This morning, the Under-18 Team Ontario tryout camp came to a close with the final games of the week. This gave the players their last chance to impress the coaches prior to the team selection.

When every single pass, shot, check and save is being scrutinized, it is easy to get distracted.

But instead of getting caught up in what everyone else is thinking and doing, remember to focus on the things that you have control over.

This is a mindset that I personally had to re-focus on just this morning.

At the same time the young female hockey players took to the ice for their last game, I was starting my 7th mountain biking race of the season.

Here I am before the start of the race looking ready and relaxed.

My last few weeks of training had gone extremely well. I had a great pre-race meal and slept really well last night. As I listened to my favorite Pearl Jam song on my iPod right before the start, I knew that I had done everything in my control to prepare to perform my best.

But there were 2 things that were completely beyond my control that could have ruined my race day…

Mud Pits and Mechanical Problems

After a summer of constant rain and an early morning thunderstorm, the race course was a total mud pit. The rocks were slippery and the puddles were huge.

Here is a post-race picture of me covered from head to toe in fresh mud (and with a huge gash on my elbow from a huge wipe-out that required a few stitches).

Having the race course be a mud-pit is much like having to play a game on bad ice. It isn’t ideal – but everyone has to deal with the same conditions so the playing field remains even.

The other issue that was completely beyond my control was the dreaded mechanical problem.

About 10 minutes into the race, my bike decided that it was no longer going to pedal properly. What made this particularly annoying was that I had just had my bike completely overhauled last night. Basically my bike was stuck in one of the hardest gears all race and the pedals would seize up every time I had to go up the slightest incline. Much like the mud situation, there wasn’t much that I could do about the mechanical problem except for to keep on pedaling (or trying to at least).

These mud and mechanical issues were completely beyond my control.

I had a choice – get caught up in the distractions or focus on what I could control.

I could have stayed home and avoiding the morning mud bath. I could have dropped out when things started to go wrong with my bike.

But I was able to stay focused on the only two things I could control – my ability to push hard and stay positive.

No matter what else happens on the race course or the ice rink, you always have control over 2 things: your attitude and your work ethic.

By focusing on these two keys, you can guarantee that you will perform your best no matter what distractions arise.

Until next time – stay focused and stay out of the mud,

Kim