Coronavirus Cancelled Your Race

I had a different article already prepared to publish this morning, but considering the escalation of event cancellations in the past few days and especially yesterday, coronavirus is the only issue anyone is thinking about right now, including runners.

Last week one of my clients based overseas emailed me an update that two of his upcoming races were cancelled. I anticipate a flood of similar emails in the days and weeks ahead from my US and Canada based clients as well.

If your race hasn’t been cancelled yet it’s probably a good idea to expect it will be cancelled soon. As runners, we know that races are far from guaranteed anyway even in the best situations. A niggle or an injury can hit when least expected and we should always approach our goals with the ability to pivot and adjust. This situation reminds us runners what we have always needed to do: be flexible with the plan.

EVENT CANCELLED

What to Do

  • Wash hands frequently and stay informed! Please read more from canada.ca or cdc.gov or the experts for your country.

  • Speak to a close friend or family member or coach who can share in your disappointment and help you reframe your focus and goals for a future race.

  • Keep Going.
    Running is a great activity because we can run alone, or with others while still avoiding close contact. With a treadmill, we don’t even need to leave the home. There is a lot we can choose to be thankful for and focus on. Your training can continue with the proper precautions, so keep running with the hope of future races.

What Not to Do

  • Hoard all the hand sanitizer and toilet paper you can find.

  • Give up.
    The good news is that fitness doesn’t just go away, so try not to despair. Even if you’ve already tapered and peaked for a race that is no longer happening, you have gained so much experience from that training block. No training is ever wasted.

  • Complain in Public.
    Unfortunately, social media is currently blowing up with negativity and complaining from runners who seem to consider themselves the only person affected, or the most important person affected. My feeds are flooded with these posts, and it is not a good look.

I love this post from run4prs on instagram:

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Nicole Sifuentes is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. Read more about her services, and schedule your free consultation today!

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