It's the Little things in Life...

This weekend was an interesting one to say the least - the life of an agility competitor is seldom dull and often a bit like taking a chance on a new ride at the Royal Show. I cherish the anticipation (you can tell I'm feeling whimsical and...what is that word, it's like 'philosophical' but not so stuck up...nevermind I shall think of it) that I get when looking forward to an agility filled weekend. The anticipation consists of the key element in any psychological preparation for a sporting performance - visualisation. You picture yourself running with confidence and complete clarity on the course, giving directions on time, being absolutely crystal clear in communication with your team mate (what other sport relies so heavily on a clear understanding between two very different species?) and you visualise your team mate flying over jumps, turning on the spot, responsive to every signal you give, weaving like a dog possessed, and nailing the contacts without a doubt. Every skill and every nuance of your dance on course with your dog is clearly trained with great commitment and skill as is clearly observed and noted by ringside spectators. I like to visualise these types of runs. So you see a new ride at the Royal Show - you see it in action and you wonder exactly just how thrilling that new ride will be for you. So you start to anticpate how good this ride will be. Some ride will indeed live up to your expectation - there will be thrills and heart stopping moments and a great rush of adrenaline will pump through your body accompanied by a sense of complete exhilaration. At the end you will be glad you spent your 10 dollars on such an awesome experience. But some rides don't work out that way, you climb into the seat and find that some nice youth has left a moist looking, grey coloured, entirely chewed far beyond any molecules of flavour remaining piece of gum which promptly adheres to your clothes. Great now your clothes are messed up. Next the ride starts to move - however it's not moving in the direction you visualised it would and now you're starting to be concerned. There is a lurch and you find yourself questioning your sanity in choosing this ride. Before you know it (and while you are still waiting for the fun exciting part) the ride grinds to a halt and you are left there in your gum infested seat wondering what the hell your ten bucks got you, why you feel maligned and that you deserve a refund (or in agility-speak rerun). Yes Agility is like that sometimes - however at times the ride is so good that you end up living, breathing and working towards your next possible chance to try another ride.