Travel Blogging can be crazy but that’s why I like it!

Cross Training

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:03:57 -0600

There’s a hug benefit to doing volume and repetition within your discipline. There is also great benefit to exploring methods of external, supplemental learning. I have kept up the repetition and volume that I spoke about in my last post because I truly believe that it is working. Even though I sometimes want to change what I am doing, I am loyal to the quality training plan that my coach, sport psych, and I have built. Instead of entertaining myself with changes to the the plan and process, I have added a few outside activities to keep my mind stimulated.

First, I increased my cardiovascular exercise. This is beneficial in a couple of ways. It lets me burn extra energy and frustration from training, helps me sleep better, gives me other goals to focus on, is decreasing my resting heart rate, and has increased my attention span. Everyone feels better when they’re active!

Second, I have been shooting my bow more. This reinforces some good habits like trigger squeeze and makes some bad habits more obvious, like over holding. It’s also fun! There’s no consequence to poor shooting in practice and no pressure to perform at a world class level every day. I just like it and there’s value in that. Shooting archery reminds me why I really like what I do, especially when I have a frustrating day at the rifle range.

Lastly, I have been shooting different types of events for my discipline. I recently shot an American prone match in Arizona because it’s good for wind training, timing drills, and personal discipline. Sure, prone is part of the 3x20 event that I compete in, but it’s not the same as shooting four days of 160 shots up to 100 yards away. Is American prone always fun? No, but that just makes me even more glad to be slugging away at standing and kneeling when I get home!

Cross training can help you to diversify your skill set as an athlete. It should be fun and educational. This will help you stay more focused on your goals within your discipline. Be creative when you are choosing activities. Brainstorm skill sets you want to improve upon and different ways you can work on them. This is a part of my training plan I will definitely be keeping!

Overcoming the Slumpiness

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:21:07 -0700

Inevitably, all athletes end up in a slump. Some are longer than others, but all are frustrating. It can feel like you’re drowning, or worse about to become extinct and stuck in a tar pit! After my World Cup Silver in Australia last year, I hit a slump. I tanked the very next match and then the next tryout. I felt like I had lost something and couldn’t seem to figure out what was keeping me from performing like I had the year before. It’s common for athletes to have a bit of a dip after some success, especially if that type of success is new. This was certainly the case for me because it was my first World Cup medal. What was uncommon was the length and depth of my dip.

I panicked and wasn’t sure of myself anymore. Did I really know what I was doing? Did I get that medal because I deserved it? Was I just lucky? I had so many questions and doubts that were eating away at my shot execution. I had put too much pressure on myself. Luckily I am surrounded by veteran shooters who gave me great advice. One of our best and most seasoned shooters told me that it was normal to have success and then feel lost. A lot of people feel like that afterwards, but what makes great shooters is the willingness to stick it out. Junior shooters often go through this and then quit when the going gets tough because they don’t know how to work hard to overcome. Many kids find success early and easily, but as they get older and have to compete against veterans, shooting gets harder. Sure, they worked to get there, but not like they have to work to get to the upper echelon. I listened carefully to this advice, thinking I might be having my junior moment now. I started so late in the sport I never really went through these growing pains.

So what exactly did I do to get out of my slump? I was patient, yet proactive. I sat on the range and studied my thoughts. I went over successful performances. I visualized, paying careful attention to feelings and hang-ups in my mind. I asked for more advice. Specifically I asked my coach how it was he thought I shot best. He talked about a specific mindset and drive he saw in me. Then I went back to the matches where I thought I had implemented that mental program and learned from them. I combed over my notes in my shooting journal and I made a decision one day that I had control. I decided that I had worked hard. All of my evidence and digging about indicated hard work and knowledge. Was there really anything missing? No. I just had to decide it was time and get back on the proverbial horse. And I fine tuned the mental plan that got me ready to shoot well.

All of this work paid off when I recently shot the Rocky Mountain competition in Colorado Springs. I placed third overall and shot a personal best in prone. I also shot two days of total scores that qualified me for more competitions this spring. It felt good to be back and have a confidence behind my shooting that wasn’t really there before. I’m not saying the slump was fun, but I certainly came out better for the learning experience.

If you’re struggling with a dip, I hope you can maintain perspective and talk to some folks around you who might have good advice. Remember we all go through it and that there is an upswing waiting. You just have to remind yourself you did the work and give your mojo a little tune up!

Shot Show Recap

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:59:59 -0700

I have been known to sleep excessively before. I might even list it as a hobby if you asked me. But after four days of Shot Show 2012, I have set a new record! I came home Saturday and slept for 18 hours. That’s right, I beat out the last record (15) by a solid three additional hours. Many of you are wondering if this is because I spent many late nights out on the town. After all, we were in Vegas. Rest assured that I was in bed early each night of Shot, trying to get as much sleep in my amazingly cozy Treasure Island bed as I could. I am somewhat of a cozy bed connoisseur since I spend so much time napping all over the world. Treasure Island beds rate pretty high. I was simply tuckered out from working so hard at the show each day, sharing my Olympic path.

