It's been a while since I updated this blog. Sorry of you've been here and with nothing to show for it.
Winter is over and I'd be lying if I said I missed the snow. The last holdout in the lawn melted today. I did manage to have one last snowball fight with my son before the snow just disappeared. It was fun chasing each other around tossing very wet snowballs at one another while wearing shorts, a t-shirt and bare feet. It was a great ski season and spring here in Vermont has actually been fantastic. Warm days in the mid 60s, bright sun and best of all; no bugs! If global warming means snowy winters and springtime like we've had for the past three weeks I'm letting the engine run and leaving the lights on.
At the beginning of April I began running with the hopes of slowing the rate I lose fitness. My cardio was pretty good after skiing and the plan was/is to run to remain fit and get the muscles in shape for the summer season. I really enjoy summer biathlon races and hope to do well this season.
I've been shooting live rounds on a regular basis. I built a snail type bullet trap on the property which has been great. I'm shooting five minutes after leaving the door. Instead of just shooting paper targets the size of biathlon plates I've been shooting for scores and drills.
One on my favorite drills is just shooting at a blank piece of paper. With nothing to aim at the natural position arrives and the group shows where your position points the rifle. It's pretty cool to see a group appear and they do. What the group tells me is how consistently I re-mount the rifle after rebolting.
Shooting at a 1" wide line both vertical and horizontal is also very helpful. The goal is to hold in one direction only which allows me to focus. After running a few drills I'll shoot for score and see how I'm doing. Scores are creeping up so I'm improving but there is a long way to go.
During shooting I try to replicate the same range procedure used during races. I also try to shoot with a steady pace of of breathing. I also try to make each shot perfect and call where the impact the target. I'm getting better at seeing what's happening as I shoot. Maybe you've heard the saying "perfect practice makes perfect."
I've also decided to enter a few pure shooting matches this summer. The goal is to meet some really good shooters and pick up a few tips on my own form and technique. Just for grins I went and shot at 100 yards instead of 50 meters. The Izhmash sights required 40 clicks of UP to get onto the bull at the longer distance. Makes sens as the sight is 1/8 minute of angle (MOA). One MOA is equal to 1" at 100 meters. The 40 clicks makes sense. To see where the bullets impacted I shot a 5 round group onto the 100 yard target with the sights set at 50 meters. The impacts were 5 inches low. I needed 5 MOA and with the sight being 1/8 per click the math worked. After shooting at 100 I dialed out the UP and re-zeroed at 50 meters. All was fine.
After I work my way to 5 km. runs I hope to start training with combos on the home range. There is an 800 meter trail which passes the range point before winding around the property.
Enjoy the rest of spring.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Nationals
The pursuit was a breakout performance for me. No, I didn't medal or
even move up in the standings. Still 5th place. What was breakout is I
managed the race well. I shot 1,1,4,2. Not great but I figured out a
ton of stuff. My skis were fast and I drove them well uphill and on
the flats. Downhill is where I need the most improvement. Mt. Itasca is
technical and with fast snow has demanding downhills. Uphill I was
fast and also along the flats. What really made me feel great is I
managed the range really well. Misses aside I give myself an A. The
first offhand I let the wind bug me even though it wasn't blowing too
hard. After the 4th miss in a row I stopped thinking.
What was annoying but turned out to be a hidden gem was having such
late starts. I had time to watch races and I learned a bunch. I was
amazed at how slow the elite men entered the range compared to the on
course speed. It was also interesting to watch how long they spent
getting setup prior to squeezing the trigger. They futzed with the
rifle and made sure everything was just right. I do this in practice
shoots but forget to do it during races. During prone I started
slowing down 150 meters earlier than during the sprint. I was right
behind another racer and counted seconds (nice thing about releasing
the pressure for results is I could spend time learning) from the time
I slowed to when we hit the mats. I lost 7 seconds. Multiply that by 4
and its the equivalent of one P-loop. Drop one more target and its a
wash; 2+ and it is a fantastic investment in race time.
