it's the taking part

[clickerati]

This isn't about a PB as such, but about a small personal victory.

I haven't shot my bow properly since the Portsmouth at the Weekender on 24 March. Today was my club's first outdoor practice, so the chairman picked me up and took me over to the field so I didn't have to take the bus. I have to admit, I was knackered after just pegging the targets But it was such a beautiful day and it felt good to get some sunshine and fresh air. I was simply trying to get sightmarks for 50 and 60 yards, but I really wanted to do a National.

I tried, but I couldn't complete it. I should virtually all of the 60 yd ends, but you could see my arrows beginning to drop with each loose. I knew I was too tired to go one, so, for the first time ever, I retired. I hate retiring. But as I was looking for the low arrows that missed, the chairman took me aside and said..

"I know how obstinate you are, but you should've quit awhile ago. I can't make you, but I think you should stop now, otherwise you're going to start getting really disappointed."

He was right. I'd already resigned to retiring. So I dragged myself back to the shooting line, gathered up my stuff and headed back to the clubhouse to take down my kit and get a drink. I took my time because I was so knackered and just sat down in the hut and quietly sipped my drink.

Truth be told, I am disappointed that I couldn't finish. I hate quitting. But I also have to remember I've been ill for nearly a month, so it's quite good that I finished 2/3 of the round.

[Tom]

It's hard to get back into shooting well after a long period of illness . But rest assured once your fit and well you'll be back on that upwards curve! Don't over exert yourself though

[Little Miss Purple]

It's always important to keep things in perspective... don't be so quick to put yourself down or beat yourself up

[Ffish]

Clicki, you are your own worst enemy! Your body is trying to tell you to take things easy, and rest up, and there you are trying to get a full National in in an evening!

Slow down girl - let yourself get better and then start from a position of some strength, before you make yourself ill again from over-doing things too soon.

Just shoot a few dozen here & there, and gradually build up to full rounds again, and before you know it you'll be back to full strength pretty soon. We're only in mid April still - we've still got another 6 months left of outdoor shooting. If you make yourself ill(er) from over doing it too soon, you'll be unable to shoot all summer.

[clickerati]

Do you know how hard it is watching all of you get your first classes, especially as I ended the indoor season on a high. I'm stir crazy and fed up with being off work and not able to do anything. I've got goals to achieve and some stupid lumps of flesh are buggering it all up.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by clickerati

Do you know how hard it is watching all of you get your first classes, especially as I ended the indoor season on a high. I'm stir crazy and fed up with being off work and not able to do anything. I've got goals to achieve and some stupid lumps of flesh are buggering it all up.

Have a

[Ffish]

I know, I know, but you're not going to get any class at all if you're too ill to shoot. I was lucky, and I had my tonsils removed when I was a kid, but I do remember how horrid it was having tonsilitis - but it took time to get back to normal - time which you need to recouperate!

[clickerati]

Still, I wanted to finish the round.

[King Custard]

Where exactly is your loss of strength?
if it's in your arms and back - then do just a few reversals each day building up until you can shoot properly again.
If it's in your walking to and fro to collect your arrows- then maybe just get out for a short walk every day (I know you're ill- but ill is as ill does...hard I know but a little exercise might help you feel better and improve your resistance)
You know it's gone out of fashion but lucozade is a brill little tool for such complaints.
I'll bet your diet is suffering lately too?- You must keep up your carbs and proteins.
When all is lost - visualisation is fantastic - i'll send you a link if it didn't fry on my last pc - or maybe file transfer it.

If you are up to it Sunday - take the whole day and spread out your shooting taking plenty of fluids-sugars- rest breaks.
But you must remember Clicki - you are only a girl, and a girl thats not well!
Considering all things just getting to the field and getting your kit out - is deservant of a medal! Do only what you can!

[Murray]

You're working hard rather than working smart. Overdoing it when your system is not up to the job is counterproductive and may actually serve simply to prolong the issues. Your desire to test yourself could be seen to be self-destructive.

Yor enthusiasm and drive is admirable, but you have to counter that with a good chunk of common sense and ensure your long term recovery is much more important than some short term relatively unimportant goal.

Keep up the work, but take plenty of rest too - shooting when exhausted (as you've found) is more likely to knacker your form than anything else, and I doubt that's actually what you want to achieve.