If you have been training and racing seriously or consistently over the past few months (a time of year that I like to call “race-season” ) you are likely relieved that you can reduce your training and more than likely, cut way back on your racing.
Precious weeks between the end of summer and the start of the Fraser Valley’s dark and rainy season, are a great time time to reconnect with family and the kind of friends who have a slightly more sedentary lifestyle than you. These weekends away from the pool, turbo trainer, or treadmill or even away from your favourite running route may provide not only a physical break, but a mental break as well.
Furthermore, this transition, or off-season, can be an opportunity for you to work with others around you to achieve their athletic goals or, to motivate them to set some. One way to do this is to sign up for a race to do with them. Not all racing need be foot to the floor, no holding back, awe-inspiring and hamstring destroying. Racing can be social, and yes, even FUN.
On another note, your off-season may offer you a chance to try a type of racing that you have never tried before, a novel way to exploit your fitness and sense of adventure. Coming up in the next few weeks, fitspeek.com is going to be investigating some of the Fraser Valley’s athletic options for your off-season (that is if you have one) or simply a chance for you to shake up your crusty old training and racing routine.