Adapting to Covid 19

PART ONE. A lot has changed since these good ol’ days (see photo above). A couple of weeks ago I shared what I’ve modified from the previous and well known normal on Instagram, over a week. Sharing what I had to adjust, to find and experience a different type of good, to get through these corona impacted days. So this post is a compilation of my Instagram uploads. Please enjoy, from a slightly lost but hopeful, sometimes sad but creatively exploring, honest triathlete.

PART TWO. From previous posts you’d know the introduction of Zwift into my life, and many others it seems! For me, I think I enjoy it so much because it’s a new stimulus. Virtually speaking, it’s new roads, new competition, new challenges with levels and kits to unlock and sprint jerseys to conquer. It’s a different form of cycling and it can bring so many together whom you normally wouldn’t get the chance to ride with. The first week I competed in a race for each bike session and kind of cooked myself. So I’ve spread them out a bit more since then, but for me the racing was a new found enjoyment. And finding enjoyment is my focus at the moment.

PART THREE. With pools closed in Australia, I’m still lucky to have access to the ocean, local creeks and lakes. In all honesty, I struggle with motivation for swimming the most. I think it’s a combination of being slightly worried about marine life eating me and, who would have thought, missing the simplicity of following the black line up and back. I kid you not, I wore a wetsuit swimming not because of temperate but due to the fact there’s one (apparently big) fish in Evandale Lake who likes to tuck into your streamline and frequently use his body to collide with your leg. Nevertheless I’m jumping into the open water a few times a week, swimming next to Kye for safety and aiming to feel good through the water. Once I get out, I am pleased that I did swim.

PART FOUR. Thanks to the QAS and TA I’ve been able to set up a miniature gym in our garage. Combine that with Kye’s newly installed outdoor chin up bar and we can basically do every exercise we normally would. I’ve enjoyed creating my own gym sessions and challenging myself with different movements. Especially when it doesn’t matter how sore I am the next day. Higher reps have replaced heavier weights for the time being. The initial focus has been the number of chin ups and push ups possible, but I feel it’s time to switch to more important things. Such as mobility, stability (my ankle’s nemesis), and connection. With this new found extra corona time, the one percenters are the main target.

PART FIVE. Obviously it is safest staying put at home as much as we can at the moment. So more indoor activities have been added to my to do list. This includes yoga slash pilates slash continuing much needed rolling and stretching. I won’t lie, this addition may have only just begun, but it is needed. It brings forward areas which sometimes get swept under the rug because they aren’t the ‘big rocks’. Nic (http://yogeur.co/) is a friend and mentor for me in this area. Her videos are easy to understand and follow, and she’s specialised them for me and my problem areas. If anything, now is the time to slow down if you can. And this allows me to do so in a productive way. Nic, thank you for all your help and wisdom.

Disclaimer: the photos featuring Nic are from last year, when social distancing was an unknown term and I could be gently eased into my stretches.

PART SIX. With no racing in the foreseeable future, I wanted to switch my running focus from a few keys sessions throughout the week, to dropping intensity and increasing volume. Over the years numerous injuries have impacted my running and decreased consistent loading as much as I would’ve liked. So I thought now was the perfect time to do just that. I’ve done some build runs and hill reps here and there, but reduced the effort a great deal to try and get back to back weeks of good kms, with Dan making sure I don’t go too nuts. I was very pleased to meander out to some trails and only have my ankle give way once (that’s a lot less than I was expecting). To balance it out, I treat my ankles to some treadmill running too, (they can just go into autopilot mode). Every now and then I increase the pace, get into a rhythm and feel like I’m flowing again and don’t really want to stop. I am grateful to still have variety with my running locations and my iso running buddy. Hopefully we hit 120km run weeks soon (just kidding Dan).

PART SEVEN. Last, and I would automatically say not least, but I did try to push aside working out what’s most important to me right now. It should have been the opposite. Initially I felt guilty if I put my energy into new things, new hobbies, new-unrelated-to-triathlon things. Because that’s what I’m suppose to be still focussed on, right? If I keep pushing now I’ll be more ahead when everything starts up again. And then at the same time I was thinking, but if I ease up a little now maybe I’ll be more ready to go when it’s time? It is hard to stay motivated when the reason for your training and life structure has just disappeared. Maybe I should put energy into other things while I can? There were many questions asked by me to me. And making decisions isn’t a huge strength of mine. I’ve tried to find a balance and a new routine as to not go crazy. I’ve kept ticking along with training and have slowly added in things I don’t usually have the time for. Pulling out our ugly garden plants and replacing them with cute colourful ones, reading books, finding old photos, non training beach outings, learning Tiktok dances (failed attempt shown but we got there), and taking photos are a few things I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing. I’m reminding myself to be ok with the importance of training decreasing at the moment, slowing down a little, and not feeling bad about it. Me or you can’t control this never experienced before corona outbreak. So control what you can, let go of what you can’t and if you are able to, go do things you’ve wanted to do but haven’t (adhering to the laws of course) And me saying that, is also reminding myself to do the same. I hope that sharing vulnerable times can be uplifting, if it resonates with someone who might need to know it’s not just them. Stay safe everyone, and continue helping the world get back on it’s feet. The end, from a part time storyteller.