I had a little trouble getting motivated today with the gray skies and rain, so when I did end up shooting, I went to the absolute last minute of light. By the time I finally decided to pack everything away, I'd spotted the grandaddy of all owls perching on a tree beyond my target. I was also nearly dive-bombed by at least two bats. Talk about pushing things to their limit!

I only wish I'd pushed myself a little bit harder. This is my conditioning phase, and I really dropped the ball today. I ought to have shot another 120 arrows, and I didn't come close to that. This morning, even with the rain I ought to have been out doing laps in my wheelchair to strengthen my biceps and rhomboids, but instead I stayed inside and baked muffins. They were delicious and bursting with blueberries, but still.

I am always drawn towards balance. Perhaps it's why I'll never want to be a Resident Athlete at the Olympic Training Center, even though that program produces some of the most advanced archers in this country. The kind of person who thrives in that environment is the same sort of person who loves to go out and train in their sport from dawn until dusk. I enjoy archery, and it's become a very big part of my life in the past ten years. But I'm not exclusively an archer. I'm also a cook. And a writer. Occasionally I'm a student. (Straight A's this past semester even with all the tournaments. I can be such a perfectionist.) I'm also a daughter. And a friend. Who ever heard of an elite athlete having a social life? Well, I've managed it so far--with the help of some very understanding friends, of course! The point is that I can't handle 24/7 archery. I've tried it before and I usually go stir-crazy. Sport is amazing, challenging, and invigorating, but there's more to life than that. So if you don't see an update here on practices every day, that's why. I'm probably off seeking balance. ;)

Tomorrow I ought to be out shooting by 8am, and by noon I will be across Austin having lunch with a friend. Wednesday I'll swim some laps, get a deep-tissue massage, and have lunch with a different friend. Lots of arrows, lots of exercise and rest and good times. It's all in the balance.

Twelve days left!