World Team Tryouts 2010 are in 11 days.
I believe that Streak and I are in a good place, both mentally and physically. This past weekend we showed at a local trail in NJ. First time outdoors since a very long time… and of course.. it rained on Sunday. I made the executive decision to NOT run Streak on Sunday, even though it was my last opportunity to show before the big event, the risks outweighed the benefits. It wasn’t raining hard, but it was raining enough, and though this particular field handles the water well, the tunnels and tunnel holders of this particular club’s , are somewhat sub par. I would be extremely upset (ok, let’s be honest, crushed, devastated, pissed beyond belief and might just jump of a cliff if it were nearby) if Streak got injured before Tryouts, when I knew the conditions were less than ideal. So with that in mind, and some good friends helping me KEEP that in mind, I left. Saturday however, was very nice and sunny. I do not Q with Streak. Standard was my fault, I was failed a skill I have failed in once before. It was a good mistake because now that it has happened twice, it will NEVER happen again as I distinctly recognize it as “a thing to pay attention to.” Jumpers she took a bar but had an otherwise FABULOUS run. Again, watching the vid reminded me of what I need to remember and do in those situations to guard against the bar falling. So overall, Streak did not do anything strange and ran very well and fast. Mentally, she was all on board. She wasn’t overly excited, she was focused and had the attitude of “Yes, this is what we do, let’s do this.” I feel very good about her mental state.
I am not showing this weekend. I actually am judging in Michigan for AWSOMM. It will be my first assignment at the Masters Level. I’m excited. Why am I judging and not showing the before? Several reasons. First: I am reducing the possibility of something FREAKY happening in competition the week before the big event. We are not broken, so don’t need fixing. I don’t want a NEW problem to arise. Second: I want her to be very fresh. Rest a weekend before the big show to keep the SPARK alive. Hopefully not TOO much spark, but as I said, her mental state is good. And finally, probably the reason that most heavily influences my decision, is that I am IMPOSSIBLE to please in this scenario. If I do well… I’ll feel nervous because I’m “peaking” on the wrong weekend or “spending all my good karma” too soon (I don’t actually believe in luck or such things, but it doesn’t stop me from being slightly crazy when the competition gets fierce). If I do badly, now I’m nervous because Oh my Goodness.. I suck, I can’t do anything, bad omen. It’s a lose, lose situation, I am impossible to please. So the solution? Don’t show. I’ll get to make some money, watch some good agility, judge with an awesome club and good friends and come back ready for the WEEK OF DESTINY. That’ might be a bit much, but as I’ve said, I am a very competitive person and this is what I’m LIVING for.
So overall, I’m feeling good. Have some skills to work on this week, rest the weekend and then keep going from there.
