Last night with had dinner with friends. Everyone attending is a natural athlete with the possible exception of me. Honestly, these people are amazingly fit.
The group was mixed regarding sports. The group contained a rock climber, a cyclist, two runners, a yoga instructor and me. All of these athletes are older that 62 years of age. Everyone had trained before dinner. I think I was the only person there who was tired.
I do train hard. At least it is hard for me. Unless I’d taking a day specifically allocated as a recover day I shoot my Olympic recurve ((43.6# draw weight) two to six hours a day. The six-hour days are rare as are the two-hour days. When I’m shooting I burn about 320 calories per hour. Less than half of what I’d burn riding a bicycle or running.
I run and ride nearly everyday. I break that up into two sessions. I run in the morning after a 30-minute stretch and ride for 30 – 60 minutes in the mid-afternoon before my second practice shooting a bow. It is rare to miss the 30-minute stretch and rare not to run. Some days I do miss cycling despite it being part of my training play. That typically occurs when some ‘can’t be put off any longer’ chore infringes on the time. I also lift weights two to three days per week. To wear me out even more I train with a speed rope four time per week doing so after running.
With all that effort you’d think I might be tired from time to time. You would be correct. But, the people at this dinner party didn’t seem phased by their athletic efforts.
The 63-year-old rock climber looked as if he could start climbing a wall without breaking a sweat. The yoga instructor and cyclist seemed full of energy. The runner looked as if she could head out for a marathon after dessert. The other runner gave me frequent looks of understanding and pity. I felt like a nap would be nice.
To make is worse I wasn’t even the oldest in the crowd. Two of these athletes are older than me. One fellow in the mid 70’s probably has a 4% fat content and could run circles around me. I have a 12% body fat content. When I raced I was down to 6%. Thanks, archery.
I shouldn’t blame archery. I blame the reduction in the level of cardio training I now do. But, 12% body fat is considered athletic. I don’t feel athletic, I feel tried.
In order to get the correct amount of the right caloric intake per day I record everything I eat and drink as input and all exercise is recorded as output. Nothing every changes.
The athletes eating dinner I expect eat what they want and as much as they want. Heck, the rock climber consumed more than double my portions.
Over the last 9.5 days of training I averaged 190 arrows per day. This morning the schedule was for 90 arrows. I stopped at 52. I was too tired and my average score per arrow was awful. I consider working through the fatigue then threw in the towel. I has been four days since my last full recover day.
During dinner I didn’t have much to say. I was too tired to talk. There was plenty of conversation around me so I politely smiled and provided approving monosyllable grunts. All the while being envious of the energy I didn’t have to share.
I writing this now because I cut the morning practice short. Once I’m done I’ll have lunch and that nap.
Adjusting your sight isn’t something that needs to be done on every shot. If you fling a bad arrow it really might be you not the sight. But, shoot enough and you’ll feel when it is you versus the need to make an adjustment.
