Coach Tip Tuesday: Winds in the East

Hello, my friends!!  It’s already time again for Coach Tip Tuesday!!

I honestly can’t believe it took me this long to quote a Disney movie in a Coach Tip Tuesday post, but here we go:

“Winds in the east, mist coming in. / Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin. / Can't put me finger on what lies in store, / But I fear what's to happen all happened before.” -Mary Poppins

This quote has always resonated with me, but it honestly resonates with me most at this time of year.  For a majority of athletes, it’s the end of the North American multisport season, and it coincides with the actual change of seasons to fall.  As someone who isn’t a big fan of transitions or change, this is always a bittersweet time for me.  I welcome the cooler weather and gorgeous fall foliage, but I mourn the loss of the triathlon season and the deliciously golden sunny days of riding my bike and open water swimming.  Even if the season is a successful one, I am always sad when it’s over.  And you know what??  That’s okay.

Post-race blues are a very real thing, and it’s much more common than people realize to feel sadness coupled with the joy of completing a goal race.  Many, many athletes feel a sense of loss and feel disoriented as they attempt to navigate what is next for themselves.  I have seen it manifest in various ways over the years: actual tears, signing up for another “big” event immediately, irritability, demotivation, and general sadness and blues.

But our friend Bert from Mary Poppins can really teach us a lot if we let him.  The winds of change blow through every season, and if we’re being honest, there’s always a new beginning that’s tied to an ending.  Even if you can’t put your finger on what is next for you, don’t despair.  Take the time after a goal race or a season to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and what you might like to pursue in the future.  Embrace the opportunity that you have to ask yourself what you REALLY want to do next, and if that process to finding that answer takes some time, that’s very, very okay.  

Just like there are periodized cycles in a season/training plan, there are cycles that full seasons themselves follow, and just like you embarked on a path to goals this season, so you will do in the future.  Sure, the goals may shift, and it may not look exactly like what this past season looked like, but that’s the true beauty of it.  There is a familiar undercurrent and pattern to training for goals, but sundown on one season means that there is a dawn coming on another and you’ll get another opportunity to push your boundaries and explore the endless possibilities of what lies ahead of you.

So whether you’re feeling bummed that your race season is over or you’re excited to talk about how you smashed your goals this year, I’m here for you.  Give me a buzz and we’ll chat about it. :)