The Course does not Suit me ... Fact or Fiction ? (The value of Play)

I just did a post at TrainwithPeter.com on how Cross might help challenge some common perceptions of strengths/limiters ... or more generally what we can accomplish.

There is lots of hype out there , and has been for awhile, about 'dream it and you can do it'  or 'we set our own limits' which does hold value to a degree. But how can we make this more practical or at least convince the practical brain that it can do something it believes it can't ?

The Answer is very simply to play.

play/plā/

Verb:	Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
Noun:	Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, esp. by children.

If you CAN'T do something or WON"T do something will you do it in a race ? Likely not. But what if we take the result out and remove the practical component of our thought process ?

But if we go out and ease into a concept/skill we will have much better success. First alone playing with an idea (handstands? sprinting? Rear Wheel Lifts, Jumping). Then, before too long, taking the concept/skill to an an instructional session with a non-judgmental friend or coach where you can gain confidence you are doing things right and where you can best spend your time playing to improve. Then take that skill to a low-competitive group setting, followed by then a higher competition group or even low priority race to integrate the skill and expose yourself to success without a result. If we can disconnect from the end result (be in the now) we might very well trick ourselves into doing something we CAN'T or getting better at something we AREN'T good at .

3 Examples:
a) Rather then sprinting for a result ... why not go right a hilly course and sprint up each climb or to each town sign ?  First on your own then phase in friends, then competitive friends then Race experiences. Throw a technical session in their early to make sure you can STAND UP (SEE TECH TUES VIDEO) and get the most out of your efforts.
b) Cornering - practice cornering for 20min after work, just go play around on grass, throw on some pads and play around with speeds and leaning the bike vs. turning the bars. (I have done this and seen success in the snow/mud with the right conditions too!)
c) Clearing obsticles - can you get a bike that is not your race bike and play around jumping, rear wheel lifting ? a couple logs in the back yard or local park and 20min before-after work might gain you minutes in next years racing, if not longer depending how many times you pinch flatted or went over the bars ? (Tech Tuesdays Clearing obsticles might help too) 

Play with it and let me know how it goes !

I Always Appreciate Your Share on Facebook and Comments !

PS. If you want to get out and play , Smart Athlete Technical Sessions are a great way to get a little push to play with the things we don't like .