A Story Worth Telling
A complex sensitivity surrounds the coronavirus pandemic.
To some, this experience is one of darkness, tragedy, suffering and hardship with any embers of hope continuing to fade.
But for others it has been one of optimal living, a time to stop and be present and sidestep the rat race.
Though our community is small - by design, not choice - amongst us we have experienced this polarisation of feelings and emotions.
And with that, we have been taught so much as athletes, coaches and support staff. We knew connection was important (it's one of our core values after all), but what we didn't know was that connections made remotely, using the power of technology, can forge a bond and togetherness not unlike that which is created when rubbing shoulders in the pool, on the track or out on the road. It's not the same, of course, but we are excited to take what we've learnt from this virtual environment into our future coaching experiences to expand the connectedness of our athletes.
Back in March, when social distancing was first implemented and later when lockdown was imposed, we asked our athletes what story they wanted to create. They'll forever remember 2020, as we all will, but how did they want to remember it? Did they want to look back in years to come with regret or with stoic pride? The question enabled us to shift away from the media narrative and our social media feeds, both of which so often filled with hypocrisy, to focus on what we could do, and what we would do.
They are stories that are still being created and aren't to be shared now. Our athletes are now artists painting their very own masterpiece, albeit one that looks radically different to what they had envisaged late last year. At this point, the paint brush follows no logical flow but eventually each stroke will connect to show a path well trodden. A path on which aerobic engines were fine-tuned, threshold ceilings lifted and flow, movement and muscular function improved. But there is one improvement that is more significant than any other: the better understanding our athletes have of themselves and their ability to self-reflect on a deeper level than before.
This self-reflection is key to our coaching methodology. It helps to build emotional self awareness, shape confidence and expose the values and beliefs that are unique to each athlete.
Now, with lockdown measures beginning to ease, our opportunity to train in different spaces and with different people will slowly return and we'll each continue to build our individual stories. Coronavirus has altered how we do things, but it hasn't changed who we are or what we stand for. If anything, it has shown us a deeper meaning to what we do and a purpose that is a beacon of hope, even in the most challenging of times.
Our adaptive, progressive planning processes have allowed us to remain agile amongst ever-changing conditions. Workouts are changed daily based on each individual's circumstances. With most races curtailed until 2021, we have set ourselves a challenge as a team, one that will focus our energy and efforts in the short term while allowing us to keep a firm eye on the future. There's a wave of excitement amongst the group and we'll share more over the coming weeks.
Still, the road ahead remains paved with uncertainty. But in striving to be the best version of ourselves, we can, and will, showcase the true value of sport and its ability to bring a physical robustness and mental resilience to all that embrace it.
To the athletes who have written a chapter of progress, we salute you.
A note of caution to conclude: it's natural to want life to get back to normal and easy to be influenced by recent progress but we quietly urge you to curb your expectations. Just because we can see the light, it doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Continue to curate, with care, the substance that makes your story unique for it could even be part of your legacy.
And, above all else, keep striving.
