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Hi Tracy, I did not see your answer to my question above so, here is the video, this video contains all the sessions I did, I did not repeat anything and just moved on since Griz was doing great. Hope this is OK. Looking forward to your feedback! Thanks!! Nelci
Are you talking to me? 🙂 I will need to get a new “little tiny Grizzly” hahaha His chest is already dropping, so he is looking more like a “bear”, I meant an adult dog!
Hi Tracy!! Looking forward to this class with Grizzly. BTW, I did not get any emails indicating you had posted material on the site. I used to get them, will I get them in the future, or is this the new format, where I just need to check the site?
Thank you!!Hi Tracy,
Report on my 5 mins visualization at the Gym, second day also good!!! I did not go to the Gym today, I will try to visualize on off-Gym days in a week. I want to enjoy doing it at the Gym first – excuses 🙂I just read about Speed Visualization, interesting, I don’t believe I ever tried it so I am going to give it a try! And I have a few months to get good at it 🙂
Nelci
Hi Tracy,
Report from Saturday UKI, my last trial in 2019:
– I felt comfortable using less time in the course, it was a bit hard to gauge the time since there was no timer displayed but I believe I did only take about 6 mins. We did pretty well, and off course there are areas where I can still improve:
– On one of the runs, even though I visualized the course and knew it (or so I thought), I forgot to send her to a back side on the second to last jump. I think this happened when I am not 100% focus, instead of handling from my unconscious mind I am still thinking and getting surprised when Lilu executes well. I know you mentioned to me that I need to visualize that she does well, but there are so many things I need to remember to visualize that I am getting overwhelmed (gauge the tunnels, reconnect and see her take off, etc., etc., etc. – sounds like “The King and I”).
– I did have two clean runs, 2 with faults and one NFC (Std). The other errors were about rushing and not following through (one of my mental affirmations: handle one obstacle at a time, focusing on the moment).Lastly, this morning at the gym, I purposely reserved the last 5 mins for visualization (instead of listening to my book). And IT WORKED GREAT!! When I looked at the clock it was past the 5 mins. I visualized the first run from Saturday, the only one I did not video. I did have to take a look at the course map to remember the second half of it, but I could visualize the entire course!. I am planning on reserving 5 mins every day for this activity, I think that since I had success today and I liked it I am going to follow thru (we’ll see 🙂 ).
I am grateful to be able to participate in the AU class with Tracy as the teacher, I am grateful and feel extremely lucky to be able to receive such great feedback from my friend and coach Tracy 🙂
Thanks!!!
Hi Tracy,
“The Spock protocol” has a link to a video that is not working, when I copy and paste the video it indicates video unavailable. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO7FTFINw6g
I continued reading and the second link did work, I think it is not important 🙂Thanks,
Hi Tracy,
Report from last Saturday, I did use only 5 mins for the walk thrus, maybe 6 mins on the standard course. Lilu and I did very well, we run clean on our three courses, but got called on the Aframe in Standard, so the ADCH has to wait till 2020. I did feel ok using only 5 mins. I will try that again this Saturday when I am at my last UKI for 2019.I am on day 4 of this course, I think I am going a bit slow. Do we have a time limit for this course? I was looking in the User Guide but did not see anything, I did read that you will have three critical elements per day. Am I supposed to read the three on the same day? I have been reading them separately when times allows it.
On the Visualization Part 2, I knew I was not good at remembering past courses. Only pieces of it. So I tried to remember my best run at Cynosports and again I remember certain sections but not all of it. I had to review the video to remember it. Do I need to improve my memory of past courses? I think the beginning is the section I cannot clearly remember. However, I remember more clearly those courses I did not do as well. hmmmm, thoughts?
