Handgun 101

I've always wanted to learn how to shoot so for Christmas this year, I asked for tuition to the Handgun classes at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping. 

They offer a variety of classes taught by well qualified professionals with law enforcement and military experience in firearms and tactical training.  Having no prior experience, I signed up for the very basic introductory course to handguns, Handgun 101.

I say "basic" and "introductory" but honestly, this was an 8 hour course with 4 of those being classroom training, 2 actually shooting on the range and 1 breaking down, cleaning and reassembling the handguns.  (we broke for 1 hour at lunch)

The shooting experience was far more intense than I had expected!  The instructor began with a demonstration, having us gather around him while he fired his .40 Sig pistol at a target from 3 yards.  He put three bullets through the exact same hole in the target.  What impressed me more than his accuracy and precision was the percussion felt when the gun was fired!

If you've ever been to a concert and stood close to the speakers on the stage you've felt the reverberations to your very core.  It was kinda like that.  And loud!  Even with the ear protection.  Granted we were indoors, but still.  I suppose the 35,000 psi that builds up in the barrel has to go somewhere!

After the demonstration, we were put through our own exercises with 9mm Sig Sauer P229's.  The sensation was incredible.  The smell of the gunsmoke, sound of the simultaineous gunfire, feel of the brass shell casings raining down on you as you tried to focus on the tiny spot on the target and  put those bullets through the first hole that you made. 

It took me a few minutes to adjust to it all and settle the nerves, but once I did, oh what fun it was!

I've already signed up for the second class, Handgun 102: Basic Practical Handgun Skills, that will take place on February 23rd.  It's another 8 hour class, and I can't wait to learn more.

Brass flying as I shoot for the first time.

Millennium Mile 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

The 2013 hunt season has come to an end, the holidays have come and gone and as I sit typing this, it's a balmy 1°F outside with a substantial wind chill factor. 

I pulled Daatje's Ground Control's a few weeks ago and her hooves looked fantastic!  Plastic horse shoes definitely go on the list of amazing things we tried in 2013.  I'll be certain to use them again next season.  For now she's barefoot and enjoying her extended vacation.  I'm lucky if I ride once a week this time of year and quite frankly, I hate riding when it's cold and snowy.  No worries though.  The time off does her good, I think.  Me too, actually. :)

So, what does this girl do when the riding season has all but come to a halt?  She runs! :D

I'm training for a half marathon on March 30th, so my running schedule has become much more regular.  In the midst of training, I'm throwing in some road races; the most recent of which was the Millennium Mile run on New Years Day!  What a blast.  There were over 1,700 people lined up to race down a one mile stretch of road, down hill for the most part.

I have never raced a mile sprint before, so was not sure how fast I could really go over the distance.  I figured between a 7-8 minute mile so that's the corral I chose to start from.  I ended up with a 7:15 time....just 15 seconds from being in the 6 minute mile range!  Not bad!

I'm not a fast runner, never was.  More of the distance type.  Long, slow distance. :)  Anyway, that time put me in 444 place out of 1700 and in 33 place out of the 224 women in the 30-39 age category.

Here are some photos, sponsored by Geneia (runners get digi photos for free! :D )


The masses lined up at the start

I'm left of center in the green, number 385.

Coming down the home stretch

At the finish line!

I love running.  It's so much fun!  Wednesday's race was so cold, I must have had 5 pounds of layers on.  Not very flattering, but warm!