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Corona badly messed up the competition calendar last year. And it’s doing it again in 2021. Organisers are affected as much as the athletes. So, how should things proceed?

One year ago, the virus slowly spread to us. No one was either willing or able to estimate the real magnitude of this outbreak. While we are still in its “stranglehold” almost one year later, thanks to the vaccine we can see at least one silver lining on the horizon, which gives us courage and the confidence that normality will return over the course of the year.

For many, the situation (and not just for sports) is extremely difficult and challenging at the same time. We’d like to show how selected top athletes, some of whom make their living from sports, are dealing with the situation and preparing for their uncertain goals. You are bound to benefit from their tips and can also adopt some of them for you and your training!

MARLEN REUSSER - SWISS CYCLIST OF THE YEAR

I am currently preparing for my major athletic goals this year in Gran Canaria with other cyclists from the Swiss National Team. I am solely concentrating on what I can influence and am trying not to even think about anything else.

My corona tips:

1. If you miss a competition, set yourself alternative intermediate goals. There are so many sporting challenges that you can set yourself. Some ideas: 1000 lunges in one go, ice bathing, cadence record on the bike: achieve 200 rpm for 30 seconds, go to www.enginecheck.ch and improve your performance or even VO2max in three months. Find colleagues and set a private racing date for a segment. For cyclists: there are local competitions that are still able to take place despite corona.
2. Take advantage of the opportunity and work on your weaknesses.
3. Training and competitions should be full of fun and/or passion. Perhaps this is the moment to think about your motives and approach life with a more relaxed attitude?

ANDREA SALVISBERG - OLYMPIC TRIATHLETE AND SWISS HALF MARATHON CHAMPION

Last year, I made a virtue of necessity and concentrated on running - the third and meanwhile crucial discipline in the triathlon - and managed to win a set of medals at the Swiss Championships in the half marathon, 10,000 m track race, and 10 km road race. This year's goal is the Olympic Games. I am preparing for them as if they would take place as normal. I can't influence anything else. If it doesn't work out, I'll reorientate myself and look for other competitions.

My tips for amateur athletes:

1. Use the time to specifically work towards a major distant goal.
2. Concentrate on what you can influence and shift your focus to something that you can specifically assess right now.
3. Ensure there is a good balance between your sport, work and family life and be sure not to neglect your recovery in particular.

MARTINA STRÄHL - MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CHAMPION AND MARATHON RUNNER

I am currently training from home despite the cold and snow and am preparing for a spring marathon with the goal of participating in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. I do some of my units outside in nature. I usually do the intensive units and early morning units before work on the treadmill inside.

My tips for amateur athletes:

1. Set yourself a goal that motivates you to train even under the current difficult circumstances.
2. Train in all the intensity zones so you are prepared for when the action starts again and won’t lose too much ground during the absence of races.
3. Greet life with a smile each day and you'll get one back! Because each day there is something beautiful to experience. You just need to recognise it.