Battling groundhog day

11 months ago when we went into lockdown, nobody could have imagined we'd still be there.  We had plans, all sort of plans.  Holidays, business and of course a season of races lined up which we were training for.  And then lockdown.  Since then there have been false dawns where we had some freedom, but that's all disappeared.  I  was thinking about this when I was out running this week.  About how I struggle to remember what day it is as they all seem to merge into each other and before you know it we're into February, still in lockdown.  What I dislike, amonst other things, is the lack of control and the lack of certainty e.g. having a training plan linked to a race and being certain (bar inury) that I'll be there.
One mantra in life I have lived by is "worry about what you can control, not what you can't".  I don't worry about what I can control so I've changed my mindset this week to avoid thinking that it's groundhog day again.
My method that's changed my mindset is my training plan.  Whether or not races take place this year, and I really hope they do, I am enoying the benefits of my increased fitness.  I feel good inside myself and my core strength workouts are paying dividends.  Since moving house I haven't been able to set up my gym, it's still in storage, so my coach put together workouts based on using my own body weight.  I don't need any more room than a yoga mat and a resistance band.  They are bloody tough exercises and I've build up the number of reps.  Not only can I see a change in my physical shape, which I like as I'm shaped like a pencil, I'm not getting the niggly inuries I can suffer from as I am getting stronger. So whether or not my races take place, I am benefitting from my training and look forward to every session as I can see and feel the benefits even although there is no race in sight.  Our triathlon club has also started a competition based around running, cycling and press ups which is motivating us to do more.
While we are in lockdown I encourage you to design a plan, if you don't already have one, to work on areas of weakness so that you come back stronger.  Having something to look forward to on a daily basis breaks the groundhog feeling and improving how you feel about yourself will encourage you to do more.  
Take some encouragement from the news today about 70 year old Frank Rothwell from Oldham who became the oldest person to row 3,000 miles unassisted across the Atlantic.  The name of his boat is "Never Too Old" - says everything.  Congratulations Frank.