Within context, it is time to move forward.  As I encouraged you in Friday’s Daily Bulletin, I would like every Purple Patcher to look forward at the start of this week and consider two to three things that are in your control, that you can look to advance/improve over the coming weeks.  We still don’t have any clarity of events, but we do not need events to improve or seek performance.  The danger of this upcoming phase of the journey is falling into a stagnating 'shelter' mindset, treading water and hunkering down, and waiting for the ’storm’(virus) to pass.  This would be missing a tremendous opportunity to actually improve in any area of life that you can currently control.

 

When the conditions around Covid-19 first impacted life we called on you to ‘control the controllable,’ all in pursuit of creating stability and routine among the chaos.  It was important for each of us to adjust and find grounding.  Over the coming weeks, we begin to transition to another part of the journey, in which we seek to improve those controllable elements.  We cannot sit and wait, we must advance.  This might feel daunting without target races to shoot for, but you do not need races to thrive and improve.  This is a chance that seldom comes along — in which you can improve across a few areas without any pressing deadline.  In choosing this pursuit it will also support your mental health and develop your resilience.  It might be tissue resilience, your ability to become more efficient, to raise the size of your cardiovascular engine on the bicycle, or many other areas.  The key is to engage and drive toward it.

 

If you do feel empowered and excited to drive forward in a quest for improvements, the next question is how to truly maximize performance within these conditions.  I believe the answer to that is sharing the journey with others.  It can help with:

 

- Accountability

- Connection

- Performance level within a session

 

'But I am alone!" I hear you say.  I realize that.  I really encourage all Purple Patch athletes to lean into the live-coaching sessions we have, whether Zwift sessions, live core and mobility, or swim band sessions.  I think you will be surprised how much your enjoyment and performance level pops.  One-to-One athletes should absolutely connect with your coaches to aim to integrate the live ‘bi-directional’ bike coaching sessions we have just launched, it is a whole new level of being truly coached through a tough session.  I hope you all embrace that this area of ‘digital coaching’ is one of our primary focuses of the coming months for the Purple Patch team.  We are working hard to develop, professionalize, and broaden our reach for live digital coaching.  We will absolutely rely on you, the Purple Patch athletes, to help us define and refine the programming to fit your needs and ensure that the sessions are powerful, fun, and valuable.  You can be a part of the process of creation, and make something special, all the while maximizing performance.

 

Don’t miss out on the chance to grow and create — for your own performance as well as to create a magical Purple Patch coaching experience.

 

Have a super week

 

MD