I spent the early part of the mat time getting the rifle perfect, the
position the same as when I practice, breathing, and shot with a 2
breath rhythm I use at home. I shot well and while it felt I was on
the mat forever my actual range time (poles down to poles up) was
withing seconds of one minute which is pretty normal for me.
I also went out on course to be the relay of info person to the
athletes from the coach. Standing on the last real hill prior to the
range (maybe 1 k out) were a bunch of other coaches giving
info/encouragement/corrections. What I saw was amazing and put a few
even move up in the standings. Still 5th place. What was breakout is I
managed the race well. I shot 1,1,4,2. Not great but I figured out a
ton of stuff. My skis were fast and I drove them well uphill and on
the flats. Downhill is where I need the most improvement. Mt. Itasca is
technical and with fast snow has demanding downhills. Uphill I was
fast and also along the flats. What really made me feel great is I
managed the range really well. Misses aside I give myself an A. The
first offhand I let the wind bug me even though it wasn't blowing too
hard. After the 4th miss in a row I stopped thinking.
What was annoying but turned out to be a hidden gem was having such
late starts. I had time to watch races and I learned a bunch. I was
amazed at how slow the elite men entered the range compared to the on
course speed. It was also interesting to watch how long they spent
getting setup prior to squeezing the trigger. They futzed with the
rifle and made sure everything was just right. I do this in practice
shoots but forget to do it during races. During prone I started
slowing down 150 meters earlier than during the sprint. I was right
behind another racer and counted seconds (nice thing about releasing
the pressure for results is I could spend time learning) from the time
I slowed to when we hit the mats. I lost 7 seconds. Multiply that by 4
and its the equivalent of one P-loop. Drop one more target and its a
wash; 2+ and it is a fantastic investment in race time.
I spent the early part of the mat time getting the rifle perfect, the
position the same as when I practice, breathing, and shot with a 2
breath rhythm I use at home. I shot well and while it felt I was on
the mat forever my actual range time (poles down to poles up) was
withing seconds of one minute which is pretty normal for me.
I also went out on course to be the relay of info person to the
athletes from the coach. Standing on the last real hill prior to the
range (maybe 1 k out) were a bunch of other coaches giving
info/encouragement/corrections. What I saw was amazing and put a few
ski pieces into place. One coach was giving out technique info. Basic
stuff. "Keep you head up. Look at the top of the hill. Hips forward.
Get those hands up. Tempo." Basic stuff I know. What was fascinating
was when the athlete listened and did these things they noticeably
sped up. During my race I told myself the same things and just flew up
the hills and also didn't feel as hammered as usual. A few of the
pieces fell into place during a race when I was tired and made a huge
difference. Not enough to catch the fast guys from Washington but it
gave me hope and demonstrated I have the potential to find speed by
not working against myself.
Had I not had the late starts I would not have had the opportunity to
observe so much. It also was nice that the athletes from the club I
was relaying info to during their races went out on course and cheered
for me. It felt a lot less lonely and I felt somewhat obligated to
perform well as I went past.
I received an email from my wife asking when I was coming back to
Minneapolis the morning of the Pursuit. She is staying with the kids
at a friends house (the friends are 20+ years of being so) but the
kids are wearing her out. Its her vacation too. I've done 51 races
this year between summer and winter and the family has been super
supportive so I headed to Minni after the race was over. I figured I
could sacrifice 45 minuted of racing for strengthening domestic
harmony and appreciation for the support Jill has given me. I also had
such a great race experience I wanted to end the season on a real
positive note. Admittedly, I am bummed about missing the race but
there is always next year.
stuff. "Keep you head up. Look at the top of the hill. Hips forward.
Get those hands up. Tempo." Basic stuff I know. What was fascinating
was when the athlete listened and did these things they noticeably
sped up. During my race I told myself the same things and just flew up
the hills and also didn't feel as hammered as usual. A few of the
pieces fell into place during a race when I was tired and made a huge
difference. Not enough to catch the fast guys from Washington but it
gave me hope and demonstrated I have the potential to find speed by
not working against myself.
Had I not had the late starts I would not have had the opportunity to
observe so much. It also was nice that the athletes from the club I
was relaying info to during their races went out on course and cheered
for me. It felt a lot less lonely and I felt somewhat obligated to
perform well as I went past.
