Tuesday 7th November 2017

I ache.
I cannot tell you how tired my body feels.  I woke up this morning feeling as tired as I did when I went to bed.
Someone pointed out to me that it’s probably adrenaline.  I’ve been hyped up for competition and now it’s over I’ve just slumped.  I feel like I need a holiday even though I have to remind myself that I’ve been away to both Sweden and Romania in the last month.
And as I recover, so my focus begins to switch.  I still have two competitions this month but in terms of pure focus (as you can see in The Climb) it’s all been building towards Swordfish.  Now that’s over, there are a couple of immediate things I need to focus on.
First is health.  I increased my carbs in the lead up to tournament, and especially in the week between Wessex Reading and Swordfish I was eating a lot.  I think this really aided my recovery between tournaments but it put on a little weight.  My weight massively yo-yos at the best of times, and whilst I went into Swordfish feeling fighting fit, I’ve been feeling a bit fat.
So come my return I’m hardcore on diet.  My plan is to lose this extra weight I’ve gained recently and be lean in time for xmas.  I don’t think it should be too hard.  I just have to avoid those healthy extras I sometimes have to aid my fighting.  That said, not having a chocolate milk after the gym was really difficult.  But I managed it!
The other thing I need to start focusing on is Book 2.  I’ve delayed starting on the edits for over a month now due to travel and tournaments, but after having bought a sword and having no money now, I think a few cheap weekends working on draft 2 would be a good thing.
And whilst I may not have been focused on it the last month, I have been thinking about it.  I’ve had a few ideas on how to better present the main character.  Ironically, some of them match my own life right now.
Despite the broken thumb, a thigh that looks like it’s been repeatedly assaulted by a crowbar, and an exhaustion that feels it will never leave me, things are really good right now.  Certainly not perfect, but then when is it ever?
At this time of the year, I’m very much looking back at the prior year and looking at how well I’ve accomplished my goals.  Swordfighting has been terrific and I’ve far excelled my stupidly ambitious aims  (I do chuckle that people questioned them a year ago!).
The only thing that’s really missing from this year is Black as Knight.  There are still two months left and I hope it doesn’t need any more edits but it would be great if this year finished off with progress on that.
In the meantime I need to put my head down and get book 2 done.  The year has been incredibly challenging but in a good way.  I’ve pushed myself until I feel I’m almost drowning only to find myself swimming.  Some goals have already been accomplished, there’s still a few more left to do.  And in those last 2 months I intend to get them done.
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.

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