-
Injured again: But life’s not about the short term, anyway
My injury has come back! But any kind of catastrophizing any more isn’t going to help. Instead I have to channel all my anger over the situation into genuine smiles and laughter, and hope for better in the long-term future, even if not the short-term. Life’s not about the short-term anyway.
-
Things aren’t nice in paradise
If we could turn the hands of time, I would do it. We had everything, but we never knew it. Things aren’t nice out here in paradise, so baby leave the light on. – Robinson New Zealand-born singer Robinson is one of my favourite musical talents on the planet, largely for creating lyrics with actual…
-
28
I can remember when birthdays felt like the biggest deal in the world. When for that entire day, my normal veins had been replaced by ones bursting with invincibility. When East Side Mario’s’ all you can eat salad and bread still hit so hard. This year, no one even knew! If it hadn’t been for…
-
ITRA Rankings are so silly silly
I woke up to an email this morning. A ‘congratulations!!’ email. Not one where I won a trip. In fact, not one where I won anything at all. But it WAS a congratulations email. A congratulations email where I was ranked 16th in Canada for 2024 based on ITRA’s metrics. That is to say, via…
-
The rebound effect
There’s something powerful in the post-injury experience. In the immediacy of the weeks and months following an injury. You’re still weary. You’re still hot dogging every downhill, expecting for every step to hurt. But over time, when you learn those steps no longer hurt like they used to, you gain confidence. Over time, you realize…
-
How I fuel for training and races with XACT Nutrition
In the puzzle to become the best trail runner that I can be, I’m often running through the numbers and experimenting with nutrition to identify what works best for my body. High-carb fuelling has been something I’ve experimented with through diligent practice across the past two years, and essential to both my training and recovery…
-
Why I use XACT Nutrition
I have now been an ambassador for the brand for almost two years, and write this article as a way of shining the light on the brand that has most rapidly helped to accelerate my own development in the sport. This is partially a love letter, and partially an explanation as to why I use…
-
You are not the imposter
For the past two years, I’ve existed in my sport as a professional athlete. The term is loosely defined in a sport like mine. For one, because there’s no clear-cut definition. For another, you can so clearly compare your results to others, thus never feeling good enough. For a double ‘nother, because of Imposter Syndrome.…
-
Standing out of the spotlight
As you go through your bucket list to life, or even your resolutions to the year, continue to remember what matters most to you, and where you want to spend the majority of your time. You don’t need the extra meaning in your life in seven different directions. You definitely don’t need the spotlight. You…
-
The crystal ball is cracked
The crystal ball is, and quite sadly, will be cracked. And it’s not even your job to repair it. It’s only your job to realign expectations, and adjust. As for the ending? Personally, I don’t want to know the ending. I just want to experience the now, and continue to discover what matters most, no…
Rhys Desmond
Training Theory & Coaching
