Coaches Corner:
Normally, this would be a period in which our community’s triathlon enthusiasts might discuss the best ways to conduct ourselves in the off-season of our sport. Normally, Winter suggests attaining growth in our competitive abilities to be showcased in the racing season. Normally, as a coach, I would be listing the growth outlets for such an endeavor.
However, as everyone knows…the ‘normal’ is gone for a while.
The ‘normal’ is pushed away for the sake of our health as a species being a priority over ANY athletic endeavor. And our Winter ‘Off Season’ has (and rightly so) been redefined:
The ‘Off’ season training as we know it is in fact, off in many ways.
Off normal race calendars
Off usual workout group outlets
Off the whatever ‘work/train/race balance’ conundrum we once felt as our main or only athletic threat
And most definitely ON The Calendar of Covid
Now, whilst it might appear as though this perspective so far conveys that of only doom and gloom and sadness. While this coach is admittedly grieving for what ‘once was’ in terms of our lifestyle and athletic gathering. I assure you this note intends to bring forth the exact opposite. This coach is actually aiming to present a lens for perspective on the current amateur athlete tough disposition. This coach feels strongly that just like in a tough race, we can always draw strength and positivity from seemingly horrible circumstances.
And like a race finish so clearly tells the full story of the racer and all their strife along the way, so do I feel we are the main protagonists in a long…difficult…race to the finish. Priceless lessons of the race/Covid 19 pandemic can provide some of the following gems:
-The hidden blessings for the athlete unattached to a race
-The benefits to recognize and celebrate in being an endurance athlete amidst a life-threatening pandemic.
First to be recognized by everyone same as I remind my own clients all the time is the fact that we should all pat ourselves on the back for taking care of our health well enough to build a decent pulmonary and cardiovascular system in the first place- Good job.
Next, there has been an independence grown in all athletes to handle their training on their own since their group or codependent relationships in training haven’t been as available- Good job.
Then, because that ‘A race’ hanging in the balance of our year’s athletic purpose, is suddenly removed or moved to another unreliable date/venue, we are forced to stare at our naked and race-free agenda. We are forced to ask ourselves ‘what are we if we don’t have this race?’. Will all our equipment and money and time crumble with that date of our race when it joins the Covid race graveyard?
Or are we true endurance athletes. Are we a breed that’s aligned our identity not with racing, but with ENDURING. Are we sad because we don’t have a racing box to check, or will we create another challenge with or without a podium/score/post.
Perhaps this period of the pandemic has given us the opportunity to return to what brought us to this wacky and wonderful lifestyle in the first place. We didn’t begin triathlon or endurance racing with a race result in mind. We started because the wind felt good on our face and learning something new felt good and covering ground/yards felt good.
And perhaps it’s to that truth we ought to return.
Off-season or not.
Covid or not.
Happy training, everyone!
~Nancy Jones
