All over the country events are being canceled due to the spread of coronavirus. We understand the necessity of containing the virus and protecting the vulnerable populations.  With that said, when your goal race is among the casualties it’s impossible not to think back through all the miles that you put in, the early mornings and the sacrifices that went into preparing for your race.  How’s a runner to deal?

First of all, it’s important to allow yourself to feel sad, frustrated, angry, or whatever feelings come to the surface. These circumstances are tough. You worked hard.  It’s okay to let yourself feel those feelings. Feelings are meant to be felt.

The next question to address is to dig deep and ask yourself, “Why did I choose to train for that race?” Was it for the T-shirt? The medal? A chance at qualifying for another race?  Or, is it because you are committed to living a healthy lifestyle? Are you in it to learn how far you’re willing to push yourself? If you can unveil the real reasons you may be able to decide that you achieved success whether or not you were able to complete your race.

One way to look at the race is as the cherry on top of the training cycle.  It can be a chance to showcase your hard work. It can be a fun celebration. However, even if you don’t race, you still worked hard.  You still gained fitness. You still became a stronger person along the way. That twenty mile training run wasn’t a waste. It was a gift to yourself as your lungs, heart, muscles and your mind grew stronger.  Celebrate those victories while you recalibrate. 

Ultimately, it’s our thoughts about the race that give it meaning. And we get to choose what thoughts we want to nurture.  We can nurture the thoughts of disappointment and injustice or we can celebrate having made our minds and bodies stronger before global turbulence that will challenge all of us. What do you choose?