On a slightly different tack to the one revolving around clothing; I was talking about what makes athletes happy. I think its fairly easy to understand the importance of happiness. Of course, the burning need to constantly improve upon ourselves, looked at closely probably doesn't resemble the classic ideal of 'happiness'. I'm talking more about the state of mind which I can see the best athletes achieving when they are at the top of their game. Is this happy? I would say that in the act of trying to achieve this, and getting better at canoeing, I am happy. At races I feel challenged and comfortable; I'm in a place with lots of people who like the same thing as me, who want the same outcome as me, which is strangely comforting. So I'm happy at races too. But one of my favourite things about the athlete lifestyle is the routines. This might sound a bit weird, because as far as 'normal' routines go ours are fairly removed.
My day goes something a bit like this:
First breakfast (usually a creation in my NutriBullet: I'm getting better at these, but for the love of God don't put carrots in with pineapple.)
First session
Second breakfast (something a bit more filling, of the toast and eggs variety)
University/sleep/study (not all at once. Unfortunately.)
Lunch (something I know is going to get me through to dinner)
Second session
Study
Dinner
Household THINGS (food shopping, cleaning, chilling out etc...)
It definitely makes things easier living with two people who understand the routines, one who is also a full time athlete and another who makes time to exercise almost as regularly as we do. One of my favourite things during the week is food shopping. There's something intensely satisfying about planning the meals for the week ahead and searching out the best ingredients for them (usually late at night in the flood of discount-shoppers).
The routines of weekday life are a little different from those of training camps - which are almost exclusively about training, eating, sleeping and studying. People who are friends with canoeists will know how hard it is to get a consistent conversation going with one of us during a training camp. Time kind of passes in a blur, coming into focus properly during sessions, then passing again in a whirl of maintenance until the next one. I love it - its an environment I get to control, in situations I am familiar with. Although there is always an element of newness, learning things about the places I am training and how to deal with the problems they present. A lot of athletes I know at university struggle with the fact that it's hard to really socialise during term time. It does get a bit wearing, constantly having to say 'no' to things that are pretty normal for the average person. But I would say that the people we get to meet on camps and at races, and the benefits we feel from sessions, more than make up for anything 'lost' in social life. I guess thats just personality, and what your preferences are. I guess I feel like just the right kind of anti-social!
My day goes something a bit like this:
First breakfast (usually a creation in my NutriBullet: I'm getting better at these, but for the love of God don't put carrots in with pineapple.)
First session
Second breakfast (something a bit more filling, of the toast and eggs variety)
University/sleep/study (not all at once. Unfortunately.)
Lunch (something I know is going to get me through to dinner)
Second session
Study
Dinner
Household THINGS (food shopping, cleaning, chilling out etc...)
It definitely makes things easier living with two people who understand the routines, one who is also a full time athlete and another who makes time to exercise almost as regularly as we do. One of my favourite things during the week is food shopping. There's something intensely satisfying about planning the meals for the week ahead and searching out the best ingredients for them (usually late at night in the flood of discount-shoppers).
The routines of weekday life are a little different from those of training camps - which are almost exclusively about training, eating, sleeping and studying. People who are friends with canoeists will know how hard it is to get a consistent conversation going with one of us during a training camp. Time kind of passes in a blur, coming into focus properly during sessions, then passing again in a whirl of maintenance until the next one. I love it - its an environment I get to control, in situations I am familiar with. Although there is always an element of newness, learning things about the places I am training and how to deal with the problems they present. A lot of athletes I know at university struggle with the fact that it's hard to really socialise during term time. It does get a bit wearing, constantly having to say 'no' to things that are pretty normal for the average person. But I would say that the people we get to meet on camps and at races, and the benefits we feel from sessions, more than make up for anything 'lost' in social life. I guess thats just personality, and what your preferences are. I guess I feel like just the right kind of anti-social!
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