I found myself going for a strong long lunge attack, instead of stopping with my leading leg and break on my heel, I continued to slide forward and do the splits! How graceful was I who knows, but yes the director said "Halt!" and the director said, "Attack good. Touch right!" Meanwhile in the seconds of my continued motion I felt a pull on my hamstring as the director asked, "Are you ok?" Yes I thought. I won the bout, but then as I am slightly gimping away from the strip I realize, "Hmmmmm, I think I am hurt." I have DE's to finish and I'm wondering, "Can I continue my best?" Well, if you compete at anything doubt is your worst enemy! So I continue to find my way to the trainer and explain. Lots of ice and some stretching. We think there is no tear, but probably a pulled muscle. Finally my name is called and I am not feeling ready for this. "Fencers ready? Fence!" My mind is in a maze of, "Can I lunge? I have defeated her before--this hurts--shut up and fence!" My mind says to me: "The score is 2 to seven. Yes, but no problem, I have been down many times before. I think, now just go for it!' I lunge, it hurts on my recovery, but I got the touch, again, and again the score is now 6 to 7. I begin and out of nowhere doubt appears to challenge my confidence. Did it win today? Yes, by mental and physical distraction. I lost that bout that normally I would have taken. I allowed doubt to win.
Later I discovered by my confusion as to how could have slid so quickly on the strip,my director explained that while in the midst of a lunge,I apparently landed on the barrel of her weapon and well,the rest is history. :)
Best wishes
5 months ago
