The Starting Gate | 2020 Issue

Maintaining Momentum

By Jane Gutchess ’20

Jane Gutchess ’20 talks about the challenges of training during a pandemic. Jane is taking a PG year at SMS and will attend Williams College as a member of their Alpine team in 2021.

I think my fellow classmates would agree that conditioning became much more challenging once the Stay-At-Home order hit.

There seemed always to be an obstacle to overcome. Whether it was a lack of motivation, equipment, time, or energy, you could find a reason to push that workout off one more day. Plus, the world seemed to be ending — no graduation, no end to the ski season, no evenings in the dorms, no spring camps, no endless trips to Cilantro. So why bother?

Finding ways to work out demanded creative solutions since local fitness centers were closed and I didn’t have an at-home gym. Working out in my bedroom was always a challenge since curling up in my bed often seemed more appealing than doing burpees or pull-ups. But eventually, it became quite entertaining to convert ordinary home objects into “gym equipment.” Paint cans became kettlebells, and gallon pails of lacrosse balls made ideal weights. Memories of practicing my clean technique in the airport with ski bags inspired me to break out the travel bag as a barbell. Stuff three pairs of skis and some vises in there, and you have a pretty heavy load.

But, as our coaches always say, “You can’t focus on the uncontrollable. You can’t control the snow conditions, who else is racing, or the course set, so stop focusing on them.” I began to realize that this outlook also applied to everything that was happening around me. I couldn’t control losing the last weeks as a high school student or all the fun memories that would come with that. Instead, I needed to concentrate on what was in my control: my fitness and training. So, I pivoted my attention to the opportunities I had gained, a major one being the ability to tailor my regimen to what I needed rather than the needs of my entire team.

But, as our coaches always say, “You can’t focus on the uncontrollable. You can’t control the snow conditions, who else is racing, or the course set, so stop focusing on them.”

Even with seizing the opportunity and creating make-shift gym equipment, I was still struggling to find my groove. Without a rigorous daily schedule, time seemed to slip away a lot faster. And with the freedom to work out whenever I wanted, it became much easier to keep pushing off my workout until the evening. But by then, I needed to write a seven-page research paper, study for a math test, do an at-home physics experiment and read 50 pages for history.

The biggest challenge was starting a workout. I knew deep down I could do it, but putting on my sneakers and filling my water bottle seemed impossible. I began telling myself, “Just start the workout. You only have to do the first five minutes. If you don’t find your groove by then, try again later.” Nine times out of ten, however, I would finish the workout and reflect on how much better I felt after a few minutes of exercise. Plus, getting a workout in before classes made it much easier to focus on my schoolwork.

All that said, my years at SMS have taught me that self-motivation can only take you so far. While it was exciting to find creative ways to better myself as a student and athlete throughout the Stay at Home Order, my teammates and coaches played an integral part in motivating me day in and day out. Virtual team check-ins kept us all in touch on a weekly basis, which helped immensely with morale. As a team, we would exchange and devise new workout ideas to make training fun and challenging while remote. We could also hold each other accountable by asking for feedback on workouts.

Not to sound cliché, I truly value my experience at SMS. The lessons my teachers, coaches, and teammates have shared keep me motivated and driven year after year. Our community is truly unmatched, and I am beyond grateful to have this amazing support group as I continue to navigate these challenging times.