What is the Point?

It's been a while since the last post. Less archery and more of everything else lately and it's starting to be sorely missed. This week included a work trip to Boulder, but I had today to play so I headed south to Colorado Springs in the first snowstorm of the year. Take a note upstate NY'ers. Maybe it's 'cause summers here are even shorter than ours, but Coloradoites don't lose their shit and forget how to drive the first time it snows. Especially when the first snow is 6". Ahh. Maybe I need to consider moving here.


Due to the low visibility, I missed the mountain view on the way down, but managed to catch four coyotes jumping mice in the snow and looking like they were happy to see the snowfall. Was reallly wishing I could snap a photo while driving of those guys. As soon as I arrived in town, the sky cleared, the sun appeared and Pike's Peak emerged on the edge of town. Was starting to think that the long drive might be worth it. Two big influences on my current archery situation have been very involved with the Coaching Program at the OTC and the traveling teams this year and I was curious to see where they went to learn the magic.  

Interestingly, my hubby's cousin Kristie posted on FB today, "What is the point of having goals if you are not going to truly work toward them? But what is a life without having goals to work toward??" This place is dedicated to that end. 


The tour started with an impromptu a capella version of the Star Spangled Banner with four talented Idahoans on the tour. One of the Resident Athletes toured us around, "All-American" would pretty much describe him. Being Saturday, the campus wasn't too busy, but we did see some uber-fit people in the gym. Strangely, elite athlete gyms don't smell any better than the Y. And, the group in there seemed like they were actually enjoying it. Go figure. 


One thing that really stood out was the indoor shooting range, and I'm not talking archery. I thought the FITA targets were challenging, whoo boy. There was a woman from Kentucky in head-to-toe leather chaps and weighted canvas practicing with a .22, with microphones and a computer system to sense how far from the X her pellet went. She was so still and stiff, one of the older ladies on the tour asked, "Is that a robot?" That's taking precision shooting to a whole new level and I was dying to go in there and watch without the safety glass.

To be able to immerse yourself in your sport of choice is a luxury to most of us, especially if you picked it up late. But can you imagine your life without it? As Kristie said so well earlier, what would be the point?