A Setback and a Cause: Prioritising Health and Supporting Octobre Rose
Stepping back from racing after tough decisions, focusing on recovery, and finding new ways to contribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This weekend, for the first time in my career as an elite athlete, I had to make the difficult decision not to race. It wasn’t an easy choice. The French Summer Biathlon Championships hold a special place for me, it's a venue I love, not too far from home, with incredible spectators, and it's always an event I look forward to. I’ve had great results here in the past. However, between battling an illness and dealing with early signs of Achilles tendonitis, I knew that the best decision for my body and the big objectives I have coming up in a few weeks was to step back. The desire to compete was strong, especially after feeling in good shape the week before, but I knew I needed to prioritize my health, and sometimes that meant stepping back.
Laying Down Some Important Context
My team and I were at the race venue in the French Doubs for a training camp the week before race week. We've been doing this for the past couple of years because it’s worked well for us. The range was recently renovated and extended to accommodate more targets, and the roller ski track is ideal for summer training, so there was little to complain about. We stayed in a Gîte called La Ferme de l’Absinthe, just outside of Pontarlier, about 15 minutes from the shooting range. It was an incredible place to stay, very cosy, and with a great atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anyone with a medium-sized group.
The training camp was running smoothly, given the circumstances. Our part of France was being hit by the remnants of a major storm that had struck the French coast a few days earlier. This meant training happened under a downpour, but as my coach would say, "Vous n’êtes pas faits en sucre" (You’re not made of sugar), and we focused on our work. On Tuesday, we held a test race among ourselves, which is common at this time of year. It’s also a great way to gain insight into how best to pace our race the following week. We also spent a whole training session focusing on technical parts of the course, figuring out how to tackle them in the most efficient way possible for race day.
None of this training was anything new or more impactful on our bodies than in previous weeks. But on Thursday afternoon, during a cool-down run around our Gîte, I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my right Achilles tendon. It was extremely painful and came on very suddenly, which was odd. I had to walk back to where we were staying. As the evening went on, the pain persisted, going up and down stairs or even just walking around. I massaged it well that evening, hoping it would be gone by morning, but sadly, it wasn’t. I got dressed for training, knowing I’d probably only do one lap before realizing the pain was too much, and that’s exactly what happened. I got to the track, went around once, and then told my coach that it would be impossible for me to continue.
Throughout the week, our two youngest team members weren’t feeling great. They weren’t severely ill, just a bit under the weather. It was enough to concern us, and after a quick COVID antigen test, we decided to move on. During October and early November, we often fall ill because our immune systems are weakened, and the days are getting colder. We all went home on Friday after the training session I skipped, and I then went for a short bike ride on Saturday afternoon. It was a short ride to manage the Achilles pain but also because it was 5°C and raining heavily.
The Decision Not to Race
And guess what? I woke up on Sunday with a cold. Was I surprised? Not really, but it definitely wasn’t the outcome I wanted. It was a good thing that Sunday was a rest day, I spent it entirely in bed, trying to recover as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough, and two days later, on Tuesday, I woke up with a severe fever along with the cold I’d had for two days. I also had a planned visit with a physiotherapist in the afternoon to address my Achilles tendon pain. Even though the pain had reduced significantly, his advice was clear: it needed proper rest.
On the drive home from the appointment, I had a thousand things running through my head, what should I do? What’s the best option for the weekend's race? What about the test races in early November? There were so many questions, and not having the answers was draining me mentally. I thought to myself, "I’ll rest for another two days and make the decision on Thursday night before I have to leave." This would give me time to analyze the situation and see how my issues evolved. But this wasn’t a good option, I’d be thinking about the race all day, every day, and wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else. I needed to make a decision right then and there, and that’s exactly what I did.
I called my trainer, explained my health situation, gave him a rundown of what the physiotherapist had said, and we talked about the upcoming calendar. We didn’t talk for long and quickly concluded that racing that weekend was out of the question. This cleared my mind and allowed me to focus fully on resting.
The Emotional Struggle
The following section is based on my personal feelings written on the evening after the call with my trainer.