I think I met even more people this year than last year! I also got to sit in on the WOMA booth and meet some amazing women. I did a few interviews, one for GearScout’s Blog, which has already come out. You can find the link to that on the LINKS page of my website. I’ll keep you updated as others show up. In addition to manning the USA Shooting booth, I also spent time in ELEY and Howard Leight both of which were fantastic. Eley makes the best .22 ammunition in the world and is gracious enough to sponsor the US Team. I am always proud to represent them. Howard Leight makes wonderful ear protection and eyewear. I use their soft ear plugs every day and they’re red, white, and blue!

I am already looking forward to next years’s show and seeing all the new gear, meeting more folks in the industry and representing Team USA again!

SHOT Show in Las Vegas

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:15:11 -0700

Today I am headed to Shot Show, the industry’s biggest event of the year. Last year was my first time and it was so fantastic that I have looked forward to this event since then. I am grateful that USA Shooting has again asked me to be an ambassador for them. I will spend most of my time in their booth, but will also get to float around to the ELEY booth, the Women’s Outdoor Media Association (WOMA) booth, and possibly Kimber and Howard Leight. WOMA was gracious enough to grant me a membership this year and I am so excited to meet the other women involved. In an industry made mostly of men, it’s good to know you have sisters out there!

Shot Show is also the best place to see all of the newest gear and meet all of the great people involved in the shooting sports. I can’t even begin to count the number of people I met last year. Each person had an amazing story to share, whether it was about shooting with their family and friends, developing new products or promoting the shooting sports for all ages and genders. My favorite stories are always about young girls getting involved because I was once in their shoes. I love to hear about little girls learning gun safety and competing in local matches. If you see me there this year, be sure to come tell me your story! I can’t wait to hear updates from last year and make new friends!

Happy Holidays!

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:20:43 -0700

After shooting Olympic air rifle tryouts the first weekend of December, I took off on an epic family visiting journey that lasted until today. I had previously decided that I would take a break directly after tryouts to either celebrate or try to positively process a poor result. Turns out that was an amazing decision. I did not want to leave after my poor performance. I wanted to come back and work harder. Sometimes working during your “break time” is productive, especially if you were undertrained to begin with. I was not undertrained. I hit another mental hiccup; one which I needed distance to solve. I am notorious for overworking the problem and hashing out everything in a six hour range session. Every day for a week if I deem it necessary. It is never necessary or helpful.

My four week break has been eye opening and healthful. I have been trying to find balance and regain my aggression. Somewhere in the last six months, I became complacent in a way. I achieved some great results before that and wanted to celebrate. Maybe I didn’t celebrate enough when they happened. Maybe I needed to really acknowledge them during that time so that I could move on and work hard. Maybe I failed to put new goals that were challenging into my post achievement plan. Maybe I just wanted a break, to rest.

Regardless of the causes, if I want to keep doing this I have to gather my intensity and direct it at some very difficult tasks this year. There are more stages to the Olympic trials. I need to prepare for those and for future success, leaving the past where it really is: behind me. On the world stage, there’s no time to rest on past accomplishments. We are all constantly pushing forward toward new goals, new medals, new boundaries, new identities. That is what helps us push the limits of the human race and what I love about what I do. It is also extremely difficult. I needed time to adjust to that idea, as the status quo seems to be resting in the past. Now it is time to accelerate forward and push.

Olympic Trials Crunch Time

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:13:39 -0600

Being the physics geek that I am, I like to compare the last few months before Olympic Trials to the moment before the Big Bang. There’s a lot of pressure and compression, everything comes together and then WHAM! you’re at the beginning, seeing stars in your future. The first part of our trials starts this December and I am already nervous. I know from last time (2008) that is normal. I also know that it’s important. Every day I incorporate drills and imagery of trials, working through the nerves little by little. Chiseling away at hidden fears and stress is my way of taking the proverbial pebble out of my shoe. I don’t want to get to the big day and have never thought about how I feel.

I’m also switching focus from smallbore to air rifle because our first trial is in air. I spend a few hours five days a week working on intensity and challenging my brain to focus through volumes of shots. I’m integrating the SCATT system in my training to improve feedback. We had a clinic a few weeks ago to increase our knowledge of SCATT tools. I love the way it tells me exactly what I did wrong or right on each shot. Hard, clear, visual evidence is hard to argue. I need that. A lot of shooters need that because human nature wants us to make excuses. Crunch time is no time for excuses. It is time for hard work and discipline.

Our sport is mostly about the discipline: on each shot, each day, each match. I’m trying desperately to increase my discipline in all areas of my life and already reaping the benefits of it. At the high level, shooting tens is about how much discipline you can muster for how many shots in a row. I know how to shoot tens, the question is whether I can convince my brain to do a mundane task 40 times in a row under stress. I’m working on that. It’s laughable now that I used to hate math homework because it required you to do the same thing over and over. I never understood why I had to do 20 multiplication problems when I clearly knew how to do the first one. Now my job consists only of doing the same thing shot to shot and it is a little clearer why you do so many. Different factors come up. There are unique problems to deal with. I try to remind myself to be challenged by each shot as a new scenario, not one I cannot overcome. My brain just likes to keep it interesting. Interesting is fun and fun is critical when everything is compressing so quickly.

