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anotheranonGot home from the Big Regional Competition a few hours ago. Twits were thin because I spent most of my time either fencing or waiting to fence. I hurt a lot, partly from pushing myself harder than usual and partly because I did so on top of a pre-existing sore back (damn work desk!)
I think I did respectably well considering the stiff competition: yesterday I won my first DE (still a novelty for me) and while I didn't exactly bomb my second, I had to keep moving constantly to get the 3 touches I did. Lesson learned: keep moving, in an unpredictable way - this isn't a waltz! Secondary lesson learned: I need to develop the stamina/musculature to keep going. Ow, ow, owie ow...
Today was bigger, earlier, faster, more - where the women's open had 40 people, the mixed was 140(!) and I wound up in a pool with an A, 2 Bs, and a C, all of whom were leftys(!) I managed to hit both of the Bs, which was a great big triumph for me!
Pacing: I think I timed my warmup well both days, so I was fencing at the top of my "energy curve". Bit flatter curve all around 2nd day as it was earlier and I'd burned hard 1st day.
Mental: a bit down after the mixed pool (I didn't qualify for DEs - with that many people, only the top 80% go up) until I learned just what I'd been up against. Remained focused but my brain starts to shrink after I'm done fencing :/ My language centers dried up and navigating the tightly packed venue got more confusing than it already was.
Fuel: diner breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs ~3 hours before start time is still the way to go. Drank more water and I think it helped. Yes, coffee counts as water, at least sometimes :P
Overall lessons learned: 1) Never give up, never surrender (read: give it all without reserve - don't slack when I'm discouraged)! 2) Anyone with a good defensive game destroys me every time - yes, even the 70+ slow moving woman in pools who wiped up the floor with me 3) Anyone, young or old, slow or fast, big or small can pull amazing things out of their hats, so don't prejudge them and get comfortable based on any of these. 4) Repeat #3 until penetrates thick skull :P
I will continue my 3-day-a-week practice schedule but I'm going to skip a few weekends of competitions. I've not had a weekend home in a couple of months and I need some quiet time. Think I'll baby my poor abused feet with a home pedicure and maybe do some shopping.
I think I did respectably well considering the stiff competition: yesterday I won my first DE (still a novelty for me) and while I didn't exactly bomb my second, I had to keep moving constantly to get the 3 touches I did. Lesson learned: keep moving, in an unpredictable way - this isn't a waltz! Secondary lesson learned: I need to develop the stamina/musculature to keep going. Ow, ow, owie ow...
Today was bigger, earlier, faster, more - where the women's open had 40 people, the mixed was 140(!) and I wound up in a pool with an A, 2 Bs, and a C, all of whom were leftys(!) I managed to hit both of the Bs, which was a great big triumph for me!
Pacing: I think I timed my warmup well both days, so I was fencing at the top of my "energy curve". Bit flatter curve all around 2nd day as it was earlier and I'd burned hard 1st day.
Mental: a bit down after the mixed pool (I didn't qualify for DEs - with that many people, only the top 80% go up) until I learned just what I'd been up against. Remained focused but my brain starts to shrink after I'm done fencing :/ My language centers dried up and navigating the tightly packed venue got more confusing than it already was.
Fuel: diner breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs ~3 hours before start time is still the way to go. Drank more water and I think it helped. Yes, coffee counts as water, at least sometimes :P
Overall lessons learned: 1) Never give up, never surrender (read: give it all without reserve - don't slack when I'm discouraged)! 2) Anyone with a good defensive game destroys me every time - yes, even the 70+ slow moving woman in pools who wiped up the floor with me 3) Anyone, young or old, slow or fast, big or small can pull amazing things out of their hats, so don't prejudge them and get comfortable based on any of these. 4) Repeat #3 until penetrates thick skull :P
I will continue my 3-day-a-week practice schedule but I'm going to skip a few weekends of competitions. I've not had a weekend home in a couple of months and I need some quiet time. Think I'll baby my poor abused feet with a home pedicure and maybe do some shopping.
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Date: 2009-03-30 10:49 pm (UTC)Re your killer grannies ... if you haven't read it already, you might want to put Terry Pratchett's "Interesting Times" on your to-read list and absorb everything about Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde. Behind the humour is a whacking big kernel of truth ... most individuals who've had a lifetime of experience doing something (in this case fighting with edged weapons and surviving) can often outdo a younger and faster opponent simply because they don't have to think about what they're doing at all.
P.S. Catalogued a cookbook today that made me think of you on two counts ... it was Southern cookery and contained a recipe for coffee jelly. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-31 02:41 am (UTC)Too true! I've heard a shorter version of this - it goes something like "youth and speed have nothing over age and treachery" :P
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Date: 2009-03-31 02:49 am (UTC)Bill Cosby also long ago had a hilarious bit on the same theme as part of his standup routine: "Handball at the 'Y'"