So next Sunday is my first competition as a returning fencer. As our club is new and there is no regular open bouting, my once a week adult class is about all the training I have gotten since I started in October 08. I have been supplementing by doing footwork, blade work with a dummy and cycling.
Today however I joined the clubs teenage class as they open bout the last half hour of a two hour session. Unfortunately and hour and 1/2 of intense conditioning and footwork had me beat (have they been going easier on us adults or am I slowing by the day??). By the time I got to the open bouting part, I was wrecked. I mean my left quad was quivering and I could barely move. I was a nice tall target and since I was not used to fencing someone smaller then me, I was glancing off shoulders, hitting bibs and masks. That also could be because my fingers were tired and all point control was out the door.
So, I learned today that I need to build my stamina. That tactics for me went out the door when my body was lacking any steam. I probably needed to hydrate better and should have saved myself for the end game. I just did not want to stop early during the conditioning out of pride.
It was a blow to my ego but a good lesson. I will obviously not have put in an hour and half exertion before next weeks bouting. I also learned that I should not overtire myself in the pools as I will be a mess by DEs.
So though my body is beat and sore, my ego bruised and battered, I feel like I accomplished something. Oh and at the end, when someone found out I was a doctor and she had the big eyed look like I was a celeb. She told me she wanted to be a doctor too. I felt proud and realized that unlike all these kids with their raging hormones and endless stamina, I didn't have grades to worry about and college admissions processes to get through. Heck, I was even done with residency. Well, I felt in that instant like I was already a winner and I no longer wanted to be that age again, even with the resiliency it provides.
01-18-2009 09:22 PM