There is something truly magical about waking up in the summer right before sunrise. Outside, the sky is still a little purple, and the air has a misty, rejuvenating feel to it. Meditative.
As I remove a mug from my cabinet and put on a pot of coffee, a wave of relaxation often washes over me. No matter what is coming my way today, I am up early to prepare for it. In a sense, I have “beat the day.” With this first little victory (in fact, a great morning song is “Little Victories” by J.D. Souther), my thoughts are only positive. My actions are only deliberate. The morning makes this state possible for me. Here, I allow myself to let go. Here, I allow myself to breathe. My calm before the storm.
In 1948, the World Health Organization was established post-World War II for the amelioration of public health conditions by means of international cooperation. Its constitution defined “health” as “a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In our current world fraught with uncertainty, where relationships are strained, future plans held by a thread, where we are suffering, politically divided, tired, and ill, holistic protection of our well-being becomes even more important. My stress comes from having (and wanting) to do so much during the day. Sometimes I feel as though I am running for hours on a treadmill set to a speed too fast for me rather than primed to race. The surrounding chaos disrupts my focus, which doesn’t suit the adrenaline that comes with having to perform at a high level in the first place. I like to use that adrenaline to visualize and actualize, not self-paralyze.
As we have had to adapt amid a pandemic beyond our control, I have found security in the embrace of the early morning, with its empowering stillness. As we have lost the comforting structure of scheduled team practices these past two terms, except for our weekly zoom strength sessions, of course, I have found the morning to be the time when I can take control of at least one aspect of my life: my training.
For me, this spring meant getting back into running after injury, and I am incredibly grateful for Coach Katie’s 10-week training plan that helped me do just that. Katie’s plan held so much in store for us. We had days specifically scheduled for rest and yoga videos tailored specifically to runners. We had timed 5ks spaced evenly throughout the term to track our progress. We had a mix of tempo runs and track workouts, middle distance runs and long runs. We had strength sessions and running drills. To top it off, there were motivational videos to help us stay connected to racing and zoom office hours to help us stay connected to our team. It was a holistic training plan if I have ever seen one. And I am grateful to all of our coaches, Coach Jeff, Coach Jim, and Coach Katie, for their unwavering support. Thank you.
Since the spring term, I have also been a part of our executive board. I have been able to give back to the team that has meant so much to me over these past three years; coming into my fourth, there is nowhere else I would rather be. Socially, my well-being has been very much taken care of by our weekly meetings.
So to anyone struggling with training motivation during quarantine, I recommend that you connect with a teammate virtually (as our team has offered), watch a motivational video, and remember how with training comes mental clarity, social connection, physical strength, and an endorphin rush: training in three, holistic pillars — the mental, social, and physical. And if you are having trouble scheduling in your training, may I suggest the early morning, when free, light steps in the quiet, cooler hours can help prepare you for the weight of the world.
About the Author
Julianne Mehra is a '21 majoring in Comparative Literature. Apart from triathlon training, she enjoys playing piano and cooking with her family.
