KEEP CALM AND TRAIN ON

April 03, 2022

The “interesting” times keep rolling on don’t they?  The 5^th of March was meant to be our big race for the year (ha ha ha – my only race of the year) – New Zealand Ironman.  As soon as Omnicron landed on our shores many of us were straight into panic mode.  Taupo was probably off the cards.  I knew that if I sat around “hoping” it wouldn’t be cancelled I would have been quite moody and probably have inconsistent motivation which normally results in poor training!  For me, this panic lasted 63 minutes because I entered the Aussie Ironman in Port Macquarie.  For 63 minutes I didn’t have a goal, I didn’t have an event!  

I am sure there are many people like me that require a goal, a challenge, something they work towards.   We don’t need to let things out of our control change this!  We just need to RESET.

Injury (or illness) often does this to many of us as well.  Often our “process” towards our goal is interrupted which can create panic.   The key is to simply adjust your plan and stay in control of how we execute the plan.   For example, if we develop a sore knee or foot as we build towards our goal or event, we must keep calm.  Get expert medical advice, adjust the plan, control our rehabilitation, treatment, and progressions and get back on track when able.  We can control how we execute the rehabilitation and the training we cant waste energy dwelling on the injury!  Your mindset will influence how well you execute your new plan!

We have all been there, haven’t we?  Covid is only one thing in our lives that can challenge our mindset!  It just seems to be the DOMINANT one at present.  The key aspect of your mindset is that we must not worry or stress about things that are out of our control.  New Zealand Ironman being cancelled was sort of inevitable and so we just need to reset our goal – keep calm and train on!

We are all developing a degree of resilience at the moment whether we choose to accept this or not.  Cancelled events, postponements and even home isolation are all common occurrences. Try to control what you can and don’t waste energy on what you cant!   Changes to events, alterations to your plan, forced to train from home!!! 

Think outside the square!  Adapt, adjust, keep calm and train on!

Nic Gill, PhD (HOKA ambassador)

 

 

 

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