TRAINING LEAD-UP
Tuesday, Sept 22:
Glute and pec PT v2 in 26:56, 2K medium intensity row on the Aivron with 8/16 resistance, 24spm, in 10:05 to get a little stimulus but nothing crazy. 10 min arm strengtheners afterwards.
Wednesday, Sept 23:
Did the comparison of the POI shift between occluded vs non-occluded pistol red dot, at 7yd. I used ball-and-dummy to make sure I kept myself honest. I alternated between occluded vs non-occluded every other mag, with 4 mags total, so that warming up wouldn't be as much of a factor, either. Who knows if there's still a little confirmation bias going on... you can't do a blind study, though, since your eyes see whether it's occluded.
I zeroed my backup pistol, since I had re-installed its plate and optic. I did the reverse adjustments of what I had had to do for the other pistol, since they had swapped optics, and that worked, which is good, since that's the way it should be.
Then, I zeroed the rifle that I'd be using for TTG. I was fine with the LPVO, but I did make adjustments to the red dot to get a good 25yd zero.
Afterwards, I did some training with Emily. Nothing crazy or too fatiguing, just focusing on the basics and reinforcing confidence. We worked on transitions at 7yd, 10yd, and 12yd. Then, we worked on doubles. We discussed 1-handed shooting techniques at the end.
I gave my backup pistol a good cleaning, since its reset was slow today. I had cleaned and oiled it after my last session, so I didn't think it was a lube issue.
Thursday, Sept 24:
Went to zero my backup rifle for TTG with a quick trip to Blackstone, now that it was back from BCM (with a replaced gas block, swapped muzzle device, replaced trigger) and re-assembled with all the accessories. It was really noisy today with people shooting rifle indoors. I know I was one of them, but these days, I notice it more, and I'll try to stick to just zeroing indoors if I can help it, or else I'll try to run suppressed.
TTG CHECK-IN DAY
Made the drive out to Moyock. Checked in. Read the stage briefs. Looked at the stage setups in the
main area. Not everything is fully set up yet, but you try your best to figure out what you'll be doing.
Watched the stage videos. Re-visited the stages when Em arrived.
It's neat to see how a pro approaches stage planning. We didn't get to see Stage 6, since that would be a blind stage on a longer range further out. We did check out the O-course together at the end.
On a weekend of classes, people might spend time hanging out in the evening, but I do like that competitors take TTG seriously and want to get fed and get some good sleep before the competition. I got to stay at a friend's place, which was really nice.
TTG DAY 1
The morning brief was at 7:20am. For each of the two days, you do 4 stages per day, with 2 being a mixture of workout + shooting, 1 being pure shooting, and 1 being purely physical. You attend the stage brief, you shoot at your designated time based on the schedule published the previous night (other than the pure shooting or pure physical ones, which they may just run back-to-back people on to save time), and then you judge the squad that goes after your turn to shoot.
Stage 5: (15 min cap, 100pts) - "This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You"
- with 4x15R, x12P
1. Pick up the lightest (60# for Womens' Intermediate) sand ball and do 12 bags over 42" bar
2. Bear hug the ball to the line and shoot rifle seated for 1 mag on 2x circles, then clear. Shoot pistol with tall double kneeling for 1 mag on 3x diamonds, then clear.
3. Return the ball
4. Repeat the course of fire 3 more times, starting with 8 balls over bar with 80#, 4 balls over bar with 80#, 1 ball over bar with 100#
Penalties: +10s/miss, +20s/BOB NC, +30s/ Carry length NC
Learnings/Outcomes: 4/15 WI, 76.77%
- Finished in 14:31 with 34/60R and 78P (57%R and 15%P)
- I had to remind the RO to lower the bar height for my division after mens' intermediate went
- I was terrible at pistol, shooting high right. I did a little KY windage at times, but I wasn't sure if it was me or the gun, so I didn't do a lot of it
- Rifle was better... I. held low for 60yd or so and tried to time it when my chest heaved, so sometimes I yanked it
- By the end, I figured out a position I liked for seated rifle
- The bags were heavy but doable... they looked small, but they were moist. They run the same stages per division, though, so that it's as equal as possible with conditions for everyone within the division
- I finished in time, rushing pistol at the end, since I had close to a minute left and knew that I had little chance of hitting anyways, based on how all the other hits had gone.
