As mentioned on Thursday, I’m not running this weekend to give my legs a rest and a chance to sort themselves out, nor am I going to the gym. So in a kind of cross-training (also due to coincidental scheduling), today was shooting and tomorrow is archery.
After reading a number of articles and threads Runners World UK and obtaining advice from a few knowledgeable people on the forums there, yesterday I rang a sports physiotherapist near to where I live, and have booked myself an appointment to see them on Wednesday afternoon as they think my description justifies at least an initial examination. The BUPA plan my company provides does cover this physio, but I need a GP referral in order to claim the costs back. Rather than take time off work to see a GP just so that I can then take time off work at a later date to see a physio – all just to see if I need to see a physio at all – I’m going to pay for an initial consultation myself and then, if required, see the GP and obtain a referral for subsequent treatment. Life’s too short.
Today was my fullbore target rifle club’s regular meeting though, as I’ve been running on empty all week through lack of sleep, I slept in until I woke up naturally: it felt great. Disappointingly, I realised that I’d not shot since May – at the Army Target Shooting Club’s annual Target Rifle Open (ATSC TR Open) national civilian and military competition at NRA Bisley. That Open was my first non-club competition and – considering none of my clubmates were shooting with me and British shooters have a reputation for being a rude, surly lot – it was quite a nervous experience, which turned out to be largely unfounded fears. A large part of my time away from shooting was down to the stomach problems I’ve had for much of the year, which I seem to be able to manage now – I just need to remember that I’m sensitive to certain foods/chemicals.
I mentioned once before that I find it difficult to call archery a sport (and by extension, myself an athlete), but target rifle makes archery look positively athletic. TR sees the competitor lay flat on their belly for the duration of shooting – in fact, moving your position at all will negatively impact your final score. The duration of a shoot can be anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on how many rounds one is shooting, how many shooters are on the line, etc. Bearing in mind it’s been over 5 months since I’ve squeezed a trigger, I was quite happy with my second shoot, scoring 42.2 (out of a possible 51) @ 600m. This was not far off my personal best of 45.4 @ 500m – achieved at the ATSC TR Open mentioned above.
As with archery, I won’t mention shooting much in this blog, as it is also a skill sport, rather than a fitness one. However, just as with archery, there are definite advantages to be had by developing certain upper body and arm muscle groups, so my gym programme will benefit my archery and my shooting.
I’m very much looking forward to running again on Tuesday. I must be ill… 
