The wandering mind to a focussed start line.

Wake up:

Do my mindfulness on the Headspace app.

Attempt to get out the room without waking my room-mate up.

Breakfast:

Scrambled eggs in rolls.

Avoid eye contact with the pastries at breakfast.

2 hrs 30 to go: 

Drive to the course attempting to cope with Bradley's terrible music taste.

2 hrs to go:

Pre warm-up in Peak UK ST – loosen the muscles and get over the sluggish feeling I always have during my first warm up.

1hr 15 to go:

Walk the course with my coach to make decisions on how I will do the gate sequence to come up with the best race plan for me.

Battle with my indecisive nature and the many decisions that come with being able to switch my blade between my hands and paddle on both sides.

Fist bump with coach – plan complete.

40 minutes to go:

Walk back to team tent.

Brave a Portaloo that has been cooking in the sun for a week.

Get changed – put on my Peak UK ST & Peak UK neoskin shorts.

Try not to flash anyone in the crowded team tent.

Visualise my run to my race song.

25 minutes to go:

Get on the water to warm up.

10 minutes to go:

Talk through with my coach– I talk him through my race plan and the stroke sequences I will do.

We confirm the style of paddling I want to be focussing on. Fist bump - ready.

2 minutes to go:

Move into the start blocks & take a minute to look around and appreciate where I am in the world.

I see the clear blue water and Slovenian mountains that surround the river and I appreciate the roasting sun on my neck.

I feel overwhelmingly grateful for where I am and the opportunity I have to race this World Cup.

I know all too well that races like these are all a privilege to compete at.

1 minute to go.

Splash my face 3 times.

Run my hands up and down the side of my boat.

I spot the camera pointed at me and wonder if my Mum can see me.

Glance up at the countdown clock.

30 seconds to go: Visualise the first 4 gates of the course

BEEP: Feel my knees on my foam – feel my boat attached to me.

10 seconds to go: I focus on “Positive paddling”

BEEP

5 seconds to go: I pull out of the start blocks and set the angle of my boat under the bridge. I do not register the packed, roaring grandstand. Nor the TV camera, nor the pressure to perform. It is as if the world around me slips away and it is just me, my boat and my desire to paddle bravely, positively and freely.

0 seconds to go:

BEEEEEEP

I drop over the lip, fly down the roller-coaster and start my race run...