HOWEVER It is now time to train for Crown. No announcement has
been made as to where or what weekend Crown will be held (which is late, it was
due 8/15). However by rule it is supposed to be either the last Saturday in
October , alternately the first Saturday in November (which would suck, that's
opening day of deer season). So going on the premise that it will be on October
25 (as early as it can be) there are 61 days until crown. I started training
yesterday.
WORKOUTS
I ran a mud race in June, and I walked all over Pennsic, and
I went on a back-country horseback pack trip (more work than you would think)
but all I've actually been doing for workouts in 50 pushups every day. Haven't
skipped once.
FIGHTING
I fought in all the open heavy combat battles at Pennsic,
plus the allied champions battle (as Queen's Champion of CAID). I fought with
spear in most of them and got lots of kills. I did pickups and did really well
against both the King of An Tir and the King of Atenveldt, but got worked over
by a squire from Meridies. All in all a pretty good Pennsic. I lost weight
which I promptly gained back driving cross country.
Yesterday was the barbecue and practice out at Count Horic's
on Long Island. We knights spent the first half of it teaching. We started out
with two group lessons, spear drills and footwork drills. Then we broke into
groups and ran pairs of fighters through various drills: I ran the
strike/thrust drills: Teric ran block/strike drills, Gui ran more footwork
drills, Mordreth ran Man on ground drills, and Horic floated and worked on
technique.
Then we held a few melees, including a roman melee.
Then we ran the Beau Geste Tournament. Myself and Sir Jabril
were in armor and fighting. We advanced to the Semi finals but withdrew,
leaving Tycho and Conrad to fight for the honor of facing Nicolai Wegener in
finals. Nicolai beat Tycho 3-2.
I got some good pickups in and some good fights in the
tournament. When I was wearing my breast plate I was totally gasping for air,
but once I took it off and picked up my shield I had my wind. Because I had
given my bauzibands to Torvaldr after Pennsic to be re-sized, I had to borrow
vambraces, which really slowed me down.
TRAINING
Counting yesterday, I plan to be in armor 16 times before crown. That's basically twice a week. I will lift or do some Cross fit training 16 times and have at least ten cardio days. I will fight at Barleycorn, Cloisters, hopefully at Great Western War, and maybe at the Roses tourney, River War, and/or Fiery Beast.
There are 61 days until crown (we think). My next time in
armor will be this Sunday, assuming there is actually a practice anywhere
nearby, it being Labor Day Weekend.