Fightcamp – The Climb #201

Thursday 10th August 2017

I sometimes wonder if there’s a need to take a day off before a competition like Fightcamp. Yes, it’s a 2+ hour drive but that’s not impossible after a work day. Plus, this year I’m staying in a hotel rather than camping.
There’s part of me that thinks I wasted today. I had a chill morning and didn’t really start packing until after lunch. But in many ways I think this is exactly what I need: a way to clear my mind ready for tournament focus.
So I did little tasks and then packed. I tell you, going away for competition is worse than going storm chasing. There’s so much kit and all the time, I’m worrying that I’ll forget something vital. Considering that the equipment requirements aren’t that much different to Astolat a couple of weeks ago, and even then, with my suitcase of kit, I had about three of everything I needed.
But perhaps that’s part of the ritual – to have my panic the day before so I can then chill the rest of the day.
I stopped at Moreton in the Marsh (a place my Dad used to take us to when he was building model trains) as they had a budgens and I was hoping to pick up more of my tournament secret weapon of yogurt flapjacks. They didn’t have any, but they did have a box of normal flapjacks reduced to 44p. So I got those, but they didn’t last the rest of the journey. They pretty much didn’t last more than a couple of miles.
I found the hotel without issue and after about 50 car runs got all my kit in. I’m a couple of miles from the campsite and I had picked up some school kit for a couple of students so I made the brave (and possibly stupid) decision to carry a skibag full of swords, plus my camping chair the entire distance. If I can’t move tomorrow, it’ll be because of this.
The camp was looking a bit sorry for itself this year. A couple of people dropped out due to injury (they could have still come for the drinking) and so only James, Matt, Stephen and Dan were there. We were joined by Masha and Sasha but even then SOTS felt very light on the ground.
I still don’t know anything about any of my pools. I do know I’m not in Matt and Sasha’s rapier pool as they are in one together.
Nerves are starting to kick in. I’m seeing all these great fighters and despite knowing that I can beat them, that I (should) get a better night’s sleep and have better breakfast, I’m starting to worry.
I feel like I’m overweight (Did I really need that weight vest I bought in Tesco today, given that I seem to have put about that weight on), but then Matt, jokingly tried to push a montante into my gut. A year ago I would have folded. This year, he could push quite hard and I didn’t even flinch. Adrian got swole.
I keep telling myself that these competitions don’t matter, that these don’t impact my world rankings. But Goddammit, I’ve placed in quarter finals in my last 3 tournaments. I want at least one quarter final space. Fuck it, I want a medal.
With a lot of the top fighters not here (Pim & Jay come later today) and Sasha and Matt in another pool, I could do OK. I still worry about the backsword though. I ached all day due to doing something last night in training. It felt like my bicep had exploded. I hope it’s OK for tomorrow.
I’m too competitive to have fun. I want to win. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. But seeing as a year ago at Fightcamp, my frustration with my lack of results boiled over, at least I come here this year with nothing to prove.
But I still want to prove something: that I’m still getting better and a year ago I would have not been thought a threat.
I’m just getting started, and whilst this could be a massive success of a weekend, or an absolute train wreck… I’ve learnt to be real patient.
Bring it!
If you want to follow more of my journey, then be sure to check me on my social channels. Likewise, if you’d like me to expand on any point mentioned above, please say so in the comments.