I got to thinking about my race plan before my crash in Alpe D’Huez, France. Before the race, I was getting to the point where I was thinking too much instead of letting things fall into place. I started putting expectations on myself depending on the racers who were in my heat. To achieve my highest potential, I need to not do this. I need to treat every race like it is the first competition of the season; Keep the confidence and throw away all the unnecessary mixed emotions. I need to focus only on the start of each heat, then I should be able to deal with the rest as it comes…if all goes to plan!

My knee is feeling better everyday. The pain is nearly gone but the stiffness remains. I’m heading up to Whistler for a week of physio at Back in Action, and to go over a new work out plan. I’m looking forwards to upping the workouts to rebuild by shrunken leg muscles. At the moment, I can fit my hands around by “fixed” knee, whereas on the other leg I’m a few inches away from touching. There’s some added motivation!

I’m going to stay positive about this experience. Some winter athletes are voluntarily taking this season off to rest before the Olympics, so I have convinced myself this is exactly what I’m doing. If I start working out my upper body really hard even now, I will have the strength and endurance to leave my competition in the dust. This is where my focus will be for next season. Win the start, win the race…