Stage 6: (2 min cap, 100 pts) - "I'm Not Mad, I'm Disappointed"
- 3x load rifle mags as desired
- Your squad stages on level 3 of the tower, and 1 shooter goes up at a time.
1. Go up to the chain level of choice, load rifle, and shoot 3 silhouettes in cars with 1 hit ea (BC-sized targets at 50-70yd), drop mag for the yellow clearing square with 1 attempt
2. Go to the tank trap and shoot 3x20" squares along the berm at 230-270yd with 1 hit ea, drop mag for the clearing plate with 1 attempt
3. Go prone and shoot 3 black full-sized silhouettes with 1 hit ea at 430-550yd, drop mag for the clearing plate with 1 attempt
(Must hit to move on for spots 1 and 2, but you can choose to skip targets after 1 try from prone)
Penalties: +30s/miss, +20s/FTN, +10s/ Clearing plate miss
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/15 WI = 100%
- 1 FTE, 1 FTN, 1CP in 1:56.63s
- I timed out working on the 2nd lo last target (other than the stop plate)
- I held for a strong wind
- I couldn't see splash on the black target misses... a good idea might've been to intentionally burn a round to see the wind near the t-post base
- In the second position, I must not've inserted the mag in all the way, even though it looked OK on video, since I got clicks with no bangs 2x... I should be better about the tap rack procedure being the default, which I do all the time during ball and dummy... I should know better. I'm used to using windowed gen3 mags, though... I wonder if there's something different about this one.
- The chain wasn't bad
- I didn't see the yellow target from that floor at first, even though I had seen it earlier. It was getting more shot up over time, since people shoot it after every array, and they don't re-paint after every squad.
- I was happy with my movements and positioning efficiencies
- I used 6x magnification the whole time (leftover from the previous stage)
- I had one miss on the middle square and 2 on teh right square
- I had one miss on the 1st black target
- On the tank trap, I used the angled right/up section of the arm. No bags are allowed at TTG, so it's hand-only.
- I used 16rd total
- I got to watch the rest of my squad shoot the stage, since I had been the first to go, which meant that I hadn't gotten to study where the targets were at length from the 3rd floor before my turn. My biggest takeaway: people give up a ton of time with a lack of movement efficiency
- I had used grass clippings in the pre-stage staging area to figure out the wind
- It was nice that the RO reminded people on level 3 to not move around while the level 4 person was shooting
Stage 7: (15 min cap, 100 pts) - "As Long As You Live Under My Roof"
- 5x12 R, 5x10 P
1. Wearing a 20#SB in an Elberlestock Ruck, run up to the barricade that you can't touch at all
2. Shoot rifle standing unsupported from the right side @ 3x circles @ 35yd. Shoot pistol standing unsupported from the right side of the barricade @ 2x right triangles @ 35yd.
3. Carry the axle bars with bar + 15# + 25# around the pavilion
4. Repeat the shoot + carry, alternating left and right sides for a total of 4 carries
Penalties: +10s/Miss, +30s/ Half Lap NC (nice that they gave partial credit this time, for less gaming, more fairness)
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/15 WI = 100%
- Finish in 12:33 with 18/50P + 34/60R (36%P and 57%R)
- Proud to have gone unbroken on the carries, other than one time where I tripped a little at the beginning of the second go and reset
- I held low left on both triangles for pistol for KY windage, and that helped
- I might've remembered late to evenly distribute rounds for a mag on the shapes, but I missed enough to where it didn't matter, since I wasn't hitting limits on any of the shapes
- The first round of LH rifle was really bad, but somehow I felt a lot better on the second round.
