Beyond the bench. Tuning the shooter

[Fast14riot]

In a former life I competed in semi-pro and pro level sports, did serious recreational cycling as cross training and learned that nutrition and fitness was paramount to mental acuity and focus.

I'm curious how many actively manage their diet and fitness specifically for their shooting sport?

Myself, a few years ago I decided that I must eat breakfast at least 2 hours before shooting time to be on my game. Any given day of the week I normally do not eat breakfast. I drink a couple cups of coffee daily, but never more than 24oz (3 cups) total. It does not bother me to skip days of coffee.

I'm young compared to most here at 41, but I'm old enough now to know what a late night does to me or having that 3rd glass of Scotch. I still shoot prone, not confined to bench shooting yet.

My game day routine: it's an hours drive to the range. McD's is 30 minutes into the drive. Grab a small coffee, sausage biscuit, the grease and calories keeps me full and active for many hours. I know its not great for me, but does provide the fuel to keep focused. 1 small coffee is all I have on match day. Nothing worse than having to pee when they call your relay to the line.

In my cycling and racing days, I would wake up 3-4 hours before performance time, eat a huge bowl of oatmeal to carb load, eat again right before go-time, have a couple beers during (liquid bread), and then go ham after. Multi day events made hangovers tough, but I made do. Then it started taking longer to recover and my performance suffered.

So, how do you prep physically and meal-wise for a match?

 

[RICK SMITH]

Java-monsters and cigarettes. Does me just fine

 

[Dgd6mm]

Right now it's 4:28am. I'm having 30oz black coffee. At 6:15 I'll be at my Church mixing 20 80lb bags of sakrete in a wheelbarrow and pouring and broom finish a little 4x10 pad to move our water system, I dug the sod out and formed it yesterday morning. By 10am I was looking for something else to do.
I don't know if this keeps me in shape for shooting, but I'm only 64 and feel 63. I love prone and positional shooting. Never been one to workout much, but you can get plenty of cross fit training forming and pouring those 200-300 plus yard slabs I did day in and day out. I'm thinking of taking up bike riding for my off time....like we say in the concrete world.....always something to do.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I wake up around 4ish and make a cup of coffee ( 16 to 20oz ), plug in here till the coffee is gone. At 1st sign of light, I walk the Lab/Shep from 2 to 5mi depending on which of the different routes we have, and the weather. I'm 66, retired, and drive a school bus and my gig doesn't start till noon. I drink water throughout the day and like to avoid caffeine after the morning "fix", especially if I will be precision shooting. I do stretch out concentrating on the neck and shoulders to beat back the ever-increasing arthritis ( I am losing a little ground on that battle ). If I decide to take a few days off with the dog & stretching I really start feeling it and it's hard to get up and going, the arthritis has my frame rusting out a bit and I am feeling more like the " Tin Man " all the time....Activity is important in my world and without it, my shooting would definitely suffer.

Regards
Rick

 

[Downhill]

As a pipeline inspector I walk 3 to 6 miles a day. Never on level or flat terrain. Crawl up, down and around to verify quality standards. When I welded, the average weld took 4 to 6 passes. Multiply by 2 (for each side) then 60 to 100 welds a day gives the number of time a pipeline welder lays down then gets up each day. Factor in the heat and dragging leads, no reason to exercise. But never had time to try it.

 

[Fuj]

Nothing beats a righteous morning constitution to get you
pointed in the right direction......

 

[1K6BRA]

A couple of match burgers or hotdogs and a walking taco. If I’m feeling really good about myself, I might even have an ice cream bar.

 

[Rope2horns]

On match day I usually get up extra early and run 2-3 miles weather permitting. Then I hit the weight room and warm up with 300lbs on the bench so I can tote my 22lb Fclass rifle around and look good doing it.

That's all BS.....

I'm old and fat, I eat breakfast and drink a gallon of coffee, good to go the rest of the day.

 

[JFrank]

I stay in motels for weekend shoots, the beds are uncomfortable , the pillows are terrible, I toss and turn all night, drink coffee then bounce and rattle 5 miles up a rough road upsetting my stomach before eating my McD muffin and chocolate milk.
Then I enjoy the day.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Many a long range BR record has fallen to a guy with a hangover. I wont go so far as to say to have to have one but it seems to help some, lol.

