wfmft

This is the original English version of the text: There were no give-aways. Belay anchors were solid so we knew we'd never go all the way to the ground, but the potential falls looked long. We couldn't expect easy protection as on the "sport" routes sprouting all over the Mont Blanc Massif; bolts next to cracks, fixed belay stations, fast food alpinism. Homos put 'em up. I don't mean homosexuals, I mean homo-genized men. I mean lame, bloodless snots without any moral character or respect for the environment, climbers willing to climb a route by any means just to be first. These are men who refuse to recognize that other, more capable men will come after them, men who may climb the routes clean. These climbers don't realize that homogenized climbs are forgotten by those who repeat them because they can be done without commitment. So they sabotage their own supposed “legacy." An esoteric, dare I say elitist point of view regarding style and ethis in alpine climbing. Such a position -- held by a few -- is sadly on its way to the tar pits. And yes, Dalmas it means something to me: the title of an old essay, printed in Rock & Ice way back when. I know what I was doing at the time. What were you doing back then? WFMFT

Of course I know what that F means. BE, good timing. One year ago yesterday was the day Zuma transcended ... WFMFT

I think the appropriate question is "how do I maintain cognitive function over long periods of stress?" Few shooters are actually stressing their metabolic systems so much that they are physically exhausted by the end of a 12-hour match day. But as they become psychologically tired, the body responds as it is in the habit of doing. A decent base level of physical fitness will help but everyone knows an exception to this rule. I'd train balance, core strength, and cardiovascular system in addition to dry-firing, etc. Training for those long days so you are not surprised by a decline in performance will also help. How? Do more long days. And train in the temperature and humidity that you will compete in (if at all possible). Go early to the big match so you get over the jetlag and get used to the temps - expect three days or so to achieve some temperature adaptation. Longer if you are going from sea level to the Mile High area. But I agree with Brian, hydration, diet, rest and recovery. Those guys aren't wearing and using hydration bladders (CamelBak) because they look cool. Drink water at the rate you are losing it - it's simple. Constant intake of small amounts is the rule. On hot days you can put ice in the bladder, test results (US Olympic cycling team 1996) show improved physical performance from the cooling effect of the cold bag on the spine (some important pulse points there). Gatorade? Stay away from supermarket drinks that contain sucrose as the sugar component. Sports hydration drinks with glucose polymers (maltodextrin) as the "sugar" component are better tolerated by the stomach, especially when it is quite hot, and the long-chain sugars burn slowly, which helps prevent the blood glucose spike (sugar rush) and certain crash that follows. Most sucrose-based drinks have a strong flavor (which is why one poster mentioned adding water to it). It's easy to get sick of that flavor and to limit intake because of it - a sure way to get dehydrated. Eat for what you are doing. Eat for preparation, eat for movement, eat for recovery. Sears' book is a fine starting point if you want to familiarize yourself with a 40-30-30 diet. Not the best diet for hardcore physical activity but quite useful for shooting sports (based on my own experience). Eat a little, often. This robs less blood from other systems (circulation, respiration) for the digestive process, and you'll feel lighter ... Besides diet there are some useful supplements available. Caffiene is ok especially if you do not over-respond to it. Useful for mobilizing fat as an energy source too. The "Goo" BE is talking about has the equivalent of 1/4 of a cup of coffee (who's coffee?) for each 100 calories. And it is true, if "eaten" with the appropriate amount of water to create a 4 to 8% glucose solution it will empty from the stomach in minutes (less than ten) and shoot across the intestinal wall, ready to be used. That's not true though if you ate a cheeseburger just before you Goo-ed up. Rest and recovery, not just a good night's sleep. If you are not shooting you should be recovering from shooting and preparing to shoot again, which means resting your brain. Why spend energy on how the other guy is doing? You are effectively giving that energy to him, depriving yourself of same. Do only what is necessary. Make picking up brass your meditation. Pretend your range bag is massaging your shoulder instead of driving you into the dirt, and carry less in the bag. Wear a hat. Seek shade. Sit. Close your eyes. Relax. No one can stay "up" all day without some consequence. Ok, time to rest and recover. Smooth is fast, WFMFT (Edited by wfmft at 8:45 pm on Mar. 5, 2003) (Edited by wfmft at 8:50 pm on Mar. 5, 2003)

I used the Sportslink quite extensively after having met Rayma (with Brian) and test-driven the device in the office. I used it shooting sometimes but mostly for training prep and recovery purposes, and ultimately for psyching up to do big, dangerous climbs. I do not have the reservations Brian has about using external machinery to influence internal mechanisms. Because ambition was primary at the time I used whatever crutch I could find at hand if I did not have the time, energy or discipline to solve the problem on my own. Hemi-Sync, bio-feedback, Sportslink ... it will work if a) you will work, and if you allow it to work. That said, there are no instant miracles. If you are not on the path, the Sportslink is not going to put you there. It (and much related technology) can lead you toward fulfillment of your potential, toward your self, toward eventual independence from the technology, but your mind must already be open and you have to be willing. Sportslink is what I'd call assistive technology; it provides stimulus to achieve a particular brainwave state. More evolved forms of brain wave auto-manipulation may be learned about by checking out Jim Robbins' book "A Symphony in the Brain" or visiting his website http://www.symphonyinthebrain.com/ There are a host of other sites like http://www.Openfocus.com/ as well. It's not for everyone and may not help you a bit but at this point aren't you at least curious enough to surf a few links? I don't visit Brian's forums as often as I should so I won't see any replies for a few months. Good luck, and smooth shooting, WFMFT (Edited by wfmft at 8:06 pm on Mar. 5, 2003)

My War, How I Miss It So - by Anthony Loyd. His truth is better than any fiction, unless fantasizing is your gig. Nice to see The Forgotten Soldier make someone's list. Up late? Check out Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, you'll be up all night tomorrow too. Read anything you can about genetic engineering. Those who control the food supply control the politics, economics and future of the world. If genetically engineered species of crops replace those of local origin, whether by accident or design, and Monsanto controls the supply of crop seeds, then who controls the region? Issues (like this) insidiously affect individual autonomy and freedom more than any gun control legislation - if you aren't outraged by these backdoor machinations, you aren't paying attention. Reading Andy McNab's latest offering won't teach you much that's of any use but Vince Flynn imagined a clever solution in Term Limits.

The Thin Red Line made "saving private ryan" look like girl scout camp