In my Olympic race report (see ‘London Olympic Race Report,’ 14/8/12) I alluded to the mix of emotions that flood through your mind after racing in the most exceptional competition of your life and not performing to your own expectations after many long months of preparation. And like any flood the waters do take some time to recede and there is always a permanent mark left to show for the psychological overflow that swelled up without a means of stopping it.
Due to this overflow I took a brief respite from the tri world and for the first time in many months let my brain wander to other aspects of my life that had begun to grow stagnant, being pushed aside by the one directional force that was my own personal Olympic movement. Looking at life as a whole again rather than the simple but tedious process of swim, ride, run, repeat gave me the perspective I needed to ask myself what was it I want to do. Up until Olympics all I wanted to do was make it to the race in the best shape possible and use that form to chase my own best possible outcome. Regardless of whether I achieved this or not once that opportunity had passed I realized I was completely lacking in a point in the future from which to anchor myself now and work towards. I still was still unable to determine where I wanted my point.
I went straight from my short but blissful hiatus to the WTS event in Stockholm, Sweden. Being over a sprint format I figured my Olympic form would get me through the half distance and, who knows, I might be able to dig deep and get a decent result. It occurred to me quite early into the bike leg as I was attempting to keep in contact with the group I was in up a 12% cobblestone road as my eyes darted repeatedly from them disappearing over the top of the hill down to my legs to check they were in fact responding to my brain’s signals commanding them to move that I was racing against THE BEST athletes in the world and it is not possible for a mere mortal like myself to go into a race underprepared and under motivated and expect to win/be competitive/survive… I pulled out before I halfway through the bike leg.
This non result saw no ‘flood of emotions.’ There were just two feelings: self-disappointment and an overwhelming urge to not disappoint myself in that way again. There is no such thing as ‘riding the Olympic wave.’ Anyone who appears to be doing this simply worked bloody hard for their Olympics and continued to do so afterwards.
Competing at the Olympics was a goal I didn’t think I could achieve but set it and chased it anyway. This is what I lacked immediately after the Games, a seemingly impossible goal and the processes to make it possible. I guess some people call this a dream. I now have a point to head towards and momentum is building.
I’m currently in Spain working with coach Jamie Turner and his crew of youngsters towards this point. Back to Aus next week to prepare for the next test in Auckland WTS final on 20 October.
Due to this overflow I took a brief respite from the tri world and for the first time in many months let my brain wander to other aspects of my life that had begun to grow stagnant, being pushed aside by the one directional force that was my own personal Olympic movement. Looking at life as a whole again rather than the simple but tedious process of swim, ride, run, repeat gave me the perspective I needed to ask myself what was it I want to do. Up until Olympics all I wanted to do was make it to the race in the best shape possible and use that form to chase my own best possible outcome. Regardless of whether I achieved this or not once that opportunity had passed I realized I was completely lacking in a point in the future from which to anchor myself now and work towards. I still was still unable to determine where I wanted my point.
I went straight from my short but blissful hiatus to the WTS event in Stockholm, Sweden. Being over a sprint format I figured my Olympic form would get me through the half distance and, who knows, I might be able to dig deep and get a decent result. It occurred to me quite early into the bike leg as I was attempting to keep in contact with the group I was in up a 12% cobblestone road as my eyes darted repeatedly from them disappearing over the top of the hill down to my legs to check they were in fact responding to my brain’s signals commanding them to move that I was racing against THE BEST athletes in the world and it is not possible for a mere mortal like myself to go into a race underprepared and under motivated and expect to win/be competitive/survive… I pulled out before I halfway through the bike leg.
This non result saw no ‘flood of emotions.’ There were just two feelings: self-disappointment and an overwhelming urge to not disappoint myself in that way again. There is no such thing as ‘riding the Olympic wave.’ Anyone who appears to be doing this simply worked bloody hard for their Olympics and continued to do so afterwards.
Competing at the Olympics was a goal I didn’t think I could achieve but set it and chased it anyway. This is what I lacked immediately after the Games, a seemingly impossible goal and the processes to make it possible. I guess some people call this a dream. I now have a point to head towards and momentum is building.
I’m currently in Spain working with coach Jamie Turner and his crew of youngsters towards this point. Back to Aus next week to prepare for the next test in Auckland WTS final on 20 October.