Training Vacation

Athletic training is a full-time job, I train a lot, 6 days a week, 2-3 hours per day and as a full-time student, a coach, and with a part-time job my schedule is full.

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell

Besides regular competitions locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, along with the unique opportunities of Canada Winter Games and World Indoor Championships, I have been without any break for over two straight years. Personally, I never realized just how tired and exhausted I was, however my coach did. Therefore, I am on a two-week vacation from shooting and training.

There are many benefits for taking a vacation including…

• Recharge & Avoid Burnout – Taking regular time to relax helps avoid burn-out and get us back to feeling our best.
• Overall Well-being – Lower stress, better sleep and better mood will improve your overall energy levels.
• Friends and Family – Reconnect and strengthen relationships with loved ones and reaffirm the support you have behind you.
• Performance – Better focus and re-energizing will influence your performance in a positive manner in the end.

The key is taking a good amount of time off from the stresses of training and competing will recharge your batteries and help you reach those long-term goals. Personally, I recommend at least one to two week break between indoor and outdoor seasons and easing back into to your full-time training programs.

A good vacation is over when you begin to yearn for your work.  – Morris Fishbein

Remember to stay active to during a vacation like swimming, taking a walk, going for a bike ride, going to the batting cages, or playing laser tag. Remaining active will make it easier to re-start your training program after the vacation is over.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vincent Lombardi

Avoid Damage

A bow is an investment and an archer’s most prized possession. A competitive archer wants their equipment in prime condition for any competitions they attend.  Every archer needs to inspect his or her equipment before every use. Damage to your bow or limbs will result in inconsistent shooting, translating lower scores and can be hazardous.

For take-down recurve bows, it is important to protect the individual pieces of the bow including the riser and the limbs. Minor damage such as a knick, small splinter usually does not affect the limbs performance and can be addressed with sandpaper, nail polish or epoxy.  However, you need to keep a watch on them as they can lead to larger issues. Large cuts, loose laminates, or splinters can result in broken limbs or worse and should not be used and replaced immediately.

You can minimize the risk of damage by purchasing simple protection for your limbs and riser. Some manufacturers provide sleeves to protect limbs and risers however not every riser or set of limbs have this necessary option. Riser and limbs sleeves are a minimal investment with huge benefits and are especially important for soft cases where equipment can move around more easily. If you want to provide some great protection for your riser and limbs without breaking the bank, check out the Cartel CR-102 bow covers.

When you buy an iPod, you buy a cover to protect it.  The same should apply to your limbs and riser.