Fatso

You bet!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your suggestions are on point with the PT folks. They're all for the bike, and as far as the labrums are concerned, the total gym has been my woobie. So long as I keep my younguns from ruining me, I might make some progress! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think everyone has their reasons, and all circumstances vary. Regardless, I enjoy hearing everyone's stories. The people are one of the best aspects of the sport. I think personally, with work & family commitments, attempting to class up might be elusive this year, so I might as well just have fun... So I'll shoot whatever blows my skirt up that day when I actually get the time to shoot a match. Once things settle down a bit at home, I'll settle on shooting one gun. When I settle, I'll probably settle on open, since the guns are just fun to shoot. I'm just sick I missed out on the 40 open gun advertised a couple days ago. I have a metric ton of 155 Major loads that are seriously unpleasant to shoot in SS or Ltd. (Not my first choice of load... I horse traded locally for a Dillon 550 and a buttload of supplies and loaded ammo, which included upwards of 7500 rounds of 155 Major). So instead of pulling them, I figured I'd grab an Open 40 and unload the brass the fun way. I'm sure I'll get one soon enough! First world problems, eh?

HA!

This is really great stuff guys!

I'm not really asking if it's okay... I just wanted to hear stories from others in the community. Everyone has their reasons, and currently, my family situation (free time available) prevents me from investing the time to get to very high levels. I do believe A is attainable without driving myself to divorce court.. (haha?) I'm certainly not looking for validation for what I may or may not want to do, just curious about others' journeys. Oh... and I eat souls at my day job! FATSO

Herein lies the problem.... I already own the guns and gear to shoot Open, Limited and SS!

Oh man... VAULT.

What other people are thinking: Ugh, there goes that 1911 guy. I’m so tired of hearing about John Moses Browning from him. I bet he carries a freakin’ Glock. Actually... I do indeed carry a Glock!

Back when I was going through Pilot Training (USAF), I had a particularly bad flight early in the second phase, after a series of pure mediocrity. It felt like the world was kind of closing in on me and it allowed doubt to creep in. One of the older reservists "Roscoe" was an old F-15 pilot from the LA militia, and he said (insert bayou accent) "man, why you got tears in your beer?" I told him I had a terrible mission, and I was worried I didn't belong in fighters, regardless of how badly I wanted it. He gave me the best advice I've ever received, and it resulted in an immediate turnaround. I ended up finishing second overall. Roscoe's advice: "In the fast jet business, you only got enough time to say oops." Translation: ruminating over mistakes serves no practical purpose other than giving birth to new mistakes. He followed up after I gave him the RCA dog look: "son... you have to emotionally disassociate yourself from your work." "If you dwell on your errors or respond emotionally to mistake, you done made more mistakes!" When I learned to unhitch my emotions from my performance, say oops airborne, and learn objectively in the thorough debrief (rank comes off in the debrief, thick skin required), I executed at a level orders of magnitude better. Not perfect, but certainly way, way better. During a match, if I have a bad stage, tag a no-shoot, miss a reload, etc, I do my best to simply say "oops" and continue to execute. After the match, I'll think about the errors, and/or study the video (if taken) and see what I need to work on in dry fire & practice. I never ever, ever allow myself to "feel" bad about anything regarding my hobby/sport. I will not allow myself to ruin my favorite hobby. As I'm sure you've heard, the match is solely validation of what you've practiced/dry fired, and you should merely observe yourself execute what you've trained yourself to do, coupled to the visualization you conducted in the walk-through. Afterwards, use those lessons learned to alter your training/dry fire regimen, if necessary. They are never something to "feel" bad about. Shrug, say "oops" and get back to work! Best of luck! FATSO

