Foil: Coaches College - Day 5…

The longest day yet. Today included three sessions in the gym and a one hour seminar on ancillary coaches information; the kind of information not related to the technical aspects of coaching fencing, but more the general side of coaching such as stretching, relaxation, and other coaches duties in making good athletes.

In the gym today we were given a fairly concrete idea of the types of things we will be expected to perform during the practical examination. Also, the process of the examination was explained to us and I have to say it’s still giving me the willies. At the risk of tempting the fates (who have thus far been very kind to me) I am not very concerned about the written test. This is perhaps because I am studying, the test is multiple choice, and I only need 75% correct to pass. It does not mean it is not a matter for concern; I am studying. It is just that I am far more worried about the practical. I made lots of little mistakes in the practice lessons we all gave day today. Lots of little mistakes can add up to lots of lost points; this knowledge gets me flustered. I received good feed back from my peer students, both in things I did right and things I could correct, but I feel like there’s this ledge I am only barely hanging onto.

There’s still time. I’m also exhausted. In the later part of today I had some trouble concentrating. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow’s break. Time to study and time to rest and get my head together. Thursday’s, and the early part of Friday’s, gym sessions are a review of everything we’ve done this week, as I understand. I expect this will center me even further. Or, rather, I should say I hope it will.

All things considered, I am still having a fantastic time. I actually found myself looking forward to tonight’s third session in the gym, when we finished dinner; more time to practice, more time to drill. I think I have given a good accounting of myself in the time I’ve been here so far. Maestro still teases me incessantly, but I think this is a good thing. I feel like if I were doing as badly as I sometimes wonder if I am, he would say something. The fact that he continues to tease me, I think, is a good sign.

I am still amazed by the level and amount of services provided for the athletes here. I just got up and got some freshly popped popcorn, popped in a real theater style popper, and a glass of orange-mango-passion fruit juice. There are these little bars, with lots of carb options on them, sprinkled throughout the athlete’s center that are kept stocked at all hours. They’re called recovery bars. The idea is that if you’ve just come off a strenuous workout, like I just have, you can dump some carbs into your system so that you can take advantage of the glycogen replacement that occurs in the first ten to thirty minutes after a workout. If you don’t do it in that short span of time, it can take your muscles and your liver some two days to replenish their quick energy stores of glycogen. Doing it also helps lessen the soreness and helps the muscles heal and recover faster. I think that, coupled with the ibuprofen I brought with me, has really helped to keep me on my feet and ready for each days barrage of exercise.

Strange thing is I’ve lost very little weight; only a half a pound. It’s likely, I think, I’ve gained some muscle. It’s also a good indicator that my hydration level is in good shape. I’m drinking like a fish.

Fish, fish, fish!

Ahem. Anyway, I should go shower and get a little studying in before bed. Hope all of you are doing well. I leave you with this to ponder:

What do you call a fish with no eyes?