America the Beautiful

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:21:24 -0600

I just returned from Poland on the 24th and then jetted to Rhode Island for a photo shoot with Howard-Leight, one of our sponsors. They make amazing ear and eye protection, but my favorite thing is the red, white and blue earplug. It’s fitting that I followed the Polish trip with a stint in one of the most beautiful parts of our country with a company manufacturing a patriotic plug. It’s fitting because Poland made me feel so blessed about living in the USA. Poland is a land of friendly people, good food, and beautiful architecture. But they have a storied past. You can see the way that affects a country and I couldn’t help but be grateful for our security and booming economy.

I know that every country has good and bad things, even America. I also know that when we travel, we represent all of those things. Other countries don’t always love everything the US administration does, but I find most of the time people don’t hold that against us as individuals. I have been blessed enough to see five continents and more than 12 countries with my sport. I have no terrible experiences to report. I also have no desire to give up my country for good. I like to visit other places, learn about other cultures and come home.

The sunflower photo is from South Dakota, a state I recently added to my list of “Places Amy Has Been.” I found the fields to be breathtaking. I live in Colorado Springs, where “America the Beautiful” was penned. It would seem impossible to forget the grandeur around me, yet I find it always helps to have contrast. This month, Poland provided that contrast. They put on a fantastic match, yet I longed to see Pike’s Peak as I walked to breakfast. So for another month or so, I get to stay here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. With Olympic trials coming up, I long for the opportunity to have the red, white and blue flying as I stand on the podium and represent the good and the bad of the country I call home.

Traveling

Mon, 23 May 2011 03:29:44 -0600

I have only excited feelings for the travel I do lately. I am home for the next twenty days, which is the longest stint in a while. I have been on the road for 89 days so far this year. That means I’ve been home for 33, give or take a few days. Home has become a relative term to me. It involves my favorite fuzzy pillow, my daily Cuteoverload.com calendar, a few good books, and a stash of nail polish colors. Wherever these things go with me, I set up home. They might seem random to other people, but for me they provide some consistency. I never have neck pain because of weird hotel pillows; I always have something to cuddle on the airplane. Last year it seemed like none of my teammates, myself included, ever knew what day it was, so I got a calendar. I read constantly and a book never needs to be recharged. I read waiting for planes, buses, training times, dinner, and to pass rainy days. I like to read in themes for consistency across my year. This year is heavy on the science and biographies. I also change my nail polish because this is an easy mindless activity with beautiful instant results. Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Nail polish colors never are. So for the next three weeks, I’ll pass time at “home” doing the same things I do on the road, only I will also be able to pick up my mail.

Blessings

Sun, 2 May 2010 11:01:04 -0600

It’s warm and sunny here most days now because it is spring. Spring brings so many fun experiences, especially when you are a child. I was driving by a local park the other day and saw some kids playing soccer. Seeing kids out playing sports reminded me of summer softball. Softball was my favorite sport as a kid and playing in the summer quickly grew to playing in the fall and spring. I played any time someone would let me on a team: local teams, traveling teams, school teams. I played because I loved the game. I was pretty good at school, so I didn’t really see myself as a jock, but looking back I see that I was. Even though I played softball a lot as a kid, it doesn’t compare to the time I spend playing my sport now. Our traveling schedule is extensive, taking up most of my spring and summer and half my fall. I have been to five continents for competition. Sometimes that seems cumbersome and exhausting. It can be taxing on my relationships, yet not a day goes by that I don’t feel like I have been blessed in this endeavor. I was amazed at myself that day I drove by the park because I somehow managed to take what I loved so much as a child and turn it into what I do as an adult. Not very many people are that lucky.

Losing

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:54:08 -0700

So I didn’t win the air rifle try outs for World Championships. I didn’t even make the team. That was a very large and spiky pill to swallow. I love air rifle and for some reason, believe it to be a truly elite event. Maybe that is because the scores are so high and because you can shoot a perfect score. Either way, it was a crushing, humbling defeat. I felt like I didn’t do enough. Just a few days before that, I won the super final in small bore standing, while I was sick. I thought that clearly meant I was very good at this. Then I didn’t make the team. How could that happen? In reality, it happens all of the time. People miss making the team by a few points in this sport. There are few large leads and it wasn’t my time. I might have the physical skills to shoot a ten, but I am still learning about how to wrap my head around the perfect air rifle scores. I haven’t quite mastered showing up and shooting lots of tens. So even though I felt like a total failure, it turns out I learned some things about what to work on and do better. I was talking to a friend of mine after the event was over. She asked me how it was and I gave the standard, “Eh, so so,” response that I was giving to everyone to try to save face. She told me a story about when she was little and had skiing competitions. No matter what place she was in after the run, her mom always said, “That’s a great place to be.” I think that is the best possible way to look at it. You can’t change where you are after the competition is over. Might as well think it’s awesome. So I took a step back to look at the opportunities I have this year, World Cups I get to compete in, and the chance to make the World Championship team in small bore. What a Great place to be :)