"Visualisation"

Closely linked to the dreaming season, visualisation is often claimed to help you in training and just prior to a big race. There is no doubt that it can have many benefits whilst you imagine yourself traveling around the delicately laid out course, passing by cheering supporters and weary volunteers. I believe the original goal was likely a professional athlete being paid a meager some by a popular fitness magazine to describe how they are so successful in the sport. One item was likely described as visualising the course, each turn or transition. This was then taken by the amateur world desperate to repeat the kind of success that their idols so often achieve.

However, I suspect/know full well that your typical amateurs, such as myself, often miss the mark when it comes to our "visualisation". So often I will be out on a training session and feel the release of euphoria associated frequently with the 45-60min spot in the swim/bike/run and suddenly visions of spectacular and grandiose finishes and triumphant speeding by competitors explode in to my mind adding even further to the effect of endorphins. An almost smug expression temporarily passes across your sweaty brow as you vividly hear the cheering crowds despite your lonesome surroundings on the running path. This is not the visions, I presume, the original goal had anticipated. It also is most definitely dreaming. The visions so often failing to bring in to focus the fatigue and pain that is often very much part of the slog around an iron distance course. It's like Napoleon always reminds us, "this always f!@#ing hurts". These temporary fantastical vistas that flash across our mind's landscape do not quite do the race justice, but it definitely makes your feel good about the training and allow you to ignore the dominant elements until you meet them with full force right around mile 80.

So what's my point? Well, this year, my visualisation firmly centers around my father. If I ever feel doubt within my training or begin to lose strength in my resolve, I simply visualise a man who can not even walk down the hallway anymore. The privilege was taken away from him and we are left behind to grab those opportunities that are offered to us. This year has made me realize that I often wine or complain far too often when the opportunity presents itself. There is a moment when it hits you that people you love no longer even have that opportunity. If they were offered it again they would grab it with both hands and never consider complaining, grateful for the chance. This is my visualisation. There is no denying that on occasion fantastical visions explode in to my mind of the finishing shoot and all that euphoria, but they are quickly replaced by the sobering picture of my father who can no longer be with me in that euphoric laden tunnel. He may physically not be able to lean up against the barriers of the blue encrusted finishing lines, but his image will be running down there with me. Often I like to celebrate my British heritage with the Union Jack as my finishing buddy for the last half mile of a race. This year it will be different. This year the driving force will be thoughts and visions of running down that finish line with Dad's picture firmly in my grasp. Probably blubbering like an uncontrollable emotional wreck that often envelopes me at the end of a tough endurance race, when there is nothing left to inhibit the floods of relief and joy that crossing the line gives you.

To sum it all up and put a neat bow on it, visualisation can be anything for anyone. For most it is joyous - seeing a new baby at the finish, or hugging your beloved and seeing their cheering faces at the finish. For others it may be a difficult and sometimes sad journey that they have been on and now get to celebrate the conclusion of that. However, for me, I am in no doubt, it will be a joyous one bordered with some sadness, but ultimately showered in the fond memories of Dad and how he and Mum moulded us in to the sports hungry loonies we are today.

Training recap! Recovery week is over and we are now getting to the business end of the training. 5 and 6 hour rides will become standard practice for the next month. Longer runs, to culminate in our longest run of 3 hours will conclude this 6 week stretch. The hip will be under the microscope this week. It is suffering from the running. I suspect tendonitis but will know more this week. The riding is ever improving, I just hope the nutrition can keep pace.

Good luck to us all!