Tim Oates looks at why you should never give in to that one extra run after you’ve stopped for the day.

WORDS TIM OATES

If I get out early in the morning, ride straight out of the car park and have a huge crash-and-burn, it’s the last run of the day. By definition. But I’m looking at something very different and very precise. I am talking about ‘Just One Last Run’.

‘Just one last run’ is when you think you’ve already finished for the day and have had a coffee, a wind-down and a chat. It’s early evening, the sun is still up, and while someone packs the wagon and you’re still in your kit, it seems right to sneak in a quick run down those trails you know so well from a day of riding. It’s getting late, you should be getting on the road, but what harm could a final run of the day do? After all, that last tabletop is bound to go this time.

‘Just One Last Run’ is pressured, and pregnant with expectation. You anticipate that it will give you the ultimate rush of the day, the pinnacle of experience before the week of work ahead. It promises that perfect ride to hold in the mind… nothing done that day will have been as good. Your position into the berms will be super-exact, the jumps just that bit higher and cleaner, the rooty sections will be that much smoother, the rush bigger and better. Perhaps the ‘I’m missing out’ anxiety kicks in,.