End of the season analysis

[Alan H]

Well, the last Games is in the record books, now. The upside is that I obliterated my PR in the LWFD, and notched a 46' 3" at Santa Cruz. That's great, thats' what I've been throwing in practice for two months, so it's really good to see that happen at a Games. IN contrast, I started the year throwing 38-39 at the first two Games...tossed a 43 and a 44 at Enumclaw, messed myself up bigtime for Pleasanton and only threw 40. Then a month later I come out and throw a 45+ and a 46+. YEAH.

This field was really small, so we didn't throw hammer. That means I didn't have a chance to put into practice some of the things I've learned recently about hammer technique. That's too bad, but I've been throwing low 80's now and then in practice, with the 16 pounder.

I spent the entire season improving VERY slowly in the stones. When I say slowly, I mean *slowly*. I'm now throwing 28-29 in the Open Stone after a LOT of work this year. That's a foot to a foot and a half improvement over last year, which is good but it's pretty darned frustrating, I'd hoped for 30-31 by now.

I spent the entire season clearing 12 feet in the WOB, with no worries, and smacking the weight into the bar, or JUST tapping it off, at 13. Did it again, at Santa Cruz. I'm not sure how to bust out of this stalemate.

I didn't spend as much time this year practicing caber, and it showed. I posted 3 turns at Games this year, but flamed out bigtime at Pleasanton and Santa Cruz. I'm going to find a caber I can turn, but have to WORK to turn for my workout stick for next year.

Upshot was, though...I had a lot of fun, posted big improvements in the weights, and life is good... Oh, I also finished out the year ranked 17th, out of 80 participants on the 50-59 class, in North America.

[Splash_4]

Well done Alan. At least this arm chair highland athlete likes to live vicariously through your efforts!

[BEEDEE]

Great season .17/80 nationally is nothing to sneeze at!

Brian

[TimC]

Alan, you did well lad. Proud of you and all that you have done on and off the field for the sport.

-Tim

[jgorley]

Way to go! Myself, I still have one more game to go, Tucson. It is great to see you improve your LWFD. Caber is still my nemesis as well. From all the coaching I get, the prescription...get stronger! A foot increase in the stones over the season is excellent! They are the most difficult to improve, at least in my book. Train hard and I will see you next year. Maybe I can make my way to Cali. I will give you my post season when I get back.

Throw far!
James

[Detroitpete]

Alan,

Not bad for an oldtimer

Especially when I think that at the end of last season you weren't sure if you'd make it back. You not only made it back--you really seemed focused on technique and training this year. Way to show the young bucks how its done.

I may have one more competition. We're waiting word from the AD--it may be cancelled. If its on, I'll have one more day to make each throw my hardest then see what the numbers say. If not, then its back to the weight room after PT is done.

The things I love about this sport is that there's something that you can always work on. There's always something in your 'game' to be tweaked. In the end, it doesn't matter if you win your class or not--you only really have 'you' to beat.

And when its all said and done--we're out there...kilted...throwing trees, stones and weights...doing something that only a few actually sum up the mustard to do.

Jgorley--good luck to ya