It is the time for another TSV time trial. Another new page of personal timings was to be written into our records, another adrenalin pumping day.

TSV time trials are serious business. Each time, Lady Speedster painstakingly ensures its smooth execution in the first place and then carefully keeps records that track our performances. This information is available for us to evaluate our personal as well as the team's performances. It has got to be serious because there is someone out there (our Vice-Capt) who cares about our improvement (or lack of it), sometimes more than we ourselves do.

Also, almost all of us are seriously concerned with improving ourselves at each time trial. That is why prior to the event, those who are not in good shape will hurry to shape up, especially if they have not been training. It could be stressful at times but it is good stress that spurs instead of overwhelm. After all, no one purposely wants to turn in bad results and feel bad.

But today, I found out that besides seriously preparing our bodies and being armored with the most lethal equipment, having a strong mind is as powerful in winning a race. In fact, Virus 003 had said that his timing had been a great improvement because "his mind is good that morning". As our Senior Instructor Lady Speedster had shared with us during training - this is a form of "Imagery Training", a concept many athletes practice during their competition. As for me, I used my mind to skate and clock in an unbelievable time too!

I started and paced with stronger Baby Virus Nic right from Lap One and somehow made up my mind not to fall behind him even if I cannot overtake him. I thought, "How can I lose to small boy!" and not "I'll try my best to keep up with small boy." It was both a mental and physical challenge. Though I felt like giving up many times in my 5th lap, 10th lap, 15th to the very last lap, having a target worked! I followed Nic to the finishing line and credited him with taking me on. I had not given up and as a result, achieved a time that on my own and given my current fitness level could not have made it. I believe this is the x-factor that makes Champions out of mere sportspeople and what our First Man and Woman possess. (This morning, the fluke title of Last Man went to Virus Topless due to his malfunctioning tools).

In fact, even though our time trials are internal races and friendly matches and not everyone openly admits to being competitive; each time the whistle blows and the adrenalin rush, there is no stopping anyone from skating to his/her maximum capacity and glory. It is also evident from the screwed up faces and the focused piercing stares as each competitor rolls to the starting line. Such is my addiction for team time trials now ...