Bad Day at the Races? Beat the Early Season Blues

February - And the multi-sport season has changed from winter (aka Base) season to: BLEGH SEASON. This occurs somewhere between off-season and spring racing season and is usually marked by one more more of the following events:

* Flu
* Mild but Nagging Injury
* Crash from Skiing, Biking, Driving, etc.
* Cold & Flu (hey, it's worthy of a 2nd mention in the list!)
* First races of the calendar year (swim meets, 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathons, sprint triathlons)

The rite of passage known as 'bad race day' usually happens for athletes around this time of year. I've been training for Oceanside 70.3, and had to bump down a 1/2 marathon run to a 5k last Sunday because of a bug. Disappointing? yes. Not as bad as the time I was training for that first marathon and got benched for the entire monster month from bursitis.

I decided to look around for an article on how to beat the "Red Shirt Blues" or a bad day at the races. But, for the first time in recent memory, I could find NOTHING published online! Active.com has a community section now (still in beta), but at time of post I've seen no replies to my inquiry. But fear not - I've got a great network of friends, coaches, and fellow athletes to tap into for expert advice, so I did some good 'ole fashioned asking around.

Here is a compilation of the advice and reflection I got when I asked, "Have you ever had a disappointing race? If so, what did you do to psyche yourself back into the game?"
* Shake it off - reflect, and move on
From Brooke W. - distance runner, preparing for the Olympic Trials this April in Boston:
"I looked at the workouts I had done - and knew I was in shape to run faster. But just realized that today wasn't my day." She adds, "I know that when I need to run faster, I can [but still gave myself a day to be a butthead (angry/sad)]."

* Remember where it all started - and why
From Lexi G. - Team In Training triathlete, aiming for continued success at Wildflower:
"I reminded myself that the one and only reason that I signed up for TNT Triathlon was because I lost my uncle to cancer. I pick myself up by reminding myself that other people need me."

From Byron E. - Stanford Triathlon, readying for 2008 racing season:
"...to come back I usually just back it off and remember that I do this for fun. That's why I like my team---working out with the team is fun so it's not hard to get back into the spirit of things. My best races, psychologically and in terms of performance, are always the ones where I don't have any expectation about time or place or anything like that."

* Build Endurance for your love of sport - focus on the next win
From Eve (LAVAMOM!) - Four-time Ironman finisher w/13 marathon finishes
"One of my biggest disappointments was not qualifying at the Boston marathon. I missed qualifying by 11 minutes. I just tell myself that the next marathon will get me there and I believe in myself."
" I don't stay in a funk, I tell myself use the race as a great training day. I jump into another race A.S.A.P.. I believe in that I need to race harder next time. There's always another race!"

* Identify the Learning Opportunity - or suffer again
From Peggy L. (see 'Hard Core' article from 2007), and coach Scott Williams, from The Olympic Club:
Learn from your mistakes, and make changes so you'll race better next time!

All of these answers have something in common - they provide perspective. Find your magic formula for gaining and maintaining this perspective, and you'll not only be a happier triathlete, you'll be a mentally tougher one!