The decision not to race this weekend has been one of the hardest choices I’ve had to make in my career as an elite athlete. For the first time, I’m stepping back from a race that I would normally be part of, and it’s not an easy pill to swallow. There’s a part of me that feels like I’m letting myself down, especially knowing how much I enjoy this venue and the incredible spectators who come out to support us. This is a race that I’ve succeeded in before, one that always brings good energy, despite the unpredictable weather. It’s a special event, and knowing that I won’t be there this year hurts.
In previous years, I might have pushed through the illness, ignored the signs of tendonitis, and raced anyway. That’s just who I was, a competitor who didn’t want to miss a single opportunity to prove myself. But this year, something has changed. I’ve grown in my understanding of what it means to take care of my body, to listen to it, and to make the harder decision to rest when needed. It’s not easy watching my teammates and friends race while I stay home, but I’m trying to remind myself that this is part of the journey of being an elite athlete. Setbacks, whether injuries or illnesses, are things we all face.
Mentally, this decision has been exhausting. After my physiotherapist session, I felt drained, completely empty. Training helps, especially being on my bike, where I feel the most calm and clear-headed. It’s the one place where I can process everything without feeling overwhelmed. For now, all I can do is focus on recovery, take it day by day, and hope that I’ll be ready for what’s to come in November.
A Week On: What’s New?
I’m back training, and that’s the good news. Did I rest long enough? Who knows, but I’m feeling better, and I’m able to put in some base endurance training sessions. I’m happy I made the choice to skip the race this weekend, I wouldn’t have been ready, and I’m not one to show up at a race without even a small chance of performing at the level I expect of myself. Watching the races from the comfort of my desk was different but insightful. I got to watch and analyze how my competitors race and perform, which is not something I generally get the chance to do. The racing was amazing, with high-level performances from everyone, and I was very jealous. I can’t wait to get back to my own training.
I rested fully for the rest of the week, only getting back to some very low-intensity endurance and gym work on Monday. This gives my Achilles time to recover while still allowing me to train. It’s also important not to jump straight back into intervals or threshold sessions after a break due to illness. I made the trip to La Féclaz (73) to be close to a roller ski track and shooting range during these last few weeks of training before winter. Training on a smooth surface is great for reducing vibrations through my foot. Training at home is great, but the open roads are often quite worn down, and the unwanted vibrations from my roller skis go straight into my Achilles, which doesn’t help the pain.
Today, I also made my second biannual trip to visit the federation’s medical advisor to get his advice on the pain and my recovery from the illness. He had a look and performed a quick ultrasound to check if the tendon was inflamed. Unfortunately, it is, but he reassured me that we caught this early and are taking the right steps to improve the situation. My breathing and lung capacity have also been impacted by the illness, but I should gradually recover before the start of the winter.
October Rose: The Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I had planned a special initiative to support Octobre Rose. This cause is very important to me, as I know how deeply breast cancer impacts countless individuals and families. My initial idea was simple but meaningful: to donate one euro for every athlete I managed to beat during the weekend's race. I expected this could result in a donation of approximately €150-200€, which would be my way of contributing through the sport I love. The goal was not only to raise money but also to raise awareness by connecting my performance to a positive outcome for a great cause. I had even planned to share my progress throughout the race weekend to keep my followers engaged and inspire others to consider donating as well.
Unfortunately, with my inability to participate in the race due to illness and tendonitis, I wasn’t able to carry out the initiative as originally planned. However, I’m not giving up on contributing. Instead, I’m exploring ways to focus on other people’s performances, challenging my followers to get involved in their own fitness activities and consider donating based on their efforts. My next steps involve creating a community-driven challenge where everyone can participate, either by setting their own fitness goals or supporting those who do, with donations tied to their achievements. It’s important to me to still support this cause, even if my plans have changed, and I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Winter is now only a handful of weeks away, and you can definitely feel that we’re getting closer as the days go by. Everyone is cutting down on training hours, focusing on quality work, and conserving as much energy as possible before racing begins. Hopefully, my team and I will head to Bessans as November starts to train on the small snow-farming track they are currently preparing. The very wet weather recently has delayed the opening date, but we’re sticking to our schedule.
Thanks for sticking around through the summer training and the intense months we've had recently. I can’t wait to start racing again and will be back soon with a winter preview to set expectations for what’s to come. Don’t hesitate to follow my socials for real-time updates and leave a like or comment to share your thoughts.