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How To Cope with Corona Virus And The Race Season?

This is a testing time for everyone. With races being canceled all over the globe, and with outdoor training opportunities rapidly dwindling with the stay at home mandates. Athletes are starting to struggle with motivation and make workouts count. Some of you that have had those big race accomplishments are probably coping fine. While others who are just starting out or have that big bucket list race are definitely more frustrated.

I for one was in the middle of prepping for the Challenge Roth race this coming July. Unfortunately, it was canceled this week and won’t return to the schedule until next year. So, I’ll have to hit the reset button and fine another race for later this year that hopefully won’t have the same demise. I’ve got athletes who’s races have been postponed and haven’t got that make-up date yet too.

So how do you stay motivated?

Losing that goalpost carrot of your race can leave you with a sense of loss and drive. Having that daily training regimen on your daily calendar gave your life some identity and you got accustomed to it.

Take a couple days, breathe and give yourself time to reflect and reset. 
    
First let me say as frustrated as you probably are, don’t think that your training is now wasted. You can take all that fitness into this holding pattern phase and get even more fit and focused. Your target paces are even likely to get faster being more fit.

Until you find out when your new race date is, it’s important to scale back your weekly workouts to 50-60 percent of your previous peak volume. Why? Because you don’t want to your fitness to peak way before your race. It will be very difficult to maintain that peak fitness for a long period of time. Your body will get fatigued and your fitness will plateau. But at the same time, you want to retain the fitness you’ve gained.

This is also a time to dial back your intensity and increase zone 2 training. This will make it easier to handle more intense workouts down the road. Throw in some tempo work to break up the monotony but completely remove any VO2 max or track workouts. You could do hill repeats instead and build strength. I’d incorporate more strength and core sessions during this time. Once your race date has been set you could then progressively build to that higher intensity and more volume work like before as you get closer to the race.

This is also a great time to listen and get to know your body. Change some of your workouts to RPE (rate of perceived exertion). Which is a way for you to record how difficult a workout was. Learn how your body feels at a 7 out of 10 or a 4 out of 10 scale.

If you’re part of a club or have a group of friend’s now’s the time to take advantage of virtual platforms such as Zwift and meet up online and ride together.

If there’s a weakness in your race, now’s the time to work on mechanics and clean up your form. It could also be a time to work on your mental fitness and study those athletes that handle the mental aspect of triathlons with ease.

There will be other races

Even though your race was canceled or postponed, there will be others. You’ve already made the biggest step in becoming a triathlete, which was getting yourself in shape. Just stay focused and remember your why. Control what you can control, and you’ll be ready for that next race. Keep training and stay safe athletes!

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