Tyler Schardt: The Conference

The mattress is warm, comfortable, and soft.  Smooth in every way, a perfect den enveloping your body.  Inky black conceals the room’s features.  The blinds cut out all light from the outside making 4:00AM look just like 10:00AM, just like a hotel room.  You could sleep all day.  Your body screams for rest, it’s sore, it’s cracked, and it’s tight. Limbs sink like lead into the sheets, heavy with slumber.  Your mind rests, fatigued from yesterday’s focus.  Reason has yet to come alive, but your dreams run wild.

You’re on your game, shooting great, winning the World Championships, setting world records, and standing atop the Olympic Podium.  The crowd cheers raucously, half to distract, half to encourage.  Whistles blast rhythmically to direct chaos, bright flags wave to and fro, and voices loose themselves in the moment.   You’re scared, but loving every minute of it.  You’ve felt the pressure’s rush before and it’s why you keep coming back.  Life is awesome, all the pain heals, and all the toil pays off, years of preparation, all for one day.  Here it is: your goal, your dream.

Suddenly it stops, and you’re left in a bed.

Finally Reason stirs and says, “You have a chance to actually do that.  You dream it every night and you can live it today, if you get up…  Go ahead.”

Your mind begins to wander around the room.  It stumbles across a lumpy pillow, sagging mattress, and chilled blankets.  “See where you are?  See how it was better when you slept?  Go to sleep again and get there now.” it says to your body.

Lastly your body squirms about between the cool sheets, testing its strength.  “The pains are gone!  I am strong again!  Let me move mountains!  Put me to use and I shall create the dream!”

“It’s better to dare greatness than to stay in the twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat,” Reason chides.

“Yup, I agree!” your mind chips in, “Whatever gets us out of this clammy bed.”

Finally with all parts in agreement, you rise and live the dream.

Spotlight on Tyler Schardt

Indoor Nationals Reflections

Tyler Schardt

By Tyler Schardt

Since I started shooting outdoors I haven’t shot indoors very much. I guess the extra distance and wind captivated me. But after a rough outdoor season in 2009 I decided to give indoors another look for 2010. “Why not?” I figured, ” It’ll be a good test for outdoors.”

So I signed up for Vegas and Indoor Nationals in Tulare, CA. Next I built a bow, mentally prepared myself for the tournaments, and took a leap of faith. All that was left was to see where I’d land.

My performance in Vegas wasn’t much to shake a stick at, and I became very motivated. I went to Tulare on a personal vendetta.

I started my first day with a 60 arrow competition personal record of 573. With more confidence on Sunday I broke my 30 arrow competition record with a 295, then I finished with a new 60 arrow best of 584. Overall I finished with 1157 for the whole weekend.

Turning to outdoors now, we’ll see where I land. But at least I know I’m starting on my feet.