- I was rushing pistol shots towards the end due to fatigue
- I took time to catch my breath before shooting or before picking up the bars to shoot well and to carry unbroken
- I never really noticed the ruck on my back
- I used the hip belt and tightened the shoulder straps... I didn't look too hard for a sternum strap, but I didn't miss it, either
- It felt odd being on "fire" after reloading since the clearing procedure for TTG doesn't involve going back on safe
- The offset weights were OK if you gripped towards the corner of the handle
Stage 8: (90s cap, 50 pts) - "Floater"
With plate carrier only
1. Start facing the yoke.
2. Do 1 HR burpee over bar with a 32" height for WI, as an AMRAP
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/15 WI = 100%
- 23 reps
- Changed into shorts and salomons beforehand (out of BP pants with knee pads)
- Maybe got a splinter from this from the ground somewhere, but I didn't notice it until aftewards
- I slowed down in the last 30s
- I was surprised that I could jump over the bar the whole time pretty easily... I clipped my foot maybe 5x, but it was fine, since it still pushed through and over and didn't completely trip me up
- People were testing out different techniques beforehand. I chose not to, to conserver energy. I had already spent some jogging back to my car to change clothes. I just went with one, and it worked out.
- It was nice to have this be last for the day, since I didn't have to worry about shooting anymore and could just lay it all out there physically
During the day, I would try to go and see the Teams compete when I could. The schedule doesn't always allow for it depending on whether they're on a far-away stage or when your brief and your run time are, but it is nice when it works out.
From Stage 1...
Afterwards, some of us went out for Hawaiian food. I got a Poke Bowl. I usually don't eat white rice, but carbs are useful during a physical competition.
TTG DAY 2
The morning brief was at 6:30am today... even earlier, but they want to allow time for the tabulation of scores and awards afterwards, and since it's some peoples' travel day, it's good to not be there super super late.
I wasn't sore at all from yesterday, only a little tense in my shoulders and back.
Stage 1: (15 min cap, 100 pts) "I Will Turn This Sled Around"
- 4x6R, 4x6P
1. Bike 10 cal for WI
2. Put a 26# and 35#SKB on the sled and drag it to your shooting position
3. Shoot rifle from the top pitch @ a 6" steel square @ 90yd and clear. Shoot pistol from the top horizontal port, strong handle only (no touching your other hand, but you can tough your wrist) @ 6" steel circle @ 16yd
4. For each miss, touch the ground with your two SKBs, throw the bag under the bar, put your body under the bar, step up and over the box with your SKBs (allowed to place the SKBs on the box), then go back to the start. If no penalties, you can take a little sled shortcut.
5. Once done with penalties, drag the SKBs on your sled back to the bike and repeat
Penalties: +20s/ Rounds not fired, +10s/ Cal not completed, +20s/Penalty not completed, +30s / Sled half lap not completed
Learnings/Outcomes: 1/15 WI = 100%
- PAR with 24 RNF, 2 1/2 sled drag NC (I had just finished my last bike and didn't have enough time to get started on sled)
- This was the first time Em got to see me during a stage this match
- My 35#SKB was really an underfilled 44#SKB, but it evened out
- I might've wasted a few seconds each time getting my straps ready on the sled before moving each time... they were long
- I had 3, then 2, then 1 penalties during my 3 shooting rounds
- I had miscounted while loading my rifle mag and got a miss since I didn't have a round to fire on my first go... I had even double checked every mag... except that mag. In hindsight, I could've loaded one from a different mag in case I never even got to shoot that last mag, which was the case here, since that penalty is pretty time-consuming, but oh well. I was using non-windowed mags this match since that's what I had empty... windows would've helped, too.
