4 seasons of an athlete
During an athlete's journey, we experience a wide range of emotions.
Most of the time, we are naive that the good times will last forever and the bad times will never pass.
One thing is certain: the lows will follow the highs and the highs will follow the lows. 100% of the time.
I'm going to compare the seasons of a year with the seasons we experience as athletes.
We can't change the order of the seasons in a year, but we can change. We shouldn't try to change the seasons, but it's up to us to change through the seasons.
Winter.
Winter means cold, snowstorms, problems and down times.
We can't wait for summer to arrive. We just think about afternoons at the beach or in a park. But when winter arrives, we have to be aware that it's just a period of time.
The kind of winter an athlete experiences:
- An injury
- Stagnation
- The comparison
- The disappointments
What we need to master is the art of learning how to manage winters. Keeping your head up when an injury occurs, even if you do everything right.
Remember that bad times will pass. That your winter isn't happening at the same time as everyone else's. Everyone else can be in a happier season while you're going through a difficult winter.
“Don't wish it was easier wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge wish for more wisdom”
― Jim Rohn
Spring.
Spring is the season of opportunities.
A farmer will sow his seeds in the spring with a view to harvesting them in the fall.
An athlete will build a solid foundation to reap the rewards during the season.
For a runner, it's about working on their aerobic base. A lot of Zone 2. For a weightlifter, it's about increasing their absolute strength in the back squat.
For a CrossFit athlete, it's less high-intensity workouts. We work on the energy systems.
This is when an opportunity presents itself and you are prepared to seize it. You invest effort today to achieve better results later.
Summer
If spring is the season when opportunity presents itself, summer is the season when an athlete keeps the opportunity alive.
Just as a farmer's job in the summer is to protect his fields from the environment, the weather, animals, and insects.
An athlete's job in the summer is to keep their priorities straight.
Avoid doing things that can disrupt your good habits. The goal isn't to completely cut out distractions. But to maintain good habits.
Avoid letting go
- Nutrition.
- Sleep
- The routine
- Managing life stress in general
- The training
The athlete can build on the foundation they've built. Their training can begin to resemble the events. Every workout is more productive because of spring.
Sometimes the athlete feels like he's not making any progress. But he still shows up for training.
His routine is sacred to him.
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
― Bill Gates
Autumn
This is where the beauty of sport lies.
Autumn is the harvest season.
The most important thing to remember: Harvest without complaining.
Take ownership!
The success of an athlete depends solely on the quality of his preparation.
The athlete who prepares poorly during the off-season will get the result that comes with it.
The athlete who does everything possible to improve will have the result that explains his preparation.
Don't complain even if the results aren't there.
I skipped a workout last week, and I wasn't surprised. Not surprised, because all year (due to knee pain) I haven't been able to do a high volume of leg training. I tried to slowly increase the volume in the weeks leading up to the competition.
When the competition came around, my preparation wasn't sufficient. So, I withdrew so as not to make the situation worse.
“When the pressure is on, you don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your highest level of preparation.”
― Chris Voss
What's the point of knowing that?
A mature athlete is able to recognize the season he is in.
And also, don't forget that the seasons follow one another. You can't skip them or choose them.
You can't live 1 winter, 4 springs, 2 summers and 8 autumns. Or 5 winters, 1 spring, 0 summers and 0 autumns.
It's one season after another without fail.
And no matter what season it is, we know that after the rain comes the good weather. That as dark as winter may seem, spring will soon arrive.
Warning :
The advice presented in this content is provided for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice and may not be appropriate for your specific situation. For any questions or advice tailored to your needs, consult a qualified expert in the field.