We creep beyond  the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and this means we are around the midpoint of 2022.  How ya doing?

To mark this halfway point of the year, the entire Purple Patch team spent some time reflecting on some lessons and observations we have noticed so far. The list was so compelling, I am mapping out a couple of podcasts around the subject, but I would like to bubble up one key one for you. I, and all of us at Team Purple Patch, have a vested interest in your performance. I feel this one is really important to bring up, as we are starting to see a few folks struggle to keep up training ambitions, a higher than normal incidence of injury and niggle, as well as some folks struggling with mental fatigue. The good news is that it is not too late to course correct this year, and no long-term damage is likely done. Here is the observation:

Life Has Accelerated  

Life just got fast again. The last two years forced a lot of things in life to slow down and simplify.  

• Social lives were shrunk
• Travel was restricted
• School activities and sports were highly limited
• Sporting events delayed or canceled.

Outside of front line workers, key pandemic related business and some tech companies, most of us simply adapted to working from home and immersing ourselves in a more simple life.  We found ourselves juggling less.

Well folks it is back on. In fact, in many ways, we are witnessing an overcorrection.  Head to any airport and look at the lines and masses venturing out of big summer trips. Beyond this, sports are a blizzard of back to backs, school activities and events seem to be coming thick and fast, 

Many are seeing the return of work summits and offsites. I could go on. It is back on.  

Interestingly, far from us taking stock and building new ways of framing life when emerging back from the restrictions of the last two years, the vast majority of us just hit the gas pedal across all areas of life.

Why is this important to highlight from a performance standpoint? Because it comes with a big performance warning.

The last two years forced a slower and less scheduled life. Many of us prioritized health, and we got to venture outside of normal schedules, including spending more time outside. Racing might have been limited, but new habits were built around training and exercise, and the majority of Purple Patch athletes ramped up time committed to sport and performance.

That is super - and over the last two years you likely found a recipe of performance that fit within the context of that slower life.

We are consistent now seeing folks making the mistake of allowing life to accelerate, with commitments across all areas of life amplifying, but then simply maintaining the previously successful training schedules built when life was slow.  Total stress accumulation is building for many, and I believe this is the primary source of many injuries, niggles and struggles beginning to emerge.

It seems timely to remind you:

Successful training is executing the demand to which we experience positive adaptations.

Please be cognizant of total stress accumulation - and fitting your training and positive habits into the now busy life.

If you need support or help, let us know. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to manage, realize that scaling back isn’t a failure if it leads to consistent effective training that can be executed as intended. If you are coached, it is worthwhile checking in with your coach on this.  If a Squaddie, perhaps schedule a coaching consultation to ensure you are on track.

We have big ambitions and high expectations.  We are Purple Patch, but let’s remember our methodology and mission, the backbone of why we are successful.

Cheers,

Matt