Endurance 101 - Week 10 - How to Pivot, Refocus, and Carry On

When the Race Gets Cancelled: How to Pivot, Refocus, and Carry On Welcome to Endurance 101 Week 10 This week I am giving you one of my smiles as I hope the shock has worn off from last week and we can chat about what to do when that "RACE CANCELLED - do no proceed to the start" comes through

You’ve done the work. You’ve pushed through early mornings, long runs in all weather, and sacrificed weekends for that one goal: race day.

Then the email hits your inbox or the announcement drops: “Event cancelled.”

Your heart sinks. All those 12–20 weeks of sweat, discipline, and commitment suddenly feel… pointless. You’ve tapered, rested, fuelled — and then, boom. No start line, no finish line, no medal.

I get it. It’s crushing.

The cancellation of Cape Town Marathon Last week was a massive blow. In my books race cancellation is in the same line as getting ill the day before the race. What a lot of people don't realise that event cancellations globally are a much more regular occurrence than everyone realises and that dealing with the fall out and aftermath of a race not happening is something a lot of athletes has had to deal with.

Last week in my Level Up blog, I spoke about setbacks — the unexpected obstacles that test our resilience. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

But this week, I want to dig into what comes next. Because when life cancels your race or you get ill, it’s not the end — it’s a pivot point.

1. Allow Yourself to Feel It

Before you can move on, give yourself permission to feel disappointed. You’re not overreacting — this was something you worked hard for. It’s not just a run; it’s the culmination of months of structure, self-discipline, and belief.

It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to feel flat. You might even feel a bit lost without the immediate goal that’s been driving you.

Acknowledge that emotion. Sit with it for a moment. Then — when you’re ready — take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re still in control of what happens next.

2. Reframe the Story

Here’s the truth: your training wasn’t for nothing. Every session you completed still made you fitter, stronger, and more resilient.

Think of your race prep as a deposit into your athletic bank account. That endurance, speed, and mental toughness you built? It’s all sitting there, waiting for your next goal.

Even though you didn’t get to cash it in on race day, that fitness doesn’t vanish overnight. You’ve laid a rock-solid foundation — and that’s a huge win in itself.

3. Pivot With Purpose

Now it’s time to pivot — to redirect your energy instead of letting it fizzle out. There are a few smart ways to do it:

🔹 Find Another Race

Check the calendar. There are often plenty of smaller or local events happening within 4–8 weeks of your original race date. Because you’ve just come off a strong block, you can maintain fitness with a short “bridge” plan and then do a mini-taper before your new race.

This approach gives you a second chance to use all that hard work while keeping motivation high.

🔹 Create Your Own Challenge

If there’s no replacement race, make your own! Plan a solo time trial, a “fun run marathon” with your running buddies, or even a charity challenge where your miles contribute to a cause. You don’t need a medal or a race bib to prove your effort mattered.

It’s about closing the loop — giving yourself a sense of completion and accomplishment.

🔹 Shift to a New Goal

Maybe your marathon got cancelled — perfect time to shift gears. Use this fitness to target a shorter distance:

• Work on speed and try a new 5K or 10K PB.

• Focus on building strength or improving form.

• Set your sights on your next “A” race and use this as a base block.

The key is to redirect your focus, not lose it.

4. Keep the Training Momentum

So, what should training look like now? You don’t want to throw away months of progress, but you also don’t want to overtrain or burn out. Speak to your coach about the new plans so they can assist you in the pivot. Alternatively

Here’s how to keep the fire burning:

• Run 3–5 times a week, mostly at easy or conversational effort.

• Hold your long run at about 60–70% of your peak distance. You want to keep that aerobic base strong without overloading your body.

• Add variety: hills, trails, or even cross-training like cycling or swimming to refresh your mind and body.

• Stick with strength work: don’t ditch the gym now — it’s your armour against injury.

• Keep recovery sacred: sleep, nutrition, and hydration still matter.
  

Think of this as your “reset and refine” phase — you’re maintaining what you’ve built while giving your mind and body space to recharge.

5. Reset Your Mindset

One of the hardest parts about a race cancellation isn’t the loss of the event — it’s the loss of purpose. When that finish line disappears, so does the structure that’s guided your every week.

But this is where real athletes grow.

Setbacks force us to remember why we run — not just for medals or times, but for the journey itself. For the discipline. For the community. For the mental clarity and the self-belief that running gives us every single day.

So, yes — be disappointed. But don’t let that disappointment define you. Instead, use it as fuel. Because the truth is, this isn’t a failure. It’s a pause.

The race might have been cancelled — but your story, your progress, your momentum? That’s still alive and kicking.

6. Look Ahead With Intent

When you’re ready, set a fresh goal. Write it down. Create a new plan. Maybe it’s a race, maybe it’s a personal milestone — but give yourself something to aim for.

And when you start that next training block, you’ll realize something powerful: You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.

Final Thought

Every cancelled race is an opportunity to prove what kind of athlete you really are — not just in performance, but in mindset.

Anyone can show up when things go to plan. Champions are the ones who show up when they don’t.

So pivot. Refocus. And get moving again. Because this chapter? It’s just part of the story — and your next finish line is waiting.

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That's all for this week! Lets go out there and crush those racing goals. Thank you for joining me! See you all next week