For many athletes off season is the toughest time of the year to maintain focus on those long term fitness goals. For those who compete in Crossfit and did not make the games this year, it can seem like the dead zone. Many athletes get those summertime blues. We all there there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues right? Or is there?
Off season is important in any sport. Everyone needs that time to reset their mind, reset their body and in effect “sharpen the saw”. You have to get back to that reason why you do this. Why you compete, why you lift, why you CrossFit. A few methods that some of our madathletes use.
1. Do something different
Mud run, 5k, Oly meet, kayak race or whatever. Try something different for the hell of it. Coach Glassman said it best “regularly take up and play new sports”. Time to sign up for that zoomba contest and get the funk out! So remember that it’s ok for you to try something new.
2. Go back to the beginning
Get back in class with some people who are just starting out. Have fun and just do the wods. Put no pressure on yourself about PR’s or anything like that. Remember what it was like when you first started this beautiful journey. Get in your community and sweat and laugh with and at each other.
3. Take a short vaca! Take a few days and get to the beach for some fun in the sun. Read a book and have a drink. Have a Mai Tai and watch the Crossfit Games.
If you don’t know, A Mai Tai is a tropical drink that can totally reset your mind if you let it.
Just an FYI,
Mai Tai:Mix Ingredients
1 ¼ oz. Light Rum
½ oz. Orgeat Syrup
½ oz. Orange Curacao
2 oz. Lemon Juice
2 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Dark Rum Float
So work those mixology skills and reset your mind and come back rejuvenated. You will not lose your gains in a few days. You will come back refreshed and ready to go.
After you reset yourself you can come back and get your off season plan together. Then start working muscle ups and snatch. Remember, where focus goes energy flows. For now it may be time to chill out for a few days.
