Lots of information coming through on COVID 19…
Hi Everyone,
Below is the email message that was sent to MSC athletes and associates last Saturday and happy to share here also. Lots of information coming through on COVID 19 and very overwhelming as it changes every few hours.
In Australia earlier today Ironman had no choice but to call off and re schedule Port Macquarie – 70.3 and Iron Man in May and followed with Cairns due to be held in June. I along with many coaches had a big crew in training for these events and a handful of these were first timers lining up for IM or 70.3. Feeling gutted for every athlete as I know only too well what goes into these preparations. It is going to be common place for a while. The last few weeks has also seen athletes that are part of the MSC stable have events cancelled in Dubai, Africa, Brisbane and Sydney also and several events in coming weeks.
Some really positive messages coming back from several athletes earlier today that have had their Ironman events at Port Mac cancelled (I had personally contacted everyone earlier today) and this just goes to show what the triathlon community is like as far as being resilient and ‘glass half full type of people’ ?
More adaptions I’m sure will be needed soon and those that are coached directly will have the interaction to work this in based on location / facilities / work and family and of course above all training for health over high performance through the next few months. Always happy to answer questions for any athlete messaging us as well.
The email that was sent late last week with some common sense / keep it simple messages below …………………
Many of you are training for short term events in the next 12 weeks so you would have seen posts / received direct emails and info from organisers about event status for this next period of time etc.
Obviously heed general advice re health / personal hygiene. Don’t train if unwell (this is for all the time – not just in this climate). Certainly don’t come to a squad session if coughing / feverish and go and get checked out and follow the advised guidelines. Your health always comes first.
A little article (click here) – (in a sea of them at the moment) re CV but a bit more relevant to the tri world from a Dr. I posted this on the MSC FB page yesterday –
If events we are training towards are postponed or cancelled in the next few weeks / months we can adjust the sights. I coach athletes of all levels – those in their first season of the sport aiming for their first Noosa Tri or using this sport to get the balanced fitness it gives to athletes wanting to progress into their 2nd , 3rd or 4th seasons or beyond to athletes with the aim qualify for Kona, World Championship events and National teams. These goals don’t have to change and you can keep working towards these – they just may roll into the next season now. You will get to your goal/s if you want them enough and keep putting the time and effort in. No doubt the upcoming event calendar is going to change with the Coronavirus impacting this next period of time. Use this potential down time from racing to be the best you can with your ongoing journey and preparation, work on weaknesses, enjoy the process, keep the dream alive and adapt as needed. We may need to adjust the goal posts a bit but we can roll with it and keep improving.
Look after yourself
Nick