I received an email from my wife asking when I was coming back to
Minneapolis the morning of the Pursuit. She is staying with the kids
at a friends house (the friends are 20+ years of being so) but the
kids are wearing her out. Its her vacation too. I've done 51 races
this year between summer and winter and the family has been super
supportive so I headed to Minni after the race was over. I figured I
could sacrifice 45 minuted of racing for strengthening domestic
harmony and appreciation for the support Jill has given me. I also had
such a great race experience I wanted to end the season on a real
positive note. Admittedly, I am bummed about missing the race but
there is always next year.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Gearing up for the Nationals
On site training for the US Nationals starts one week from today. Trying to get ready for my first Nationals has me shooting a bit more and trying to become a bit more efficient on my skis. The fitness goal is to not lose anything. The snow is melting and I can make more gains by skiing efficiently than I can though fitness.
The Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire is a fantastic place for a ski racer. The area is filled with former Olympians and National team members with whom I occasionally ski with. Saying I ski with them is grandiose but I do spend time in their midst. Many times these talented athletes has given me pointers and helped make me a faster skier. What I provide them is a marker and pace for their easy day. That's right folks, they ski with me as I force them to slow down and take an easy day. Climbing hills I'm ready to puke and these athletes are chatting away!
Last week it was warm and I was removing a jacket to hang at a returning trail intersection for retrieval at the end of the workout. A woman passed and she skated with an amazing sense of grace and efficiency so I chased after trying to watch and learn. Turns out she is another former Olympian and contemporary speedster. She was also gracious to ski with me and offer a few pointers and demonstrate a few drills to help me overcome a few of the many flaws that plague my technique. What was interesting is she didn't find anything new to add to the "must fix it" list. Either that or she was kind enough not to verbalize it as not to be overwhelming or give me a feeling of hopelessness. What she did tell me were ways to fix or begin to fix a few of the stumbling blocks I have in my form.
My training leading up to the Nats. consists of remaining fit and working on efficiency while skiing and picking up a few more targets on the range. Five seconds per kilometer and one target both prone and offhand will be great. There is one more club race before MN and four days to polish up whatever I can.
The list of "needs improvement" is long but getting shorter every day. Maybe the needs are still there but just like the snow, they are melting away and becoming less and less each day. It is the learning curve I enjoy and I have a lot of knowledge to gain.
I'll post again before I leave and again after the Nationals with a race report.
The Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire is a fantastic place for a ski racer. The area is filled with former Olympians and National team members with whom I occasionally ski with. Saying I ski with them is grandiose but I do spend time in their midst. Many times these talented athletes has given me pointers and helped make me a faster skier. What I provide them is a marker and pace for their easy day. That's right folks, they ski with me as I force them to slow down and take an easy day. Climbing hills I'm ready to puke and these athletes are chatting away!
Last week it was warm and I was removing a jacket to hang at a returning trail intersection for retrieval at the end of the workout. A woman passed and she skated with an amazing sense of grace and efficiency so I chased after trying to watch and learn. Turns out she is another former Olympian and contemporary speedster. She was also gracious to ski with me and offer a few pointers and demonstrate a few drills to help me overcome a few of the many flaws that plague my technique. What was interesting is she didn't find anything new to add to the "must fix it" list. Either that or she was kind enough not to verbalize it as not to be overwhelming or give me a feeling of hopelessness. What she did tell me were ways to fix or begin to fix a few of the stumbling blocks I have in my form.
My training leading up to the Nats. consists of remaining fit and working on efficiency while skiing and picking up a few more targets on the range. Five seconds per kilometer and one target both prone and offhand will be great. There is one more club race before MN and four days to polish up whatever I can.
The list of "needs improvement" is long but getting shorter every day. Maybe the needs are still there but just like the snow, they are melting away and becoming less and less each day. It is the learning curve I enjoy and I have a lot of knowledge to gain.
