It goes without saying that we are living in a very different world than the one we lived in a month ago. The coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has affected all of us on some level. Our daily routines have changed in so many ways. This is especially true for duathletes. This can be a challenging time by not only disrupting a duathlete’s training schedule, but also having to face the reality of race cancellations and postponements as race directors follow the mandates and recommendations of federal, state and local authorities.
Closely following the recommendations of state and local health departments, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding coronavirus, large social gatherings have been highly discouraged and as a result most races scheduled for March, April and even May have been either cancelled, rescheduled for later in the year or postponed until further notice. This is to minimize the chances of athletes, volunteers, staff, and spectators catching or spreading the illness. For duathletes, this means that we are now coping with the disappointment of losing the opportunity to achieve a goal we’ve trained many months for.
In spite of the disappointment of missing out on a race, the reality is that we should be concerned about coronavirus. According to the CDC, coronavirus is highly contagious, transmission happens between people who are in close contact with one another (about six feet), and through respiratory droplets, produced through a cough or sneeze. Coronavirus transmission is also possible by touching contaminated surfaces. Furthermore, it can be spread by people who don’t think they’re sick, hence the concern of spreading it to high risk populations, such as immunocompromised individuals or the elderly. For the health of the public, this is why race cancellations and postponements have been necessary.
My advice to my fellow duathletes is that once you find out that your race has been canceled or postponed, take a couple of days off from training or at least reduced your training volume and intensity. Just don’t let those few days turn into weeks. Also use this time to go back to basics and work on your weaknesses that generally gets neglected once the duathlon season approaches. More important, remember that while you can't control if a race is cancelled, you can control your attitude to this situation and what training you do now.
These are challenging times, and while no one knows what the near future holds that this will eventually pass. As we all navigate the impact of coronavirus on our daily lives, we must approach this threat realistically and adjust our behaviors wisely. Yes, this is an inconvenience for all of us duathletes. We must be patient with our race directors as they navigate through these unpredictable times. Furthermore, while the status of many upcoming races has changed, we must remember to stay positive through the uncertainty so we can still maintain a healthy, active lifestyle and keep sight of our goals ahead.
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