The Contest Lasts for Moments.
Though the training's taken years.
It isn't the winnning alone that
was worth the work and the tears.
The applause will be forgotten
and the prize will be misplaced.
But the long hard hours of practice
will never be a waste.
For in the trying to win
You build a skill;
You learn that winning depends on will.
You will never grow by how much win
You will only grow by how much you put in.
So for any new challenge you've just began
Put forth your best and you have already won.
In the last issue we briefly outlined a few terms regarding planing, goal setting, monitoring and commitment. In this issue we will attempt to take the next step in the building of a foundation that you can use to support your efforts for accomplishment. In the last issue the purchase of a book of some sort for debriefing was stressed. How many of you actually made a point of getting a book for your thoughts and activities? If you have not done so already, please reconsider and do it now. In the long run you will find it to be one of the most powerful components to your training that you will ever have.
Last time I suggested a rest. Hopefully most of you have considered and taken 2 weeks or maybe more of no shooting to take part in other activities. Our next few weeks will be what is generally called a transition phase of your training. We are going to move out of the rest cycle and into a regiment of strength training. Some of you may already be doing a strength training program. That is fine, you can add these ones that I have attached for variation on what you are already doing. For those of you starting a strength training program, I have chosen beginning exercises that you can increase muscle mass at your own pace. These routines are not difficult and can be done at home in your room or while watching TV. Eventually I will be adding some yoga and pilates to your work out. These exercises will be to improve your core strength and help with stability. Now your question is going to be, Why do I need to do this, it has nothing to do with my shooting? I should be doing weights and pumping iron. Well actually there is all kinds of strength training, and as we are starting at the beginning, that is where we are at. We are primarily interested in Core Strength and muscle development at this stage of our training. We will move into weight training as we progress through the different cycles of preparing for our next big goals. And this all ties into to your commitment to your shooting and your training. This is the next step in your commitment to yourself. Taking these routines and putting them into your everyday life. Why? I cannot do this for you. You are the one who shoots the arrows, you are the one who dreams about doing well, you are the one who wants and needs to feel like you are improving in your shooting. You have to just do it. I know that it is sometimes tough to make this commitment, ones that we make to oneself are easy to break, because we first think, I will do it later, or I will get to that tomorrow and of course tomorrow comes and we didn’t get it done and before you know it Easter will be here and the BC Indoor Championship. If we didn’t keep that commitment to ourself, what happens? We don’t shoot the score we think we can. We go out to the event expecting to shoot 290 scores. Guess what? It probably will not happen. You will go home disappointed because you didn’t win, or if you did win it was not because you shot your personal best score. You spent all that money on equipment, travel, accommodation and your time to settle for something less.
By the time I send out my next issue I hope to have a periodization form that you will be able to fill in to help with the planning of your training and upcoming events. This will be a good tool for planning and goal setting.