I'll post again before I leave and again after the Nationals with a race report.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
NorAm Cup #7 ValCartier, Quebec
Raced in Valcartier, Quebec this weekend. Saturday's race was super fun. Darrell, the guy starting :30 behind me had a better prone shoot than I did and moved into the lead. 2 k later he was shooting offhand when I arrived at the range and I slotted in the next point to his right. He shoots RH and I'm LH so we were looking right at each other. He was 3 shots in when I arrived and also 3 misses and I dropped the first two targets. I was hoping my arrival might pressure him into mistakes and soon I'm back in it. I go two better then him and leave the P-loop 10 seconds ahead of him but he is still 20 ahead on race time since he started behind me. It's now a ski race to the finish after shooting my way back into contention. I ski like mad with the intent of winning or blowing up big and losing. Uphill I suffer and going down I try to recover and not puke. Darrell arrives but I was too shot to look at the clock and see what happened. He got me by 4 seconds! I was so bummed but the race was really fun. Due to some rule BS we were scored as 2 and 3. The guy who won was in our age group but shooting an air rifle so he didn't have to carry it (not a big handicap for us) but his P-loop was 50 meters per lap shorter so he skied about 300 total meters less then the rest of the field. Darrell was :01 back and I was :05 off the win. Filing a protest would have been whining but I feel we both were ripped off.
After the race I was wearing a Fiocchi ball cap and was asked a ton of questions about the ammo. The usual, where, what, how good, cost questions. One gentleman, King, in my age group mentioned he had shot like crap so I tossed him a box of the 340 to try out.
At today's zero he was all set with his Federal 711B and decided to load the 340 to see how it grouped. He found me and told me how amazing the 340 was, same POI but a much smaller group and he was going to race it even though he knew making a race day change is a no-no. He had a good day on the range. Fiocchi ammo is just awesome and I am fortunate to have their support.
Todays race was fun too but not the nail biter of yesterday. Darrell won and I was second. I had one bad shoot and that was the race. I'm faster on skis but not enough to make up for the error. Good day though. Getting back across the border was a piece pf cake. Maybe sleeping kids in the back seat helps.
I raced well this weekend. I wish I had shot better but this will always be true. Saturday's race made the training, money and effort worth it. The only way to have made it better was to have won.
The next few races will be club events at EABC and one over in Saratoga which is a relay I hope to race with my wife as a team mate. After these races it's off to MN for the US nationals.
After the race I was wearing a Fiocchi ball cap and was asked a ton of questions about the ammo. The usual, where, what, how good, cost questions. One gentleman, King, in my age group mentioned he had shot like crap so I tossed him a box of the 340 to try out.
At today's zero he was all set with his Federal 711B and decided to load the 340 to see how it grouped. He found me and told me how amazing the 340 was, same POI but a much smaller group and he was going to race it even though he knew making a race day change is a no-no. He had a good day on the range. Fiocchi ammo is just awesome and I am fortunate to have their support.
Todays race was fun too but not the nail biter of yesterday. Darrell won and I was second. I had one bad shoot and that was the race. I'm faster on skis but not enough to make up for the error. Good day though. Getting back across the border was a piece pf cake. Maybe sleeping kids in the back seat helps.
I raced well this weekend. I wish I had shot better but this will always be true. Saturday's race made the training, money and effort worth it. The only way to have made it better was to have won.
The next few races will be club events at EABC and one over in Saratoga which is a relay I hope to race with my wife as a team mate. After these races it's off to MN for the US nationals.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Re entering the US and missing a race
The Western Hemisphere Security Initiative came into effect 3 weeks
ago and caught me off guard. I had just been to Canada the week prior
when a driver's license was fine. Now a driver's license alone is no
longer good enough for re-entry. I was hoping to race in Canada this
weekend but my passport has not been returned (it was supposed to have
been) and I am unable to locate my original birth certificate. Without
either of these documents I will be able to enter Canada but not
re-enter the US. I have withdrawn from the NorAm Cup race in La Patrie
to avoid any border crossing headaches. My paperwork should be in
order by next weekend's race in ValCartier, Quebec.