- I could hold my rifle straight from the top port, due to a notch
- The pistol also had plenty of space
- I put my first against the barricade for pistol to have soft-on-hard, plus rail on hard, and my left hand was gripping the same port, like I saw on a video from elites running the previous day. That worked out pretty well. It reminded me of Tyler's comment on how we should shoot everything the same... tripod clipped in LR, barricade LR, pistol, etc.
- My bike seemed to take way longer than the bike of the girl I judged afterwards, but I treated it as recovery and as time to loosen back up. I used middle resistance.
- I had tested the seat height ahead of time with the demo bike in the middle of the Pavilion, so I knew I wanted the lowest setting
- I was glad to not completely flub this stage.
- For canted rifle, I held just off the right of the plate by 2" or so, off the top right corner
Stage 2: (90s PAR, 50 pts) = "Throttle Control"
- 2x6R, 2x6P
1. Start with loaded rifle and unloaded pistol, butt stock on belt
2. Shoot rifle N->F with 2 shots ea on white cardboard heads for 3 targets, mag change while going to the other box, and repeat but F->N, clear.
3. Load pistol and shoot N->F with 2 shots ea on brown cardboard chests for the three targets, mag change while going to the other box, and repeat, but F->N.
Penalties: +5s/Miss, +10s/FTE, +5s/tgt for procedural
Learnings/Outcomes: 2/15 WI = 96.20%
- 60.01s with 1 miss
- I went from the L box to the R box for rifle to stay pointed downrange more easily
- I missed the first rifle shot high, since I overdid the compensation for height over bore by holding above the head. I adjusted after that, and the rest was OK
- I took my time to try to be as clean as possible... it's worth an extra second to avoid a 5s miss penalty
- I overshot running to the second rifle spot
- I'm glad I had no MFs and that I remembered the COF with its N->F, F->N... lots of mental stuff in this stage, even though it's a very shooting skill-oriented stage, too
- I did 2 physical rehearsals beforehnad
- I brought a spare mag in case of MFs
- I used 2x magnification on the LPVO and did not trust the offset
- I looked very slow on my weapons manipulations on video
- I seem to pause too long after my last shot on each string before moving or clearing, maybe from trying to see where the shot landed?
Stage 3: (15 min cap, 100 pts) - "I'll Give You Something to Cry About"
- 3x8R, 3x8P
1. From the start board with 1 R mag, run to the rope climb for 1 climb to tape for WI, or 5 burpees over bar if you can't climb
2. Pick up the 40#SB in front rack and bring it to the shoot area. Shoot R from teh lower horizontal port at a 10" square @ 60yd, or P from the small square port at an 8" circle @ 23yd, depending on whether you're doing an odd or even round
3. Zercher carry the SB back
4. For each miss, touch the SB to the ground and toss it over the bar once
5. Repeat, alternating the weapon shot, until the bag is brought babck to the start
- Allowed to use the SB as shooting support
- Always move your body under the bar, not around
Penalties: +20s/ round not fired, +20s/ penalty work NC, +30s/ climb NC, +20s / carry length NC
Learnings/Outcomes: 3/15 WI = 89.05%
- I thought I'd win this stage based on my strengths, but it didn't work out that way
- Prior the stage brief, I had the wrong loadout, since I had read the team one, so I had to add more ammo before my turn
- I only made about 5/24 pistol hits
- I might've hit a little better when my face wasn't so close to the optic
- I braced on the SB with 2 elbows for prone pistol, which was part of why my face was so close to the gun
- I could sit and shoot rifle, with my torso tilted left in line with the cant of the rifle
- I shot rifle clean with 5x power
- I felt very stable with rifle the way I was braced
- Eye relief was still somewhat challenging to find. I did move my buttstock 2 clicks out while checking my sight picture, since my head was naturally closer to the LPVO in this position
- I finished in 10:30.
