July.”

Matthews also confirmed that Challenge Roth, one of the sport’s most iconic races, is firmly on her schedule this year.

“I’m going to Roth because it’s a bucket list event for almost every triathlete. It holds a lot of prestige and the competition is huge.”

And with the sport edging ever closer to a historic barrier in the women’s race, Matthews believes it could happen there – or before.

“Yes, someone could go sub-8 there. I think Laura [Philipp] and I could have done it in Hamburg last year had I not raced Texas five weeks earlier, so that barrier may already be broken before July 5th!”

Why T100 is not part of the plan

Despite previously enjoying success in the T100 Triathlon World Tour, Matthews says the long-distance format remains her focus for now.

Asked about T100 in 2026, she shoots back: “Honestly, no. I’ve had a lot of fun at the T100 in previous years but it’s just shy of middle distance. The full long distance format is where my heart is for the moment.”

She also highlighted one of the more unusual elements of racing long-distance events.

“I also really enjoy racing with the men, running alongside Trevor Foley for a short while in NZ was just so much fun!” – something that Foley echoed himself as the two of them took the respective titles in Taupo.

Kona heartbreak – and renewed bike confidence

Matthews has finished runner-up at the IRONMAN World Championship twice (and at the 70.3 Worlds) and admits the most recent near-miss stung more than previous podiums.

“Finishing on the podium at a World Championship is always special, it’s not something I’m anything but deeply proud of.”

But last year’s result in a dramatic race in Hawaii left a lingering frustration: “That said, Kona last year was the first second place that hurt rather than being fully satisfying. Maybe because it was so close, maybe an accumulation of second places but certainly not because of who won, Solveig [Løvseth] was, and is, magnificent.”

Matthews believes a return to aggressive bike racing could be key.

“I struggled on the bike, my power just sort of fizzled through the year. I want to be aggressive on the bike again, remind people it’s my strength. NZ feels like a step in the right direction there.”

Still improving – and the run could decide it

At 35, Matthews may not be among the youngest athletes in the field but she believes her development curve is still rising.

“I’m definitely still getting better, I might not be young in the field but my athletic age is young and it shows in my swimming and running. Thankfully this year it’s starting to show on my bike again.”

Ultimately though, she believes her greatest weapon remains the run.

“If I win it will almost certainly happen on the run but I need to be close enough in T2 to let that happen.”

Matthews also recently partnered with On and says the move is significant for her personally.

“For me it feels huge. I think there is a misconception pro athletes will just sign whoever pays them most; when it comes to something as personal and performance impacting as running shoes that’s just not true, certainly for me anyway.”

Running remains central to how she experiences the sport.

“Running is my safe place. Everything else can be going terribly, the weather can be horrible, but if I can lace up my shoes and go running in the rain I’m instantly happy.”

On partnership off to flying start

She also values the ability to influence development, explaining: “The running shoe game is also a bit of an arms race, so listening to people like Kristian tell me how much On value his feedback, something I’ve experienced myself already, was exciting.”

And the early racing experience has been positive.

“So far I’ve only raced in the Lightspray Cloudboom Strike, all my toenails are intact (I lost eight in Kona!!) and they felt fantastic out on the course.”

“I’m looking forward to really testing them out later in the year!”