River has a serious problem leaving me alone while I’m trying to practice archery. She’d much rather I played stick, chase, or run with her. So, self-centered. If she is given a bone, I am entirely forgotten. Until the bone is gone.
It isn’t like she’s been ignored all day. After breakfast we run for a few miles. We avoid busy roads running mostly over trails in the woods we own and along the easement of nearby property. Until recently we cut through undeveloped land filled with trails. Those paths are now unavailable because a couple of guys think they’ll shoot deer on that land.
During archery practice, River needs to stay calm. She’s not too bad so long as I toss a stick between ends. If I fail to comply all barking will break loose. Sticks do the trick for a bit. A bone is better.
Running is part of my archery training. Being in as good of condition as I can I believe helps during long tournaments. If you compete you know you’ll be on your feet for hours. There’s a lot of walking involved.
The tournament this weekend is one where my age group will shoot: 70 meters, 60, meters, 50 meters and 30 meters. At each distance there are 36 arrows shot in 6 arrow ends. This works out to a total of 1.75 miles of walking back and forth. Here’s how I got that it:
70 meters is @ 77 yards. Round trip to the target is 154 yards. There are 6 ends and 2 “Official” warm up ends. That means 8 round trips of 154 yards or 1232 yards. At 60 meters, or 66 yards, the total is 792 (6 ends only – no practice, same for the other two distances), 50 meters, 55 yards or 660 yards, and finally 30 meters, 33 yards, for 396 a total of 3080. The sum of the distances in miles is 1.75.
That isn’t all – you’ll end up adding another 800+ yards per day walking to and from the car, to registration, visiting friends and firing off “unofficial” practice arrows. The total walked is going to be closer to 2.66 miles. Not far to walk unless you never walk a lot. This can be especially taxing when the temperature is expected to reach the upper 90’s while you’re walking back and forth and trying to hit a target with an arrow in between the hiking. Running can help reduce the impact of being unconditioned in such a situation. So, River and I run.
River is a great running partner. Afterwards, during archery practice she’s often times less than an idea spectator. Give that dog a bone.