Che Richards is expected to reunite with his family on September 27, following completion of his 14-day quarantine. And within days, the Trinidad and Tobago long jumper will be back in training, preparing for the 2021 track and field season.
"For sure at the start of October," Richards told the Express. "If Covid-19 reiterated anything for me, it is to just take each day as it comes and be present. That's exactly what I'm doing now and moving forward. I'll be starting off-season to prepare for the 2021 season, and that's where my focus will be; putting in the necessary work each day. That's the best anyone can do."
In July, Richards graduated with an LLB Hons degree from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. However, with T&T's borders closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2015 Open National Scholarship winner was stranded in Scotland for a couple months. He eventually got home on Sunday on a repatriation flight from Barbados, and is in state quarantine at Cascadia Hotel, in St Ann's.
"Before coming home, I was doing some hill runs in Scotland, plyos, yoga and abs sessions. That was a way to maintain a certain level of fitness before starting off-season. Because I can't leave the room here at Cascadia, I have to make do with abs sessions and strengthening exercises. Some of the other people in quarantine are keen to do it too, so we'll have a little session going via video call."
Life in Scotland between July and September was a challenge for Richards. The 24-year-old athlete, however, found a way to cope.
"Just being present, and not being hard on myself to be productive every day. I had to reconcile myself to the idea that productivity looks different every day, and instead of chasing it looking for something to do, I had to be content with just playing games, listening to music, reading on some days, or just doing nothing.
"It was difficult at first," Richards continued, "because I'm accustomed to training with my group six days a week and having classes/studies every day. When I start back training, I will have some form of my normal routine again, so I think that will also help me mentally."
Richards plans to be based in T&T for a year. In addition to pursuing track and field goals, he will do an online conversion course, the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). After the year, he travels to England to do the Bar Training Course. Richards will then return home to attend Hugh Wooding Law School.