I am disappointed to be unableto support those who support me. The support of my sponsors allows me to participate and I feel I owe them the best representation I can
give back to them. Missing an event bums me out. I'll find a silver
lining, make lemonade, choose your analogy and I'll soon get over the
disappointment of missing the race. The sting of missing out on an
opportunity to support my sponsors at a race really hurts and will
stick around for a while. I am most disappointed for my lack of
preparedness. I guess I took the ability to move about the world for
granted. I had thought I had taken the proper amount of time for
passport renewal according to the government estimates. I can blame the
feds but ultimately I should have been more prepared and submitted my
renewal sooner.
I sent an email to the equipment sponsors filling them in on my missing the race and they were all very gracious about it. If you get a chance visit the websites of my sponsors. Here are the links:
Fiocchi ammunition www.fiocchiusa.com
GoFaster boots and bindings, Ski Trab www.moresnow.com
Izhmash rifle www.raacfirearms.com
The Ford Sayre Silver Foxtrot 10k freestyle race is this Saturday 2/23 and I think I'll burn off my frustration and gain some more insight into ski racing at the event.
Enjoy the weekend and stay warm, Kevin
ago and caught me off guard. I had just been to Canada the week prior
when a driver's license was fine. Now a driver's license alone is no
longer good enough for re-entry. I was hoping to race in Canada this
weekend but my passport has not been returned (it was supposed to have
been) and I am unable to locate my original birth certificate. Without
either of these documents I will be able to enter Canada but not
re-enter the US. I have withdrawn from the NorAm Cup race in La Patrie
to avoid any border crossing headaches. My paperwork should be in
order by next weekend's race in ValCartier, Quebec.
I am disappointed to be unableto support those who support me. The support of my sponsors allows me to participate and I feel I owe them the best representation I can
give back to them. Missing an event bums me out. I'll find a silver
lining, make lemonade, choose your analogy and I'll soon get over the
disappointment of missing the race. The sting of missing out on an
opportunity to support my sponsors at a race really hurts and will
stick around for a while. I am most disappointed for my lack of
preparedness. I guess I took the ability to move about the world for
granted. I had thought I had taken the proper amount of time for
passport renewal according to the government estimates. I can blame the
feds but ultimately I should have been more prepared and submitted my
renewal sooner.
I sent an email to the equipment sponsors filling them in on my missing the race and they were all very gracious about it. If you get a chance visit the websites of my sponsors. Here are the links:
Fiocchi ammunition www.fiocchiusa.com
GoFaster boots and bindings, Ski Trab www.moresnow.com
Izhmash rifle www.raacfirearms.com
The Ford Sayre Silver Foxtrot 10k freestyle race is this Saturday 2/23 and I think I'll burn off my frustration and gain some more insight into ski racing at the event.
Enjoy the weekend and stay warm, Kevin
Monday, February 18, 2008
Lake Placid NorAm #5
Just returned from Lake Placid NorAm #5. Overall the races went well.
Saturday's Sprint 10k was held in, I think, below legal temps. It was -10 at the
start and warmed to -5 or so at the finish. They delayed the start to
look like they cared but it didn't matter. The two best analogies I
heard about the conditions were "skiing on sandpaper and velcro" and
the snow on the shaded hillsides was so cold and dry you could almost
classic up with parallel skis. It was more efficient to run the hills
then try to skate them. The overnight temps were -20 and the snow
didn't warm up at all. My face was so cold I couldn't feel the rifle
cheek comb. I have never shot in temps so low and the wind chill on my
face going downhill must have been -30 or -40. I greased the hell out of my earlobes,
nose and cheeks so no damage but they were all numb. I had a hard time
speaking as my cheeks were stiff and I couldn't annunciate too
well.Trying to find the normal rifle feel I pushed the comb too hard
and sent my shots right. I'm a lefty so the pivot around the trigger
moves the muzzle right. I didn't shoot as well as I'd have liked. I'm
better then the results show and cold weather aside I am a bit
disappointed in my performance on the range. I finished 5th in age
group less then 1 second out of 4th spot.
Sunday it was warmer, maybe +15 but the wind was ripping. Flat calm w/
30+ mph gusts and blowing snow on the range made shooting not hard but
extremely difficult and frustrating. Skiing into the wind was like
going uphill. The poles swung wildly and one gust grabbed my ski and
pushed it into a V-board marking the P-loop and almost caused me to
crash. I think the wind actually pushed me back up! I was a 50%
shooting effort which I was told fantastic considering the conditions.
