With everyone in quarantine due to the Covid-19 outbreak, it has been hard for everyone to keep up their usual activities and habits. People who have struggled mightily include athletes. With almost all sports canceled or restricted, it has been hard for athletes to keep up their game and difficult for them to continue to work on their craft. Most have adapted to this new life, while others still struggle to play and practice the sports they love.

For certain sports, the Covid outbreak hasn’t affected athletes and the way they practice and train, but for other sports like close contact and close proximity sports, players have had to adapt and alter their training and practice regimen.

With most gyms closed, athletes have started to workout in their own homes. Not everyone has weights, so the majority can only train bodyweight exercises such as pushups, situps and pullups.

Junior Nate Jacobs has dumbbells in his basement and has been doing what he can to stay in shape for the upcoming football and lacrosse season. “At home I’ve been working out six days a week to get stronger for upcoming sport seasons. Without my weights, I’m not sure what I would have done while gyms were closed,” Jacobs said.

Those who don’t have weights at home have to make due with what they can. Junior Dason Miller has been staying in tip top shape for the upcoming baseball season without the use of weights. He has been doing tons of bodyweight workouts and going to the ball field in his free time to work on his offensive and defensive skills and mechanics.

Despite the little he has at home, Miller has made progress. “Not having weights I thought put me at a disadvantage at first, but I quickly turned to consistent bodyweight workouts and saw a lot of improvement fast,” Miller said.

Some local gyms are open for business during this pandemic and athletes are taking advantage. These gyms have restrictions, but athletes believe it is worth the risk to go and improve there, instead of barely improving at all.

Junior Jackson Brunner is a member at OneLife Fitness and consistently goes to workout by himself and with friends. “Working out at the gym is great because they have all of the equipment needed and have a lot of space to do different workouts and lifts. It’s also fun to hangout with your friends (socially distanced and with masks) because you can improve and there is more competition and motivation when you are with friends,” Brunner said.

Overall, what’s common between all these athletes is that they are hungry – hungry to succeed, and hungry to be the absolute best, and that means doing whatever it takes. Regardless of what techniques, strategies, or equipment these athletes use to up their game, they are adapting to this new way of life well and learning to make best with what they have.