TMcG

All the things that go through one's head when one's under under pressure, especially for a long period, have so much to do with the test I have coming up and with performance in general. The whole way the mind works, on its own track, as it were, while you're engaged in difficult pressured action. It's fascinating how the kind of performance you were engaged in--sport, physical, tandem--is similar to artistic performance in that respect. The whole mental sphere.

You write, "At moments like this I start thinking well, at least I won’t make a total fool of myself, then I think, don’t think like that, it’s bad luck, then I think, pay attention, watch your dog, you’re a long way from done yet. But it’s one of the things about tracking that there’s lots of time to think and some of it’s useful so you can’t just shut off your brain and go." And later you write, "My world at that moment, as we were almost finished, comes down to my fears. I swear that I will not trip over my shoelaces. I will not drop the articles."

Great stuff! I also love the portrait of how you learn your dog's particular way of working the trail and work with that and help her, and how you learn to read the judges' movements, too.

Plus, the whole thing is just a riveting account. Thanks so much for putting it up!