Greetings fellow ninjas. I'd like to hear YOUR stories, and how you've managed (or haven't) to settle on a specific division in USPSA, at least long enough to rise to your proficiency goals. For my story, I grew up in Indiana, and my uncle owned a large gun shop in Wabash (some of you Hoosiers may remember Lengel's guns), so firearms and hunting are absolutely not new to me. Naturally, I've always been a collector and more-than-casual marksman. About five years ago, I was introduced to the sport by a couple ubiquitous border patrol homies of mine, and I started by shooting what I had, which was a Glock 35. I stuck with it and managed to classify B in limited division. Since I was starting to get serious, I elected to start acquiring more sport-specific firearms. I shot single-stack for about a year and the military career and twin 5 year old girls at home have slowed down my match participation, but it has not slowed down my collecting habit. Since I started down single-stack, I've collected a couple of STI Trojans (one from the forum right here a couple of weeks ago--I just can't stop myself). I also found a great deal on a Trubor in 9mm Major locally, and a well-adorned Edge .40 (also off the forum). I've shot the Trubor at a few steel matches, and shot the Limited gun in practice a few times, along with a few practice sessions with the SS guns, and the occasional match with any of the above. I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't know if it's about the game or the guns or both? If it were solely about the gun that was the most fun to shoot, I'd probably have to go with Open. For the challenge of the game, SS is certainly challenging. Limited seems to be a sweet spot between the Open and SS. SS minor is a blast, but Cs/Ds crush your soul. Bottom line is that I really enjoy shooting all three divisions. They all seem to have different strategies and challenges, and the fun factor varies by stage design, my proficiency that day, and naturally--the group of folks I'm shooting with. My worry is that since I'm having this identity crisis, I may not rise to the level I once was when I was hot and heavy with ONE GUN, nonetheless, make A (this year's goal). How did y'all overcome this? What made YOU pick the division you stuck with / stayed with the most? Is it okay to just shoot whatever I feel like shooting that day (for fun) and stop worrying about classification? I want to hear your story. Thanks! FATSO

While the Achilles tendinitis limits my running, I'm still eating well. We do a pretty good job of staying out of the isles at the grocery, and that makes an enormous difference. Weights are tough with a torn labrum.... I cannot squat, bench, curl, and certainly not push-up, at least until I get the surgery done. Thus, cardio and diet have been my woobies. I was down about 25 lbs until the Achilles flare up, and I've put about ten back on. The good news is my blues still fit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sock mod is about 2000 rounds in. Roller handle seems more like a nicety at this point! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hahaha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went with a dress sock doubled up. Slicker than snot! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sock mod seems to be working for now... I see a roller in my future. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whole 30? I'll have to check it out! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gents, a quick update. I've convinced myself I like running. I'm down 16 lbs and 3 inches. Unfortunately, I developed Achilles tendinitis! Sonovabitch! Thus, endless elliptical sessions and physical therapy are keeping me from losing my mind! Of all I've done, the biggest piece is DIET. You guys were right! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm certainly feeling better / more fit already, Which is a pleasant surprise. I'll try to be more patient with the scale! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's been an interesting week. Blew away the daily and weekly goals that the Fenix set for me. My diet has been the biggest change, however. I'm still waiting for the LBs to start sliding off. I guess that's what 40 does for you, eh?

I've never been a sugared drink / soda type of guy, but beer & wine? Love em. I gave up school night drinks, even my beloved glass of red with supper. Been supplanted with water, which is much less fun! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep. Friction bad. The sock on the ball idea is unique. I'll use that for now, and I'll plan to grab a couple of roller handles. Thanks all! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gents, thanks for the encouragement & suggestions. Knowing I'd need an extra kick in the shorts to get moving & stay committed, I splurged on a Garmin Fenix 3HR, and I bought it without telling my wife first. Boom. Fitness watch & built-in, constant, predictable peer pressure to use it. We just finished our first week (the whole family is in on it now) of running every other day (the girls ride bikes--they're 5), and we take walks every day. Today we ran, and when we got back, we took a walk. Wife is totally on board. Cooking better, avoiding going out to eat, etc. Hopefully this takes a few seconds off of matches! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good stuff. I'll get after it then. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk