2020 has been a trying year for us all, full of hope, then disappointment. It’s been the year for us endurance athletes of sign up for events, train and cross fingers just to have the event cancelled/postponed. So how does one stay motivated and fit during these times? How does one keep hope and chasing races that might happen with optimism and focus to be fit and ready? Let’s say it’s not easy, but when your passion is swim, bike, and run and when the world is full of sadness and craziness the chance to go into the outdoors and swim, bike or run is that place we can escape the heartache of the world and just breathe.
I’m a 46-year-old “Master’s” athlete here in Minnesota where our season is short enough all ready but I had several big travel races on the schedule that started with 70.3 Galveston, TX and 70.3 Des Moines, IA, USAT AGNC in Milwaukee and so on. Then races in the spring got cancelled I transferred entry to Augusta, GA 70.3 and had that one postpones also. In August there was a saving grace here in Minnesota Graniteman triathlon series was able to safely host two events! And they produced excellent events! Both races Big Lake and Clearwater were sprint distance events. The other thing about me is my 18-year-old daughter (freshman in college now) is a very accomplished triathlete as well so summers are filled with us training together and racing together. With all the cancellations that was taken from me until early August when Bella and myself got one chance all of 2020 to race together. This might simply be the best day of the summer! Bella looked strong, had a great race and took 2nd female overall! Dad had a solid race also it was just a beautiful and happy day on the course!
Bella now is gone at Daemen College in Amherst, NY as she is on athletic scholarship to compete in NCAA triathlon for Coach Metz and Daemen College. But like many of us the NCAA championship season has been postponed until the spring so no fall competition for Bella and the team, but they do get a few hours to train together this fall and then fingers crossed we get a championship season in the spring!
As for me, 2020 has been the year of cycling! I’ve road my bike everyday since the pandemic started and have logged thousands of miles! I’m pushing 6700 miles of cycling for the year thus far with a goal of riding 10,000 miles this year. So I feel fit just from lots of aerobic base workouts getting outside shaking the crazy of the world. I have not really focused any training like I would if the races were happening, and I have not really tapered or rested, sure a “rest” day for me right now might be 45 minutes on a bike easy, but I always move my legs a little.
So when 70.3 Augusta, GA officially cancelled in August, I quickly turned to Square lake 70.3 here in Minnesota and signed up! I’m so grateful this race is happening! I’m not sure exactly where my fitness and speed are for this race, but I know I’m ready to toe the line and push my limits to the max! And so excited to see the other athletes and give cheers! Transition is a happy place for me, I love being at races, I love seeing other athletes and sending out positive vibes to all!
Up until yesterday I thought 70.3 Square lake would be the end of my season and I would write off 2020 as the year that never really happened. But then I communicated with USA Triathlon and found out they have the green light for Duathlon National Championships in Lake Havasou City, AZ in October so I quickly registered, transferred a flight and now and planning to get ready for a National championship race on October 17th! Of course, I know this race could get cancelled at anytime as that is just how 2020 is, but for now I hold out hope with optimism and I train and focus on going to AZ to push my limits.
Life is tough, and strange and 2020 is a year like no other year we could ever imagine or dream of, but it’s here and we have been in this pandemic for 6 months or more. As endurance athletes we have to quickly adapt to ever changing conditions and just take what each day gives us, each moment. It’s not always pretty, it’s not always perfect but we are given moments and it’s what we do with those moments and how we adapt that shape us and our future.
I can’t wait for the day things are safe and back to normal, I can’t wait to be back in transitions with you all, and have races to choose from every week and not have them cancel. But until then we just take what races are happening, we plan for them, and we just wake up each day and set a new challenge for ourselves, swimming, riding bike, running whatever, it is. We are athletes, we are active people and we need to keep those bodies in motion race or no race.
Thanks to all the race directors who have figured out safe ways to host races, thanks to USA triathlon for creating the safe return to sport and helping these race directors figure out how to host events.
I miss my daughter Bella so much; she is the best training/cycling partner I have! And as I write this, I just got a text from her that her 14-day quarantine in her dorm room has ended and her and one of her triathlon teammates just did a 4-mile run! 😊 She did have her bike on a trainer for the 14 days so she could do bike workouts in her dorm room. Follow Daemen Triathlon everyone and Go Wildcats!
See you at Square lake 70.3 next weekend, and can’t wait to hear Jerry’s voice rocking the mic!
Support small business, and these races, fight those demons and tough times of 2020 and see you all soon!
With love, respect, and happiness
MB