- Recoil made me lose my sight picture every time on rifle
- I held the top right corner of the square (or slightly in the square)
- For the last 2 climbs, I had to do an extra squat, since I wasn't getting as high anymore... the other climbs had been very optimized with like 3 squats and a reach
- Penalties weren't terrible with this weight, even though the bar was high and the same height for M and F
- The red dot of the LPVO was still on and was helpful on rifle, and even though it seemed to blink on recoil, it came back every time... it could've just been the angle or something
- My front swivel on the rifle hand guard acted as a barricade stop. I would've normally stuck it in further, but it wasn't the worst thing to have the stop, either.
- The dot and plate on the pistol weren't loose, so that's not why I was missing. I'd end up hitting on rare shots, but they were on different holds, so nothing was repeatable.
- I cut my left index finger middle knuckle with the barricade on pistol
- Finally started to feel a little tired at this point in the weekend
Stage 4: (20 min cap, 100 pts) - "If Your Friends Jumped off a Bridge"
- Slick for WI
1. Run around the field as a way to spread everyone out before the obstacles
2. Parallel bars - WI can use legs, only need to do the flat portion, restart at the very beginning oif you fall
3. Tires - one foot in each
4. Wall - WI can use the box
5. Rope Swing from box to rope to box
6. Burpee Broad Jumps from before flag to after flag
7. Crawl Over Weaver - no walking on it allowed, no touching side wood
8. Over/Unders on logs, alternating
9. Run to touch the monkey bars
Penalties: +60s and 10 HR Burpees for FTC obstacle (can re-try an obstacle but from the back of the line if there is one)
Learnings/Outcomes: 2/15 WI = 88.52%
- Everything went as planned
- I took the early lead in the run without gassing myself, so that I didn't have to worry about backups at the first obstacle, which only had one lane
- I did 5:57 vs Lauren's 5:16.
- I knew before this stage that I had already lost the match, since Lauren had enough of a lead on the prior stage, and that she's a fast runner and obstacle course racer
- I drank an Echelon beforehand, and it was good
More Fun Spectating...
Post-even Refuel...
Bittersweet Awards...
Overall: 2/15 WI
- Need to figure out why my pistol was so poor (turns out its zero had ended up to the right)
- I had a backup pistol but decided not to switch since it would bring in unknowns
- No WML for weight savings
- Used the Crye vs the GORUCK PC for better rifle butt stock connection
- Happy with my focus and my priorities of work between stages and my gear prep
- Triple check round counts, ideally with windowed mags
- Pays to calculate the cost of misses per stage, since they're different (not only raw time added, but fatigue from penalties and time taken away from the stage due to penalty time)
- I never ended up using the offset red dot, but that's OK... it's nice to have as an option
- Glad to help fellow competitors with tips at times (helped one girl clear a chamber of a melted chamber flag), gave a couple friends tips about their first TTG, helped a couple deal with eye relief with a canted rifle
- If I had hit at least 25% of pistol, I would've been better off and might've won
- I like my new seated rifle solution
- I did pretty well with all the canted rifle shooting
- Room for improvement with weapons manipulation efficiency and making their clearing procedure feel more second nature
- Good at taking breaths to calm my HR when needed
- Good pre-match mindset shift from focus on placement to just showing what I could do
- Good post-match mindset shift from disappointment of losing to being thankful for the time spent with friends and for competition being so high keeping me fired up to continue getting better. Also glad that I could compete at all, after the rib injury.
- The weight didn't feel as bad this match
- A few people recognized me from IG, which was nice
- I wouldn't change that much about physical training... maybe just more med ball lifts. My calisthenics were fine, and I should keep doing shoulder shrugs and farmers' carries.
- People in squads who are too competitive are not fun to be around, and they can be nasty to ROs, which is not cool
- It was fun to watch good teams work together
- I spent the 6 hour drive back home in silence, since my mind was full with processing everything from the weekend
- Happy with my magnification and position choices
- Don't like TTG's janky rifle clearing procedure
- Surprised I wasn't super tired, despite not having a lot of sleep
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