Last night the clocks went back and today we have racing that starts at midday(ish) and finishes at four. This signals the slide into a quieter period for racing.<\/p>\n
There is still plenty of other sport to do and some decent feature races coming up, but some of the other stuff is less appealing. We also have the weather potentially posing a threat. So it’s time to hunker down and reset expectations and styles, to adapt to the winter.<\/p>\n
If you are still on the rise you may not notice the shift in the winter, but if you are at the top of your game it’s pretty likely that you will. If you fit neither category then its still likely you will notice a difference. Everybody knows lower performance can be painful but if you are prepared for it then it should be easier to cope with. From best to worst month my activity drops 50% at this time of year on racing. This was a shock when it first happened to me, but now I know, I can accept this will happen. The best way to cope with this is to not chase opportunities that just don’t exist, the reason you can’t see them is that they are probably not there.<\/p>\n
In short, as we head through the winter, don’t beat yourself up if you struggle now and again; it’s just part of the seasonal mix. It’s a trick, use it as a treat. Use the time productively to do other things either personal or professional, also research new areas. Both will pay big dividends in the long term.<\/p>\n