Life at the Olympic Training Center

I'm back at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) getting ready for World Championships in Guatemala in 2 weeks. Awesome! I'm so happy to be back in this environment and to be surrounded by all the Olympic level athletes. (Track and field, Rugby, Field Hockey, Volleyball, BMX, Rowing)
However high my excitement level may be, I've been struggling a bit the last 7 weeks with my shooting after having a strong period of really good shooting. Whomp whomp. I knew coming out here would clean up my technique. Day one the coaches made a small change to my string hand that I really liked. Day two the coaches knocked my bow weight down 4.25lbs and everything just fell into place. Yes yes yes, I'm solo excited about this!!! I realized that my struggles appeared when I started testing out a new bow with 10% more weight then I had previously been shooting. Competition season started and had been attributing my issues to the pressures of competing and completely missed the obvious and real issue. Thankfully I have the best coaches in the USA currently available to me and we were able to figure it out in two days. It's like an elephant has been lifted off my back. I can once again shoot and not have to "try" to shoot. I'm so excited for what the rest of these next few weeks will bring me. Archery I love you.

...living the dream

Strength and Conditioning

I want to give a big shout out and thank you to 24hr Fitness in Dallas for sponsoring me for the 2013 season. Its through the generosity of companies like them that I will be able to focus more on training so I can bring home a medal for Team USA. 

                                                      I am getting stronger everyday, thank you!

                                                      Living the Dream...one arrow at a time

Facebook.com/cassandrawolfarchery

Here's a great shot by USA Archery at the Texas Shootout at Texas A&M this past fall.
I'm really looking forward to shooting this season. My goal for 2013 is to make a World Team, this steps up my shooting but I've applied to the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, CA this summer to really get focused.
I'll keep everyone posted. Like my Facebook fan page to get instant training updates. Facebook.com/cassandrawolfarchery

living the dream...one shot at a time

Training day at the OTC

Eh. It was one of those days. I was either dead on or completly off all day. This in turn encouraged my already grumpied self. Tomorrows a new day and I can't wait to start fresh.
Everytime I pick up that bow its going to be perfect. Everytime I anchor it will be perfect. Everytime I release it will be perfect.

Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow
Tomorrow I will focus on my angular movement.

Monday's Practice

This Thursday is the first day back after break, so I'm kicked my training into full gear this past weekend.
Today I started with...
Morning- off with SPT (Specific Physical Training).
I'm working on Endurance SPT for 30 mins. "The bow is drawn in the normal manner, using correct technique, but without an arrow; hold for 30 seconds. The rest time, between each repetition, should be double the "Hold Time"; e.g. hold for 30 seconds then rest time will be double this or 60 seconds. - Duration 30 minutes.
This exercise must be done with proper form, incorporating aiming, otherwise bow will move all over place when fatigue starts to set in." http://kslinternationalarchery.com/Training/SPTs/SPTs.html
Mid-morning- I shot 100 arrows in the garage at 15 meters. (One & half hours)
Afternoon- Gym for shoulders, Lats and cardio.
This Evening I intend to shoot another 25 (4 ends) or so arrows and an additional 30 mins of SPT training.

Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow
**I worked on my hand position on the bow today. It's starting to make more sense on how to "hold"/palm the bow for more consistent shots.

How it started

An advert in my community newsletter had a small column about an Archery Club forming at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Having tried Archery for a couple of months in High School and somewhat remembering that I enjoyed it, I thought it might be something I would enjoy during my free time.
It was mid-September 08 the first time I shot a recurve bow at the Olympic Training Center. That first day was an overview of the Archery Program and the Clubs expectations. They permitted those interested to shoot a couple of arrows. I was the oldest person there, who wasn't a parent of a child who wanted to shoot. Putting awkwardness aside I put on my best face of confidence and shot my first Recurve bow. Whew, how exciting I thought, but as the 9 and 10 year old's around me were squirming around wanting to shoot i decided it best to take a step back and just watch.
Looking back, I'm really surprised I went to the Olympic Training Center (OTC) Archery Club that first day, from the minute I pulled up, I was an anomaly in my yet to be known quest.