TargetTalk

I was excited when I see the video of Women's Olympic Pentathlon shooting event. When "load" was sounded, out of the some 40 women on the line up, I saw a few cocking their pistol levers. To my amazement, they are using my "dinosaur" IZH 46M !

But I am sure, I won't see any IZH 46M in London next time.

Pentathlon shooting event has changed.

http://www.pentathlon.org/index.php?id=256

It is now part of the shooting/running biathlon final event. You run first 10m, shoot 5 targets at 10m, no shots number limit, but time limit of 1 minute 10 seconds. You run 1000m, shoot the next 5 targets, run 1000m, shoot final 5 targets, finish with another 1000m run.

I initially thought, what is so hard about this, just to shoot the 59.5mm regular black 10m 7ring target area. I have shot 184-188 regularly in 20 shots of the previous pentathlon shooting emulation.

So to emulate the new ruling, I shoot/ skip rope x1000/ shoot/ skip rope x1000/ shoot. My running pace distance is about one meter/ step. So skipping rope is a fairly accurate count of 1000m run emulation.

My first 5 shots are on the black. But barely beat the required time of 1 minute 10 seconds. It is just not enough time to set the natural stance, natural grip, cock my IZH 46m, load, raise, shoot in 2-3 seconds in the aim. Do that 5 times expeditiously is just too pressing with my IZH 46m. So I can say for sure, I won't see this dinosaur in pentathlon again.

As for my shooting, first 5 are on target. After 1000m, next 5 is 3 out 5. After another 1000m, 1 out 5.

I just don't have the ability to aim consciously any more, it all become intuitive shooting relying on natural stance / natural grip.

I am a rower with resting heart rate of 50. After shooting last 5 targets, my heart rate is in the 140's, I was sweating profusely.

So all in all, the new shooting/running final event of pentathlon (counts as standard 2000 points on the scale) would require new training. It is no longer the slow fire 10m air pistol shooting we are used to any more.

This is a real ATHLETIC event now.

...You run first 20m (not 10m)

Spencer

Do you get any penalty for missing the targets in those 1' 10"?

There doesn't seem to be any additional penalty other than that 1' 10" to the running time. In one's best effort, it would probably take 45 seconds to hit all five targets. Then, you have to run your heart out again.

Why not just go through the motion, handle your pistol a little bit, and really use that 1' 10" to get well rested for the next run?

In cross country ski biathlon, you do get penalty for missing target. You have to waste time ski in small circles before going back to main course.

But there is no penalty run for modern pentathlon run/shoot missing target.

So, yes, you can get well rested before running again. But real champion will shoot precisely, getting rested at the same time, and pick up those precious seconds that determines first, second, third, ............last.