Seeing stars

The new year seems as good a time as any to start this diary. We are in day 3 of 2008 and I am sat at my desk early in the morning waiting for enough light to creep through the curtains so I can go out on my training ride. Today, 2.5 hours of road riding 'steady state'. I am desperately tired having slept for no more than 3 hours and not looking forward to the physical challenge at all, but I am anticipating the cool breeze on my face and the clarity that comes from long empty roads with excited pleasure. Riding bikes is like taking a long shower after a sweaty, unpleasant journey. You can feel the mental cobwebs sliding off you and disappearing down the plughole.

This year's challenge is to increase emotional resilience, confidence, independence and ability to relax. These things will help my real self but also my performance self: They will help me be happy but also win races.

How is it going?

Independence:

Well, I bought and fitted some new mud guards on the mtb and also had 2 of my bikes serviced, changed the tyres on my cross bike and washed and tinkered with my mtb. My bikes are my responsibility and there is no one else who will take care of them. My camelbak is fully kitted out with tools and I learnt how to tweak the caliper brakes on the cross bike so I can do it myself. A start...

Confidence:

My friends make this possible. I am lucky enough to have a very close group of friends (most of whom are superb athletes) who are supportive of my training and dedication and who offer me the emotional strength and confidence I need when I can't quite muster it myself. In time it will come from me but at the moment I still turn wide eyed to the people around me and receive strength and wisdom from them.

Emotional resilience:

Yesterday - great. Today - none. On these days it is best to avoid any possible emotional upheaval or stress.

Relaxation:

I am trying to find a yoga or pilates class in Bristol I can do (and afford). No luck so far. Any ideas?

The picture is from the most beautiful spot in the world on Exmoor. We flew down a shallow grassy slope towards the cliff edge, the view of Porlock ahead, and stopped just before we fell off the edge of the world to dive left along a perfect piece of singletrack which clung to the side of the steep slope. I gain enormous strength from these beautiful places and the bike helps me get there and experience them. People often ask why I train to much and what keeps me going - take a look...