 

[david kieffer]

Many a long range BR record has fallen to a guy with a hangover. I wont go so far as to say to have to have one but it seems to help some, lol.

I will agree ,The TOME SHOTS seem to work great. Thanks al .

 

[Fairchaser]

Fitness is one of the best advantages for shooting well, especially prone. Being uncomfortable laying on a big paunch with neck and back issues will definitely affect performance.

I’m 67 and still comfortable laying prone. Although I wouldn’t wish to lay in a shooting coat in 100 degree heat. I want to be able to shoot comfortably for a multi day match if necessary.

I try to keep my shooting day routine the same as any other day. I keep my coffee consumption to one cup and then go to water for hydration. I keep some snacks handy for energy as well as a sandwich around lunchtime. I have a regular exercise routine during the week that includes moderate cardio and strength training. Everything adds up to shooting your best.

 

[sdean]

Fitness is one of the best advantages for shooting well, especially prone. Being uncomfortable laying on a big paunch with neck and back issues will definitely affect performance.

I’m 67 and still comfortable laying prone. Although I wouldn’t wish to lay in a shooting coat in 100 degree heat. I want to be able to shoot comfortably for a multi day match if necessary.

I try to keep my shooting day routine the same as any other day. I keep my coffee consumption to one cup and then go to water for hydration. I keep some snacks handy for energy as well as a sandwich around lunchtime. I have a regular exercise routine during the week that includes moderate cardio and strength training. Everything adds up to shooting your best.

Norm pretty much kills your theory.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I like drinking whiskey all night. I wouldn't even get out there for a trophy tag before noon if you paid me.....

 

[Sandstorm]

Norm pretty much kills your theory.

And kills it on the line too...
I may have to make some changes to my routine....lol

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Right now it's 4:28am. I'm having 30oz black coffee. At 6:15 I'll be at my Church mixing 20 80lb bags of sakrete in a wheelbarrow and pouring and broom finish a little 4x10 pad to move our water system, I dug the sod out and formed it yesterday morning. By 10am I was looking for something else to do.
I don't know if this keeps me in shape for shooting, but I'm only 64 and feel 63. I love prone and positional shooting. Never been one to workout much, but you can get plenty of cross fit training forming and pouring those 200-300 plus yard slabs I did day in and day out. I'm thinking of taking up bike riding for my off time....like we say in the concrete world.....always something to do.

I admire your hard work. It tickles me when I hear of people paying to go to a gym.

 

[JLT]

Circuit strength training 5 days a week and chasing my 4-year-old granddaughter around cover the fitness aspect of it. I don't lift heavy anymore - too many miles on the chassis for that sort of thing.

Coffee? I'm on my 66th trip around the Sun, so I need at least two big cups to start my heart every day. The stronger, the better. That includes match day.

I keep my weight down out of necessity. I played college football and I have the knees to prove it. If I gain a few pounds, I can feel it and I prefer walking without pain. I got used to fasting many years ago - one meal a day.

At this age, I consider it a good day when I wake up and nothing new hurts.

 

[JFrank]

I know two LRBR guys that are wheel chair dependent, both are excellent competitors.

 

[6MMsteve]

Right now it's 4:28am. I'm having 30oz black coffee. At 6:15 I'll be at my Church mixing 20 80lb bags of sakrete in a wheelbarrow and pouring and broom finish a little 4x10 pad to move our water system, I dug the sod out and formed it yesterday morning. By 10am I was looking for something else to do.
I don't know if this keeps me in shape for shooting, but I'm only 64 and feel 63. I love prone and positional shooting. Never been one to workout much, but you can get plenty of cross fit training forming and pouring those 200-300 plus yard slabs I did day in and day out. I'm thinking of taking up bike riding for my off time....like we say in the concrete world.....always something to do.

concrete work at 64 is pretty dam good, I salute u

 

[Link]

I'm 80 and have had high BP, A1C , TIA, Guillain-Barré syndrome, 2 strokes, 3 heart attaches, what's worst is CRS. To the op, I get ready for a shoot by getting out of bed every day.