There are few things that can make me think twice about competing in canoe slalom. One is having a bad competition. Most athletes will question their continued participation in sport after a poor performance, but somehow manage to pick themselves up for yet more punishment! The other, is the cold and wind! But two months into ‘winter’ training, and there is little sign of the brutal weather that hit Britain at the end of last year. I sincerely hope I haven’t just jinxed this run of good weather we’re having, because it has been brilliant for training. Without a doubt, I have had the best start to my off-season training, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With less than 5 months until Olympic selection, now is the time for me to start making every session and every minute, of every day count. I don’t know if it’s the stimulus of having a new coach, or the excitement of a home Olympics just around the corner, but I seem to have found another level of looking into the fine details. I no longer turn up for training, do my job and head home again. Everything I do has meaning, goals and outcomes. It will also be a welcome surprise to my dad, that I have finally started looking at sport psychology as something that could help me get that edge that I need. Thankfully our team psychologist is a tough nut, so should be able to cope with the storm that is my mind!
Looking ahead, my body has to last just over 3 weeks before its gets a much needed break over the festive period. Is it too much to ask for this weather to last until then? Then after the new year, I will have 2 more weeks of training in the UK before jetting off to Australia. Bring on the vitamin D!
