El Paso Update

Since moving, I have yet to get to the range. Bummer. We plan on getting over to the Rod and Gun Club soon. I am afraid if I don't get back to shooting asap, I will lose a lot of what I've gained!

Take Your Time

I did an interesting thing in this latest match. I shot a higher score in my duel half of the sport pistol match than in the precision half. Precision is my strength, it is what I am good at. However, my precision in this match was not as good as it should have been. There are many factors that may be the reason for this. I shot a Standard pistol relay right before the Sport Pistol relay. In the 150 second series in Standard I showed promise. I had good focus, I was steady, I was fresh, not tired.

My 20 second series was not bad, could have been better, but I am learning that in order to do well in 20 second series, I need to take my time. I can hear the shots of the other shooters as I squeeze the trigger 5 times. I am almost always the last shooter to get a shot off, and there is always at least 3-4 seconds of silence after my shot before the targets edge. This means that I have more time, I need to slow down and make sure each shot is focused and smooth.

For some reason, I have a lot of trouble transferring these concepts to 10 second series. I always have shots out in the white, There is no tight group. I feel as if the 10 seconds race by and I barely can get the 5 shots off in the direction of the target. My hurdle: To figure out how to shoot 5 smooth, steady shots in 10 seconds without trigger jerking etc.

It could have been the effect of my 10 second series that made precision so much more difficult in Sport. I was in trigger jerk mode maybe. Maybe I was too tired to hold steady. I have not been doing enough shoulder exercises. It could have been that I just wasn't focused, my mind was wandering too far. I can accomplish great things when I am focused, tired or not.

In my duel however, I have only a few shots outside of the main grouping. I made a great discovery that helped me. This is not a new discovery, but I am learning that sometimes a slight change in situation can make rediscovering something just like discovering it for the first time. The light bulb may already be on, you just need to uncover it! My light bulb: Take your time!! This is the same concept I use in 20 second series in Standard. However, it is implemented a little differently in duel. Each time the targets face, there are 3 seconds to raise the gun from "ready" position and get the shot off. Simple logic says you want to raise the gun as quickly as possible to have as much time as possible to align your sights and get the shot off before the targets edge. I have found, that raising my gun too quickly takes away from my ability to keep the front sight steady. If I use my breathing as my rhythm (which I do to keep time during the 7 seconds in between shots anyway), and raise my gun in time with an inhale, the front sight comes up right in place, I already have pressure in the trigger, have taken up the first stage while in the "ready" position, and I can smoothly squeeze the shot off, then lower the gun as I exhale and prepare for the next cycle. Seems so simple, but it makes a big difference!

Training at Home

Training is not one of those things that is easy to get in these days. Having young children makes it nearly impossible to get to the range outside of an actual match, and dry firing can only happen when children are asleep. My goals this coming week are to get in as much dry firing as possible after the kids' bedtime. I need at least a few dry fire sessions before the upcoming match on the 7th. I also need to fit in at least 3 good cardio sessions a week and strength training that focuses on my shoulders.

State Champion

In February, I shot my first match in several months, as I had taken some time off to have a baby. Needless to say, the match was not a great one, resulting in the lowest scores I have show in Sport Pistol and Standard Pistol in quite some time. Air Pistol scores were better. I have found that shooting Friday evening instead of Saturday morning comes with its own set of challenges. My focus is different since I have had a whole day of other things going on leading up to the match. When I am scheduled to shoot on Saturdays, I wake up with shooting on the brain and have an easier time getting in the right mindset.

March is the month for the Utah State Championship match. This time, I shot my air match on Friday evening, and Women's Sport Pistol on Saturday. My Air scores were very close to those of last month. I was able to keep all my shots within the 8 ring until the 8th string, then shot 2 7's in that string!

Women's Sport Pistol started out extremely well, with 5 10's . . . as my sighters! My match shots weren't too terrible but there weren't any strings of 10's like my sighters! Duel went better than I anticipated. I had a couple flyers, but overall a good match, much better than last month. My final score was 556, only one point below my personal best. A couple conclusions after this match: 1, exercising helps my scores. I do not tire as quickly and that is one less distraction. 2, shooting air the previous evening helps my scores. I am focused, and steady. Shooting air helps my not to anticipate. 3, if I can shoot a 556 with very little training, then I can BEAT my personal best with a little work!

Unfortunately, there was another woman shooter that beat my score in Women's Air, however, I was able to pull off a win for Women's Sport Pistol and am now the Utah State Women's Sport Pistol Champion, probably for the last time. Sad sentiment, but still something great to take away!

Unfinished Match

Last month, I was unable to complete my Sport Pistol relay due to my firing pin breaking. I had been having some trouble getting my ammo to load smoothly and had lost 5 shots worth of points due to the alibi, so it wasn't terrible that I couldn't finish my match. It was a shame though, because the shots I did get off were pretty good and I felt like the match was going fairly well. Ah well. I guess I needed to learn about that little malfunction anyway. It's all part of the learning experience. I realize that I need to know more about my gun!

Girls Camp

I will be teaching the girls in our ward a gun safety class, followed by a shooting activity. I'm a little nervous about being pretty much 100% in charge and responsible for all those girls. I'm not one for being the center of attention, and calling range commands is not a quiet activity. But, I do like to share my knowledge and am excited to know that these girls will be learning the right way to act around a firearm. So, as long as they are attentive and take this seriously, we should have lots of fun!!

Decisions

As I finished up the match that was help this month, I was approached by the Utah Pistol Team coach. As he handed me my score sheet, he asked, "What are your plans for your shooting career? There is talent there. Rio?"
The 2016 Olympics? Yeah, I wouldn't mind. To make it to the olympics you have to win a spot by placing in international matches. To reach that level I would need a lot of training. It also takes a sponsor because I certainly do not have the money to travel to matches.
I would love to make it to the Olympics, what a great thing, not only for myself, but for my family. To be the example of great accomplishment for my children, to teach them that practice may not make perfect, but it gets pretty darn close!! My kids might even be able to come with me.

Rio in 2016? What do YOU think? Now, where would one find a sponsor...