“Preparation for tomorrow, is hard work today.” - Bruce Lee
I am a duathlete. I am feeling very focused in sport of duathlon right now. I love the challenge, the friendly atmosphere, and the opportunity to combine two activities I love, running and cycling, into one event. When I branched out from running, all the people in the multisport community were supportive and welcoming. I am somewhat addicted to the sport and very driven to improve my performance in it. However, the disruption created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic has required me to shift my training in an unprecedented way. It is less about time and distance goals, and more about having a form of release during this COVID-19 lockdown.
It’s a challenging time. Several of my races have already been canceled or postponed, with the possibility of more cancellations to come. While my normal indoor rowing and specific strength training options aren’t available because of gym and fitness studio closures, my running routine has not changed much. It’s easy to social distance as I’ve always been a solo runner. I am still getting in my miles each week, but I’m not training as hard as I would when preparing for an upcoming race. Due to the cancellation of races, I am not doing as much speed work. I’m just a little less motivated because the usual buzz and excitement is not there. Having a race marked on my calendar was a motivator for me to get out and train hard. I now find myself having to re-think my motivation. Ultimately, it’s about balancing my need to maintain my fitness level and the safety needs of society at large.
I have been embracing this time as an extended period of rest and recovery. Because I don’t have any races in the near future, it’s a good time to slow down a bit and just enjoy running for the sake of running and take the time to recover both physically and mentally. This means taking a step back from the competitive mindset. Given the current circumstances, my goal is to maintain regular physical activity even though upcoming races have been cancelled as a means to eliminate some of the mental stress of the COVID-19 crisis in addition to making sure my immune system is active and healthy during this time.
There is little to no predictability about how long this will last or what “normal” will look like months from now. This can present a huge challenge to our mental states. Everyone processes and reacts to the challenges the COVID-19 virus has brought differently, and it is normal for feelings to change from day to day or even from moment to moment. I have allowed myself to be disappointed and frustrated. It’s ok to be sad and upset that races have been cancelled. At the same time, it’s important to remember to focus on the things I can control. I still have control over my fitness level. This means that I continue training with purpose and maintain focus on the day to day process without a race on the calendar. Yes, I have moments that make me second guess the progress I’ve made, or if I will be able to perform at a particular level once races start back up. The foundation of success is built brick-by-brick over months and years of consistency. The base I am setting now will allow me to be ready whenever races do appear on the schedule again.
Bottom line, the COVID-19 pandemic is making life, let alone training, more challenging but my focus and goals remain constant. Change and growth are possible even during this unprecedented time. My training routines may be altered, but I am taking this time of uncertainty to appreciate the small stuff and reflect on what attracted me to the sport of duathlons in the first place.