anotheranon | nightmare before Nationals

It's down to the last week (I fly out Saturday) and I'm mostly good.

Physically, I feel ok. Adding some yoga to stretch my back has made a noticeable difference, and I'm still doing the foot/leg exercises every time I practice. My endurance is improving, and my clubmates say I've improved as well. I'm trying to believe that without letting it go to my head!

Mentally I've been trying to take the attitude of "make them work" to the strip every time, 'cos my habit of holding back (to conserve energy) until I'm 3 touches against isn't working :P I'm definitely not going in with the overconfidence of my last competition - the way I figure it, everyone in TX next week had to qualify same as me, and I barely slipped in under the rope. I'll be lucky if I win even one bout in pools (though I admit I really want to!)

Nah, most of my nerves are about getting there and having my equipment in order. I've had nightmares (really!) of either forgetting my equipment, breaking it, or forgetting/breaking it and scrambling to get it fixed before strip time :P

In reality, everything is working, but I'm regretting not getting there 2 days before I fence rather than 1 - I'm going to have to play in the airport/fly half the day, check into hotel, go straight to the venue for weapons check, eat something and get back to the hotel, hopefully to be asleep early because check-in the next morning opens at 7(!) and I'll need to get up in time to get dressed, eat something (assuming there's anything available), and get to the venue in time to check in and warm up (aaaaa!) before actual fencing starts.

Oh, yeah, and I'm parrying in my sleep again.

It will turn out well.