So briefly, what did you learn?
Something else I'll share which I think takes this in a slightly different direction:
You CAN shoot in snow. You CAN shoot in blistering heat. You CAN shoot in a torrential downpour (for days at a time). You CAN shoot sick, tired, worn out, and even HURT. You CAN shoot in the dark. You will learn a whole lot more about yourself and your equipment and your own strengths if you do not accept excuses about why you don't feel like going to the match today.
When you've put $80+ into match fees, you just GO. When you've signed up to work as an SO at a 3-day event and a hurricane is marching up the coast, you just GO. You prepare as best as you can, you bring extra socks. Maybe pick up some hand warmers or some extra towels, a Gore-Tex jacket, or whatever you think might help, but then you just march out into it and go to work.
I've shot matches during which 8" of snow fell, and I'd had the flu all week, and the first solid food I'd kept down for days was a piece of muffin I bought on the way to the range. But when the guy in the kilt next to me didn't quit, I didn't either. (Though the supine-prone start stage did prove that he'd donned woolen boxers for the day!
)
I've shot matches where folks were suffering from heat stress and the Staff was bringing water by the case.
I've shot a match one cold, overcast, drenching day where the first stage I faced was a prone stage and at the buzzer I dove onto a piece of carpet that had been collecting rain for hours, and I skinned both forearms and dripped bloody rainwater all over everything for the next few stages. But at least I was numb.
I've shot matches where the temps were in the teens and it blew 20-30mph all day (for two days) and it was hard to feel my hands. Good to know I can make the gun work anyway if I have to.
I've shot matches where the entire range -- every bay -- was awash in mud and where shooters were fishing in 12" soup to locate dropped magazines, then swishing them out "clean" in mud puddles before the next stage. Good to know the gun will still work even drenched and muddy.
I've shot one match after I'd dropped a large firewood log on a finger the day before and the pinky of my strong hand was swollen, purple, and wouldn't bend. Why? Well, how much do I know about my shooting, if I don't know how I'll shoot when something HURTS?
And it's not just me, either! I shoot with guys who've shown up on crutches, or with canes. Guys coming off knee surgery. Guys who puked after nearly every stage. Guys and ladies who grin and shiver and sweat and wring themselves out and just push on. It's inspiring.
Shooting matches just gets you out there facing conditions you would NEVER choose to, on days when there is no question in your mind that, left to your own devices, you'd be at home on the couch or still in bed. It leads you to a level of confidence that, "
I can handle this. It's no big deal. I've been here before. Front sight -- press!"