Thanks,
NelciHi Tracy,
Day 3-Course Memorization. The JWW course, I learned in 3 parts:
– 1-6: 1-3 has a lead change and the 3-6 is going up on the course
– then 6-14, as a big circle starting with a change in lead (6-7) then another change in lead same spot but coming back 11-12, to the opposite entry tunnel
– The last third was the hard part for me to remember since it is a tight turn out of the tunnel to go up on the course into a pinwheel with a change in lead and then to come straight back down. This part was hard for me since there are a lot of lead changes for the dog so the flow is hard in mind.The STD course: I first read the entire course to know the general flow and to know where the numbers are. Here is where sometimes I may miss if there is a backside, since I may go too fast (always rushing). Also three parts:
– 1-5, jump to tunnel then straight into the tunnel flick off the DW.
– 6-10, little circle with a change in lead to the table with off course tunnel (a chute from 2014! hahaha)
– 11 to 18, a big S, or down/up/down.Hmmm, not sure if I have a good method. One of the things I do to make sure I know the flow before the walk through is to follow the flow with my finger on the course map without looking at the numbers to make sure I have it.n I also look at the jumps to see if they are position to visually change the dog’s lead.
About your comment above <<Shorten your walk through process to 5 minutes>> WHAT!!!! It terrifies me!!! 🙂
Nelci
>>Rather than thoughts of fear/negativity/failure, do you ever think about lofty outcome goals such as winning or world teams? Those thoughts can be as detrimental as negative thoughts, and just as distracting.>>
I tried not to think about the outcome and concentrate instead on my execution, so if I am thinking about the outcome I tried to redirect my thoughts to think about the execution.
>> Yes, go for the big goals in your affirmations:
* I am competitive against the very best handlers
* I run to win>>I like these affirmations!!! I am going to add them!! Thanks!!
>>When you say “too positive at times” what do you mean?>>
I don’t tend to think about bad outcomes, so if someone is dying I usually believe that is not going to happen and it will take time, or that if it happens is for a reason, something like “bad things happen for a good reason”. We can talk more when you and I have some time together (I lost a brother and a sister to suicide).
<<So you need to plan/rehearse/visualize more than just connecting – connect while giving the next cue, seeing her respond, then giving the next cue, and so on.>>
Definitely!!!! I am going to add this to my visualization!!! Thanks again.
<<Which do you find easier: short time before the run, or long amount of time?>>
I find it much easier when I have a long amount of time. I need to digest the information, same at work and in life. I think of solutions 1 or 2 days later 🙂 I love when I have a lot of time to visualize and I do better than when I am in the first group to run after the walk through.
I am also adding to my affirmation your recommendation: * I pay attention to ALL the details – I love it!!!
I will definitely try to gauge tunnel’s time!! I have two more Saturdays of competition, I am doing a USDAA trial this Saturday looking to see if Lilu gets her ADCH, she needs one more Standard Q. And in two weeks I am doing one day UKI, and that’s it for 2019! Onto training Griz and more “mat” work with Lilu to improve her A-Frame performance!
Thanks Tracy!!!
Hi Tracy, interesting comment/suggestion. I re-read the material and concentrated on the following sentence: “focusing on many aspects of positive self-talk to perform at your peak and using self-talk to overcome fears, negativity and failure”. I usually do not have thoughts of “fear, negativity or failure”. Maybe the opposite, I am usually very relaxed, so I may need to get more excited and pumped up. I love doing agility because I love the training, going out, spending time with my dogs, and with friends. I love challenging myself, the competing allows me to do that. I trust my dogs and myself, so I am usually not nervous (like I was when I used to run Jetson hahaha). What about “I get excited when I am going to run my dog.”
The more I think about it, the more I don’t know what else to write. I consider myself a very positive person, maybe too positive at times. Maybe I need higher goals?
About the lessons learned on Saturday with Manca’s courses. When I run Master Series Agility, there was a straight tunnel (#3), after I sent Lilu into the tunnel my mind wondered, I believe it is a consequence of not visualizing the dog taking the time in the tunnel, I have seen this before when you have asked us to compare our walk throughs vs. our actual runs. So my mind wondered, and then I was not 100% sure what was next, thus my error on 5-6. I think I just spent time waiting for Lilu to come out of the tunnel instead of getting into position to handle the next obstacles.
