As we conclude the racing season and enter the “post-season”, most of us will enjoy a period of R&R and relaxed training schedules. This period of time is there to allow the body and mind (and our families :)) to recover from the busy racing season. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the summer of racing and look forward to things ahead.
Post Season blues – ‘a lack of motivation to keep training, falling into poor lifestyle and health choices and allowing ourselves to become a little too relaxed coinciding with the end of the season’
Whilst the post season is a completely normal and important phase of our yearly cycle to go through, it doesn’t have to be all that bad. Maybe you didn’t achieve your goals this season, maybe you feel a little burnt out and tired. Let me remind you of why you do this sport, for most of us, we are recreational athletes seeking fitness, health and performance in life and in sport. The structure and routines that training gives us allows age-group athletes to perform not only in sport but across all areas of life. If exercise were a pill….you know the rest! So in the post-season, let training or just exercise be just that! Let it be your remedy and time dedicated to move the body, keep your energy and motivation levels high. This does not need to be at the same intensity, frequency or volume that a race build or in season training needs to be! However, it allows us to keep those consistent and positive habits in place for when the next block of training comes around. Trust me, it will be so much easier starting from a platform of health, routine and positive mindset come the next training block, opposed to coming from an unhealthier version of yourself!
Here at JET, we thrive off our community and our weekly schedule and we want you to do just that also! Keep some accountability in your life, stick to the things that make you happy and feel good! This is a great opportunity to reflect on your last 6 months, write down your top 3 achievements and top 3 shortcomings, send them to your coach (sorry Jamie big influx coming). That way you are already half way there to setting goals for next season and keeping a sense of intrinsic motivation going during this period of low stress training. Once you have reflected, its time for goal setting, over the next month and most of April, is a great time to think about your reflections and put together a plan for the next 12 months with some goals attached to keep you accountable and motivated!
Post Season Blues redefined – ‘A period of lower stress, feel good and re-energising training, a time for reflection on the highs, lows and a chance to set ambitious goals for the upcoming year!’
Have a restful break, do what makes you feel good!
Over and out
Words: Ryley – on behalf of JET Coaching