Memory loss during racing

When I recollect my last two races I have some amusing gaps in m
memory.

Two weeks ago I jumped away from the peloton in the last KM. I still d
not know why I did it (I was waiting for the sprint!), nor do I remembe
10 seconds between the last curve and my jump. I remember talking in th
last curve (wich is on picture), but from there I have magically rushe
to the front and jumped away.

Last week we had a mass-sprint. In the stretch before the last curve
got hemmed in due to cowboys *sigh*. I entered the last curve in tent
(wich is bad) or so position and sprint to 6th place. But I have n
good recollection how I got from hemmed in to the last curve.

I asked friends and they had similar gaps in memory during races
especially around split-second decisions. "Somehow" you decide and act
but because of the strain it seems you do not remember it. What i
surprising that as far as I can see with my friends it is neve
dangerous (as in reckless cutting through the peloton) and almos
always a good decision. This indicates that during the moment yo
remain in control so apparantly you use all your faculties. But i
remains odd that even minutes later it is impossible to rewind the tap
in your head.

Things I always remember:

1. Talking during the race
2. Curves
3. Eating/drinking moments.
4. The last 200 meters

Things wich tend to be blurry:

1. Spontanuous, (split-second) decisions, especially deciding to jump
Somehow I manage to surprise myself (Dutch writer Tim Krabbe describe
a similar thing in his book "de Renner")

Anyone else with similar experiences

--
Tuschinski

Tuschinski wrote in message ...
When I recollect my last two races I have some amusing gaps in my
memory.

Two weeks ago I jumped away from the peloton in the last KM. I still do
not know why I did it (I was waiting for the sprint!), nor do I remember
10 seconds between the last curve and my jump. I remember talking in the
last curve (wich is on picture), but from there I have magically rushed
to the front and jumped away.

Last week we had a mass-sprint. In the stretch before the last curve I
got hemmed in due to cowboys *sigh*. I entered the last curve in tenth
(wich is bad) or so position and sprint to 6th place. But I have no
good recollection how I got from hemmed in to the last curve.

I asked friends and they had similar gaps in memory during races,
especially around split-second decisions. "Somehow" you decide and act,
but because of the strain it seems you do not remember it. What is
surprising that as far as I can see with my friends it is never
dangerous (as in reckless cutting through the peloton) and almost
always a good decision. This indicates that during the moment you
remain in control so apparantly you use all your faculties. But it
remains odd that even minutes later it is impossible to rewind the tape
in your head.

Things I always remember:

1. Talking during the race
2. Curves
3. Eating/drinking moments.
4. The last 200 meters

Things wich tend to be blurry:

1. Spontanuous, (split-second) decisions, especially deciding to jump.
Somehow I manage to surprise myself (Dutch writer Tim Krabbe described
a similar thing in his book "de Renner")

Anyone else with similar experiences?

I remember about 3 1/2 minutes of a six minute rowing race - up to the
scheduled big push at three minutes, then the last few strokes to the
line.

Peter

Peter Allen wrote:

Things I always remember:

1. Talking during the race
2. Curves
3. Eating/drinking moments.
4. The last 200 meters

Things wich tend to be blurry:

1. Spontanuous, (split-second) decisions, especially deciding to
jump. Somehow I manage to surprise myself (Dutch writer Tim Krabbe
described a similar thing in his book "de Renner")

Anyone else with similar experiences?

I remember about 3 1/2 minutes of a six minute rowing race - up to the
scheduled big push at three minutes, then the last few strokes to the
line.

Peter

I've heard that memory loss for older people is at least partially due to
less bloodflow through certain parts of the brain. This could very well be
the same reason an athlete suffers the same symptoms due to the fact that so
much blood is directed towards the muscles instead.
Me, I'm 54 so I can't tell the difference anymore


--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

I recall this effect in last laps of crits and I greatly dislike it. It's
spooky. For me it went with bad results. If I could stay sharp thru the whole
last lap, I would do fine, but there was frequently a last lap bleeriness, a
sudden not paying the right kind of attention, an avoidance---cobwebby. I'd
shake my head and make as big an effort to focus as to ride. If I remembered to
do this: good results. If not I would blow it and end up in the pack.

Maybe this isn't exactly what you're describing, but it seems close. It sounds
like for you, the split-second gap would often be where you made a good move
(except you mention starting a sprint at 1 km to go instead of waiting to
plan...was that a mistake in the end or a good thing?). To me, I felt like the
gaps would mess up my finish---I'd miss the vital action.

But like you this fog never involved wobbling or bad riding. Also, this was
when I was in my 20's. Now that I'm in my 40's I think that this 'fog' MIGHT
include bad handling skills. Haven't been a contender in a last lap intense
crit action lately!

Something similar maybe happens in my car driving. When driving a car I don't
feel as skilled with easy awareness of all around me anymore. In my 20's it
seemed like I easily knew everything going on around me when car driving. Now
my attention seems smaller and more easily broken in a bad way. So I'm slowing
down and leaving myself bigger safe zones.

I've also for my whole car driving life had blips in attention that seemed to
come when tired---but it was more a result of a kind of hypnosis, I think. I
could happen soon after starting to drive and I'd have to shake it off with
great effort. I get these 'blinks.' It's not like dozing off but it's alarming.
I've pulled over or changed drivers because of it. I would never feel like I
was going to start snoring at the wheel but get these gappy blinks instead.

On long drives I also sometimes suddenly realize 20 miles went by and I don't
really recall them.

--

Jeff Potter
****
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Jeff Potter wrote:

I recall this effect in last laps of crits and I greatly dislike it. It's
spooky. For me it went with bad results. If I could stay sharp thru the whole
last lap, I would do fine, but there was frequently a last lap bleeriness, a
sudden not paying the right kind of attention, an avoidance---cobwebby. I'd
shake my head and make as big an effort to focus as to ride. If I remembered to
do this: good results. If not I would blow it and end up in the pack.

Maybe this isn't exactly what you're describing, but it seems close. It sounds
like for you, the split-second gap would often be where you made a good move
(except you mention starting a sprint at 1 km to go instead of waiting to
plan...was that a mistake in the end or a good thing?). To me, I felt like the
gaps would mess up my finish---I'd miss the vital action.

But like you this fog never involved wobbling or bad riding. Also, this was
when I was in my 20's. Now that I'm in my 40's I think that this 'fog' MIGHT
include bad handling skills. Haven't been a contender in a last lap intense
crit action lately!

Something similar maybe happens in my car driving. When driving a car I don't
feel as skilled with easy awareness of all around me anymore. In my 20's it
seemed like I easily knew everything going on around me when car driving. Now
my attention seems smaller and more easily broken in a bad way. So I'm slowing
down and leaving myself bigger safe zones.

I've also for my whole car driving life had blips in attention that seemed to
come when tired---but it was more a result of a kind of hypnosis, I think. I
could happen soon after starting to drive and I'd have to shake it off with
great effort. I get these 'blinks.' It's not like dozing off but it's alarming.
I've pulled over or changed drivers because of it. I would never feel like I
was going to start snoring at the wheel but get these gappy blinks instead.

On long drives I also sometimes suddenly realize 20 miles went by and I don't
really recall them.


Goddamn I'm glad I don't race anymore.

"Tuschinski" wrote in
message ...

Anyone else with similar experiences?

Nope. Every race I was in was crystal clear for at least a couple of days
until it faded like a bad dream and the memories left were of a much better
performance that reality could suggest.