A Jaunt to Springfield

This past Friday I drove 2.5 hours to Springfield for my first lesson with Amy Francka. She's a Level 3 NTS coach and helped me quite a bit.

She let me warm up with shooting while watching my style and then she asked me to adjust a few things. She moved my feet so they are diagonal to the target with the left foot slightly forward. Then she had me rotate my hips so they are line with the target. She also told me to lock my knees as part of my shot sequence. This makes me a much more stable base and foundation in preparation for shooting outside in wind. Next up was upper body adjustment.  She changed the pressure point and pivot point on my bow hand and that made a world of difference. She helped me realize I didn't need to pull back and rotate my shoulder as much. She taught me "holding" which is basically lining up a spot on my tricep in line with my bow arm when fully pulled back. Holding strengthens the shot and makes you shoot off your bone structure versus muscle alone. While loading, my arrow slid through the last 1/4 inch of the clicker for each shot. Lastly she helped me with my left hand on my release. Before I wasn't completely pulling it back but she helped me figure out the motion to make it go farther behind me with each release. I have to work on keeping my release hand (left hand) flat and rearranging the pressure on my finger tips. That way the string can basically slip off my fingers even though I deliberately let go of it, and my arm will swing back behind my head, in a straight line.

I would shoot a bit and then she had me watch a bunch of videos of stations led by archery coaches who train archers at the OTC in Chula Vista. They helped clarify technique and Amy also demonstrated with bands different positions and helped me do them too.

By the end I was shooting much better and my bow swung forward easily. She took some videos of me on her ipad and on my phone for me too. It was super helpful to see myself shooting and analyze it. I passed one video on to a fellow archer and he even helped me see that I needed to raise my bow arm because it was tilting down. Amy even tried to get me to raise my bow arm but I think she gave up for that particular lesson, afraid she might overwhelm me.

After 2 hours I was shaking from fatigue. And I got back in my car and started to drive back. I was an 1,5 away when Amy let me know I had left my string and stringer behind! So I drove back to get it and turned around again for my 2nd attempt at driving home.

It was an extremely worthwhile experience. Amy is a very good and patient coach. She passes through my city occasionally so I'll try to meet up with her then for more coaching. I don't know how long my back can handle the long over 2 hour ride in the car to and from but it's definitely worth it for the lessons.

As a follow up to my lesson I had a personal training session the next day. I asked my trainer to show me how to relax and lower my shoulders and she showed me stretches and warm ups to do before I shoot. In addition to training I am eating smaller meals more frequently with higher protein. I have to admit I'm pretty bored with chicken breast but I'll figure out some new recipes to keep eating healthy. I still have chocolate and sugar cravings so although I'm happy to indulge them, I need to figure out what's missing from my meals so I don't crave them. Sweets=more belly fat for me, sadly. And sleep! I need so much more sleep now with my workouts and shooting. I get sooo tired.

So lots of good things happening! It's just going to take more practice and workouts and time to shoot better each day.

I am trying to arrange 32# Kaya K2 limbs because I've had it with my Samick Privilege limbs. Problem is they are around 200$. That's not really in my budget. I put it out there to my family that christmas and my birthday are coming up soon. Gift card to buy the limbs? Why how thoughtful of you sibs and padres!

At a crossroad

So...I figured out two days ago that my unofficial "coach" doesn't really have time to coach me. Not what I was expecting at all. Aside from the occasional tip while shooting together at the range, it won't be the arrangement I was picturing.

I'd rather have someone else coach me anyway (just saying) so no problem, not a big deal. He recommended I find a Level 3 NTS coach. The problem is, the one he recommended is in Springfield. That's over 3 hours away. I sent her an e-mail and am waiting to hear back. I'm wondering if I can meet with her once a month and shoot on my own the rest of the time? I'm basically doing 99% self coaching anyway, and that's what they want. I watch lots of videos of the top archers and although they each have their own unique style, I notice patterns in their form and it clues me into my own sloppy habits.

That being said, I did have an official lesson with the former coach. He had me shoot blank bale in my garage after some fine tuning on my bow. He clued me into yet another aspect of my form that I have to change-my head position. Before I turned my head to completely face the target. He told me to turn my head so really only my eyes are in line with my body and bow. My line of sight=head turned about 45 degrees to my left, eyes in line with the target but peered down, string to the front right side of my nose, string between inside right of the riser (and to the left of the sight aperture?).

My clicker is back on my bow and not near the struggle it use to be. Since changing my anchor point to farther back under my chin, I've increased my draw length to 28". So now my arrows are too short but I won't order more until I'm ready for a new set of limbs. I can make due for now with the current arrows because my budget dictates it.

My homework is to practice 3 times a week, 50 arrows very close to a blank bale. It's the only way to know what I'm doing wrong.

So today at the range I tried to apply everything that I had picked up in my lesson. I watched my arrow dance around that elusive bulls eye. I did manage to zero in on it a few times but for the most part, there was always something missing in my form. After an hour, and I'm pretty sure more than 50 shots, I called it in.

This is where it gets hard. I've sort of hurtled through this summer trying to accomplish goals all over the place as fast as I can. I'm constantly reminded to master each stage before moving up in draw weight or equipment. I'm constantly frustrated with seeing how I should be shooting and trying it for myself and not being able to shoot that way. 

I'm not even going to mention what my job situation has been lately. Fingers crossed I'm headed to a better company soon.

I've turned my hobby into something more than a hobby. Just like I'm trying to figure out my form, my release and how to make the dang arrow go where I want it to, I'm trying to juggle multiple things going on in other parts of my life. It's pretty exhausting and overwhelming to think about it all at once.

I simply don't want to lose the enjoyment and the fun part of this sport even if I don't see leaps and bounds every practice. Archery has filled my life and given me lots of joy and fulfillment where my marriage used to, but I am not married to this sport-yet. Sometimes the practices are draining, other times they are empowering and up lifting. Today I really had to trudge through the practice and motions seeing incremental progress, rather than the leaps and bounds I'd rather make. I'm definitely getting familiar with the daily grind that comes with learning any sport out there.

Trying to find a way through it all, with my sport and my life in general. All that being said, I will be competing in an indoor tournament on January 9. It will only be at 20 yards but apparently that's pretty far as my crazy arrows remind me. It will be good to get some concrete feedback with scores to measure my progress. I'm planning a tiny reward for myself after completing my first competition.