Sometimes, even if you’ve spent so much time on something, coming back from a break can be challenging. Even if there is no definitive ‘off-season’ in rowing, the late summer months after the national events in July tend to be a bit more relaxed all round, I know I’ve been training less consistently since before the holidays. Getting back to proper training then can be a bit of a shock to the system, but it shouldn’t be insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination.
Mindset:
Overcoming anxiousness can be particularly necessary at the start of a new season, and it’s perfectly normal to feel nervous. Getting back into regular training can be helpful in getting over this, having a routine that gets you back into the feel of things. Seeing all your crew mates as well more than you have over the summer when everyone is on holiday at different times can be really effective at settling you into the season and you’ll probably find you have missed them more than you thought. Obviously, it is important to talk to someone if the general pre-season anxiety doesn’t settle down and coaches are there to listen, but more often than not by the time a couple of weeks have passed any nervousness will have disappeared.
Morale:
Training with a new group of people can also be tricky to start with, not knowing them on both an athletic and personal level providing a whole other set of challenges. As much as it sounds clichéd, in this situation the best way to get closer to new teammates is to give it time. The nature of rowing means that you will quickly be spending hours and hours together anyway, and I have always found it is very hard to not get friendly with new crews after the first few sessions. Even if it feels awkward to start with, it won’t take long to feel completely natural, I promise.
Motivation:
Another key part of beginning a new season is getting back in the zone, which is especially difficult after a longer period of less intense training. Some people find setting a goal the easiest way to rediscover motivation and this certainly has it’s merits. By focussing on a specific race or achievement, you have a distinct target to work towards which can make it easier to get through the dark winter months. It also gives you a fixed (potentially short) timescale in order to get to a stage through training where you can realise your goals, which can serve you well at the start of a new season knowing that every session counts and every session is a step in the right direction.
For me, in terms of regaining motivation at the start of the season I prefer to take it session by session. Setting out a plan of what to achieve by the end, and then reflecting on what has gone well versus what still needs work. This helps me because the improvements feel more tangible, and so I can really see where, even in short period, I have benefitted from training, getting me back in the zone for the next few months at least.
Muscles:
Of course, you have to be careful at the start of the season to not go too hard too soon, especially if you have been training less over the summer. Muscle strain is all too common anyway, without the added risks from not being perhaps as fit as you were in July. As frustrating as it may feel at the time, taking it slower to begin with while the foundational strength is built back up will be far more beneficial than picking up an injury from PB-ing in the first week in September. Beyond this, the psychological impact can be even more damaging than the injury itself. Having to sit out while everyone else is improving and moving forward, especially at a time when resolutions are more prominent anyway with the start of the new school year, is really demoralising and doesn’t set you up positively for the rest of the year. Basically, even if you have had a growth spurt over the summer it is still the wise choice to take your time getting back into the swing of things.
The start of a new season is always exciting because there are so many opportunities to get involved in. It can be the perfect time to turn over a new leaf or to continue building on the successes of last year, as long as it’s fun it doesn’t really matter does it?
Amelie Sartain
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