Halloween...The Power Pose

Everyone needs a little R&R and what a better time then Halloween weekend. Halloween is a great time to step outside any shell you may have and just have fun. We all look silly in our costumes, so just own it. My costume this year was very last minute. I had a change in plans the day before and needed to find a new costume quick. I was fortunate to find a fun super hero esque costume with 4 hours to spare. How do you like my Teen Titans Robin? I'm practicing my Power Pose. lol

Happy Halloween everyone!

So do you think you're in shape?

Howdy all! (practicing my Texas welcome) :) So, do you think your in shape? Do you consider yourself an athlete? Maybe you go to the gym 5 days a week? Take cycle classes, run outdoors, Zumba? How about all you martial arts people? Are you in shape? Do me a favor all you in shape folks look up CrossFit and hit up a free class. Now tell me if you still think your in shape. :)

Crossfit is a realty check, not demoralizing but inspiring. Its a kick in the rear addicting workout that allows you to really see (and feel) your fitness level. As a wise man said, uh hem, Tyler. "this is it, this is your bottom, don't be discouraged, you will only get better and stronger from this point". This is very true and although its hard to not be at my strongest or at peak performance, I do know that I will only grow from here and must remain positive. My ego is in my back pocket and I am here to learn.

48lb bow... it's going to happen!

Team Rounds Practice at the Olympic Training Center.

This video is from last winter at the OTC. We (Resident and off site athletes) were shooting a mock Team Rounds competition. Lots of fun!
* I'm second from the far end in Black and Yellow.

Strength Training has begun and I started with...

Crossfit! Whew what a beat down and I'm loving every minute of it. I started with a weekend "boot camp" (3hrs Sat/Sun) to get the fundamentals of Crossfit down and jumped right into classes at 7am Monday morning. I've since gone Weds, Thurs, Fri 7am and a mobility stretching class Thursday night. Weekends off!
Why Crossfit? Strength and mid line stability, two key things in archery for success. Strength is more then weights and poundage its also mental strength. Crossfit focuses on these and then some. I know it will make me a stronger Archer. My goal is to pull a 48 lb bow by the end of 2012 season. (versus my current 41) Crossfit makes you push your boundaries of comfort, helping you to become a better, stronger athlete. It's quick (20min) VERY high intensity functional movement workouts 3 to 4 times a week.(or as many as you can handle) They also include 20-30mins of mobility stretching and range of motion work and about 15 minutes of additional barbell work (some days). That's the great thing about Crossfit, its different everyday and you never know what to expect until you show up for class, this way you cant pick and choose which work outs to attend (smart).
Here's a blurb about crossfit...
"CrossFit is a strength and conditioning that combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting,kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and medicine ball training...CrossFit athletes run, row, jump rope, climb rope and carry odd objects. They frequently move large loads quickly over short distances, and use powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting techniques. CrossFit athletes also use dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells, and many bodyweight exercises" - wikipedia

Long and hard road pays off...

Its been over year since my last post and things have really changed.
I stopped training full time at the OTC end of last year when a job opportunity came my way. I still continued to train, but only part time. I brought my bow with me when I traveled, which was every week and worked on bow strength exercises.  I spent my entire weekends at the Olympic Training Center in SD.
I continued this pattern until the summer of 2011. At that time I dedicated more time to training at the OTC and less time traveling for work. I had Olympic Trials in only 90 days it was time to buckle down. My training was working, I shot personal bests in Vermont making it into the 1/8th round with a final ranking of 8 in Olympic Rounds. Next up was US Nationals where I ended the year with a USA National Ranking of 15 for 2011.
At the end of the summer I was still traveling for work and it appeared that this would be the case for the foreseeable future. I decided that moving would be much easier then traveling across the country each week and would allow me more time to train. I was fortunate to find a FITA field only a couple of miles from my work. So...I'm moved, training and working. I spent a week at the OTC in SD the week before Olympic Trials. The training went well and I felt ready for Trials.

Olympic Trials was held in College Station, TX September 28th, 2011. Practice day went well and I was excited to shoot Trials. Top 16 here I come! Unfortunately I started the day slow, and fell behind in the rankings. At about the half way point I started to make a come back, my shots were strong and my confidence was improving. I was jumping up the leader board like no one else and was still hopeful of making it. In the end I was just too far behind and I couldn't catch back up. It was disappointing was satisfying all at the same time. The long hard road I took for 3 years had paid off, because I tried. I gave it my all and always looked forward. I turned what seemed an impossible dream in 2008 into realty. I may not have made it past round 1 of Olympic Trials, but I made it TO Olympic Trials. Next time it will be all the way! No year off, no complaining! I'm doing this folks and chronicling along the way. I want to make a World Team, I want to shoot a World Cup and I will take this journey to 2016 Rio!

Here we go....