I spoke w/ 2 former Olympians and they shot worse than I did! There
were only 5 clean stops from all competitors all day. My zero was set
neutral and I waited for a lull to set it. Since I was set no wind in
a lull I just shoot and don't have to make adjustments. My prone went
well and the first offhand was in a blinding windstorm. It was
difficult to hold the rifle remotely steady. Out of a sense of pride I
didn't just "machine gun" the targets to sent the lead and save time
waiting. Get to the P-loop and get going. I couldn't do it although
the last shot I just sent and got out. Deb mentioned the feeling of not wanting to quit on the range but mentioned it is a race and if the wind is going to hurt you send
the lead and get skiing. Maybe next time. I finished 4th in age and the overall results were not published when we left.
Off to Canada next weekend and I'll send a report when I get home.
Kevin
Saturday's Sprint 10k was held in, I think, below legal temps. It was -10 at the
start and warmed to -5 or so at the finish. They delayed the start to
look like they cared but it didn't matter. The two best analogies I
heard about the conditions were "skiing on sandpaper and velcro" and
the snow on the shaded hillsides was so cold and dry you could almost
classic up with parallel skis. It was more efficient to run the hills
then try to skate them. The overnight temps were -20 and the snow
didn't warm up at all. My face was so cold I couldn't feel the rifle
cheek comb. I have never shot in temps so low and the wind chill on my
face going downhill must have been -30 or -40. I greased the hell out of my earlobes,
nose and cheeks so no damage but they were all numb. I had a hard time
speaking as my cheeks were stiff and I couldn't annunciate too
well.Trying to find the normal rifle feel I pushed the comb too hard
and sent my shots right. I'm a lefty so the pivot around the trigger
moves the muzzle right. I didn't shoot as well as I'd have liked. I'm
better then the results show and cold weather aside I am a bit
disappointed in my performance on the range. I finished 5th in age
group less then 1 second out of 4th spot.
Sunday it was warmer, maybe +15 but the wind was ripping. Flat calm w/
30+ mph gusts and blowing snow on the range made shooting not hard but
extremely difficult and frustrating. Skiing into the wind was like
going uphill. The poles swung wildly and one gust grabbed my ski and
pushed it into a V-board marking the P-loop and almost caused me to
crash. I think the wind actually pushed me back up! I was a 50%
shooting effort which I was told fantastic considering the conditions.
I spoke w/ 2 former Olympians and they shot worse than I did! There
were only 5 clean stops from all competitors all day. My zero was set
neutral and I waited for a lull to set it. Since I was set no wind in
a lull I just shoot and don't have to make adjustments. My prone went
well and the first offhand was in a blinding windstorm. It was
difficult to hold the rifle remotely steady. Out of a sense of pride I
didn't just "machine gun" the targets to sent the lead and save time
waiting. Get to the P-loop and get going. I couldn't do it although
the last shot I just sent and got out. Deb mentioned the feeling of not wanting to quit on the range but mentioned it is a race and if the wind is going to hurt you send
the lead and get skiing. Maybe next time. I finished 4th in age and the overall results were not published when we left.
Off to Canada next weekend and I'll send a report when I get home.
Kevin
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to the Blog for 6Q Biathlon. My hope is you find this site entertaining and informative. The hope is I will find the time to update the content on a regular basis. I am unable to commit to regular or what the content is going to be. Most of the content will be about my experience being a 42 year old self-employed husband and father of two children who tries to compete in the manic depressive sport of biathlon.
With luck and an effort from me, readers will find the content interesting and inspire them to take up this fascinating sport or just sport in any way.
For additional information on biathlon or what the heck is 6Q please visit the website at www.6qbiathlon.com
Take care, Kevin
With luck and an effort from me, readers will find the content interesting and inspire them to take up this fascinating sport or just sport in any way.
For additional information on biathlon or what the heck is 6Q please visit the website at www.6qbiathlon.com
Take care, Kevin
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