Also, I keep finding out that those specific obstacles or steps that are not 100% defined/clear in my visualization is where I make mistakes, like in the 11-12, I know I visualized connecting with her exiting 11, but then my handling at 12 was not 100%, so then another mistake. This is also not new. I remembered that at Cyno I made an effort to visualize connecting after single obstacle, but then I had a lot of time between the walk through and the actual run, which I don’t have at a local show (excuses?). You have heard me say this before. (Below is the link for the Master Series runs in case you are interested 🙂 )
With the visualization exercise from Day 1 “Mental Prep training Part 1”, I learned that even though I need to visualize routine tasks that I do on a daily basis (which I first I thought it was going to be easy), I am not paying attention to details. For example, if I visualize myself getting out of bed, I forget to turn on the lights, or something simple. So it has been a very good experience and I have been trying to practice it more often (but still 1-2 mins, not yet 5). I will continue doing this exercise, it is a challenge for me and I like it and I think it is going to help me tons!!!
Thanks!!!
Nelci
Hi Tracy,
Below are my 3 mental affirmations, it was easy to write the first two but I could not figure out a good way to write the 3rd one. See below. Also, I learned something else this past Saturday while at the UKI trial from Manca’s courses. I want to review my runs and then I’ll write about it. Thanks!!!My Mental Affirmations – November 2019
I see my dog’s obstacle commitment when I am visualizing and when I am running her
I handle one obstacle at a time, focusing on the moment
I am focused during my entire run with my dog and know where I need to be at all times.Nelci
Hi Tracy,
Good point about the locations and timing, I will do that, now that is cold, I like to go hiking with the dogs (no ticks), and I will try that. When I am driving and at the Gym I am usually listening to a book. But short rides to the store I am not, so excellent time for that. Also, taking breaks from work. Excellent suggestions.
BTW, I want it to give you some feedback about this new AU site. I love it! I love that I get emails with your replies. I contacted the help last week (or so ago) and the response was immediate, friendly and resolve my issue. Then I suggested to make the font darker in the Forum section and voila!!! 🙂
Nelci
Hi Tracy,
I liked writing about Lilu’s Pre-Run Routine! I am excited about this class 🙂 Here is my homework. (Read at the end for my comments on prior homework)Lilu’s Pre-Run Routine
At the show walk for 15-20 mins. Dog putties
Make sure Lilu has no collar for USDAA
Physical warm up:
Backing up.
Stretches side to side to the hips, to the elbows and under the belly (neck stretch).
Lay down stretches and sit stretches,
Sometimes at the practice jump 3 jumps to remind of good form with the leash as a stride regulator, and me in front with toy on the ground.
Camera is ready on tripod, notify the gate steward I will be coming since I need to turn the camera on.
Lilu is tugging and I am jumping up and down to get excited. I keep feeding her and keeping her from barking at the dogs running.
[A reminder from Tracy’s notes] A couple of dogs before my run I take one more look at the course and do a quick reminder visualization of my planned run.
As the dog before us is running, I let Lilu watch and get excited.
Move into the ring, ask for a sit at my side at the start line, then take off the leash then lead out while maintaining connection with the dog, breath!!
After the run, reward Lilu with water or tossing a toy, then cool down with a long walk.I have not been good at practicing my visualization at night while in bed, luckily I have been falling sleep pretty fast 🙂 But I am going to do it. I have been having visualizations about activities during the day but they lasted only a few seconds, I really need to dedicate a few MINUTES!!! I am always rushing!!!!
Nelci
Hi Tracy, About the smile challenge, well I am not a fun of FB and don’t use Tweeter, but I do try smiling at folks when at the Gym, it is very interesting how some folks (mainly men), will smile back, some will greet you with a Hello, but women are more challenging, maybe because I am also a woman? I will try again this week and pay more attention!
Thanks!
Nelci
Hi Tracy, Wow, I am sorry about the premature E. I have noticed in UKI and USDAA that after an E, sometimes the judges disengage and stop paying attention to the team running, I believe that is not nice and appropriate, and in your case it caused problems and as you mentioned the potential of danger for the judge. Maybe that can be addressed with the organizations? If the team E, what should the judge do: continue “judging”, or become another distraction?
Thanks!!
Nelci
