Life and performance

In a perfect world, we’d all be working our dream job, the kids would look after themselves, the chef would prep our meals, and a robot would do all the cleaning and mow the lawns. Unfortunately, as reality would have it, that shit is only for the movies! However, there are a few things we can do, especially leading into an A Race, to give ourselves the best chance of putting together the performance we deserve and would love to have.
A note in advance of what you are about to read below: it’s not sexy, there are no magic pills or secrets, and what you read might sound like common sense… but believe me, this stuff is easier said than actually done.
As I say to my crew on the regular, it’s the basics executed well and with consistency that put together the most complete picture. That ability to zoom out, and remember that what you do today, even a simple 30 minute easy z2 jog, is such a vital part in ensuring that big picture isn’t full of holes. And also, the other, life stuff, has a big part to play in performance during your events.
Listen carefully:
Get organised: weeks/months in advance of your event. I’ve written about it before hand many times, but the simple notion of getting things organised well in advance can enhance your performance on race day. Think of taper time as not only a rest for the body to freshen up, but also a rest for the brain. In order to go deep in a race, make good decisive decisions in the moment, be optimally focussed, we need every bit of brain power we have available, just as much as the muscles powering your movements. It’s all encompassing. So double check all the travel bookings (flights, accomm, cars, massages etc), get the bike serviced weeks in advance, purchase extra nutrition and hydration, and make sure your gear is all in tip top condition. Just like we only have so many matches to burn on race day in the physical sense, we only have so many brain biscuits (big decision making moments) too. Until we reach the crux of a race (usually the last third/quarter of the event), we should be on auto pilot. Then the fun begins… complete with a clear, well rested brain, ready to go to war.
Whilst we can’t control what others will do around us in their lives, we can control the things mentioned above so that when life happens at work, at home etc, we can handle the other stuff a little easier, and be that little bit less razzled when all of the things come our way on race week. 
Oh, and if us coaches had a dollar for saying it, and then being ignored “nothing new on race week or race day”... crikey!
There you have it. Not sexy at all. But practical, no BS, performance enhancing advice, not to be taken with a grain of salt.
Go get it.

SF