Diary of a Cyclist-Focus

G: Well here is where I lie. I have been working on my focus, I have been working on my affirmations and visualization with CDs as well.

I have been doing the concentration exercises on your site and can stare at the black dot for 4 minutes. The numbers chart…you got me! Not even getting better at that one!

The reason for now that 4 minutes is my goal is that I am training for the national
track pursuit on Sept.9th. I want to do it in 4-4:10 minutes.
It is hard to focus during the whole event. I can’t picture the 12 laps without a lack of focus at some point.

I listen to visualization CDs at night. I try to see myself racing as well.
For me I find it hard to see myself doing the whole pursuit. I get distracted with thought.
I have tried hard to TURN UP THE DIAL and see myself BIG and hear my breathing and see my skinsuit etc. I can do that. Holding the thought is difficult.

Last week I had troubles at the track with focus. I was with another very fast competitor and her fast times were throwing me off. Even if I pretended they didn’t.

Last night I went and this time when she was up doing her pursuit I did not watch. I closed my eyes and with the sound of her racing I visualized that it was me. I did not want to hear her time nor did I want to know anything. I could not help hear it from others which is fine. But overall I performed better myself. My focus was more on me.

For me with focus I find that sometimes I just go out there and don’t focus, I do it and I was not INTO it so to speak. My last 2km repeat on Wed was like BUTTER. I was SO focused. The pacing was epic…my legs felt so good and I was on. That is how focus feels. My speed was on, I was red lined at the end.

This Sat night I race. THis time with all the equipment. It will be a good test. I want the focus to be BANG ON. I want to be calm. I want to feel that butter feeling.

It’s emotions with me. They take over. My whole life. I can get overwhelmed iwth emotions in an instant and cry. I never liked this. WHen I get embarassed, it happens and it is more embarassing!

Learning to control my emotions will make me a better athlete.

Dr. Michelle: you are doing so WELL with this mental stuff; so give yourself some credit 🙂

There are 2 simple things I want to instill in you about focus: 1) when you are trying to use your focusing skills, instead of emphaticlly trying in a frustrating way to get immediately rid of the negative thoughts, once you notice the negative thoughts, take note of them, maybe take a breath and then move back into something positive. Allow yourself time to recognize what’s occuring and then move into something more positive (key words, your breath, visualization, form, etc) 2) Maybe visualizing the race or course doesn’t work for you so choose something that DOES work for you; something that makes better sense and something that better captures your attention. Obviously visualizing the race is good, however there are other things you can use: visualizing yourself cycling maybe in an area you LOVE; visualizing your BEST performance or ride. What visualization do you think would work and keep you focused because basically that is what it’s all about. And any/all of this takes PRACTICE :-). Start with something that is simple and something that works for you, which is focusing you and once you feel a little better focused move into the tough stuff like your race. Does that make sense? Does that help?

I like how you closed your eyes and used your competitors race sound as your own. This IS all about you and you do have the control. Right? It sounds like you controlled this situation and made it work to your advantage and that is what this is all about.

Emotions…tell me more about the emotional stuff. What’s happening? Why is it happening? What are you feeling?

For those reading this blog, I hope you have a great weekend!

Dr. Michelle

Photo credit: cyclodelic.wordpress.com