So many turned their back on 2020 with excitement, believing that 2021 was going to bring change like a light switch. Better is on the way, but it won’t be triggered by a single flip of the page of a calendar. 

With this in mind: Time to start prepping your racing.

A strange title to begin with, as we remain in the grips of the pandemic, but also immersed in a preparatory phase of training focusing on training that is not a quick catalyst to race performance.  Despite this, I stand by the title.  It is time for us to get busy for races this year, but let me expand my reasoning.  Before doing so, I will provide you with my best sense of the state of race plans across the globe:

Q1:  I do not claim to be a genius in stating the obvious.  It is going to be a grim, tough and sad quarter globally.  We must navigate through the thicket of a large peak of the pandemic.  The positive is that we are much better equipped to meet the challenge, and don’t need to go through the turbulence of uncertainty that caused havoc last March and beyond.  The outcome?  Beyond some racing in Australasia (inaccessible but those outside that region), we can expect next to no racing in Q1.  This includes Oceanside 70.3, which I would assume canceled/postponed if you are planning life and travel.

Q2:  More positive in outlook, I believe we will begin to see emerging events over the second part of the year.  By way of example, I would rate the chances of a St George race happening as being very high.  I do know some European races that rely on extensive ‘tourist’ participation (Mallorca, Aix-En-Provence etc) face challenges, but could still go on.  The deeper we go into Q2, the higher the chances, but I will keep you in the loop as soon as I hear about specific races.

Q3/4:  I would imagine a full season ahead, with very few restrictions.  We can also anticipate the addition of two new IRONMAN events (midwest and southern region) added as a plug onto current IM 70.3 events.  Please do not post this information in social media etc -- this is for your insight -- not to gain brownie points or followers.  It can be a bumper back end of the year.

I imagine a similar pattern for running events, ultras, big riding events etc.  Boston?  I don’t have any inroads or official insight, but would imagine another push back to the fall.

So why is it time to get cracking with our preparation?  Because this is how you build a massive season of performance.

Individually and collectively, let’s seek the best performance level and race results of your life.  We can achieve this.  To do so, your absolute highest opportunity comes in the critical and highly patient work in the phase we are in right now:  The prep phase 2021.  A blend of postseason type work, blending into build type work in the back end of the quarter.  I cannot over-state the need for this work, without charging toward big fitness gains (yes, I am talking to you David G).  As a reminder:

• Strength work
• Tissue Resilience (the run consistency project)
• Bike SE prep work
• Bike efficiency and technical development
• Swim when we can -- and if not band it up.  More swimming ramping in Q2!

If we begin to see Q1/Q2 races dropping, we will integrate seriously grand challenges and events. 

We will prime, test, ‘race’ and punish with a single loving mindset:  to create the best individual and collective performance of our lives.

We do it this year. So step up and get excited -- but begin with baby steps that leave very little footprints of fatigue.

My call to action as we launch into 2021.

Let’s go.

- Matt