I actually did my warm up in my cardiologist's office on a treadmill with all sorts of wires attached to my chest for a stress/echocardiogram. Because of my pacemaker I get to have this test every couple years to check things out. Afterwards, I just headed to the gym and went straight for the press rack to complete the session. Two birds, one stone.

And, as expected, the test went well based on the preliminary review. If anything comes up, I'll get a call to go in for further discussion.

Always good news....

I suppose it was inevitable that I would hit a workout where I just didn't feel good. And, tonight was that night. Squat day and I went in thinking I was strong, rested, and good to go. Just the opposite. After warm ups, I felt weak in strange places when I started with easy reps, and went downhill from there. I got in several sets of 5 reps with 205 and 225, but when I took it to 245, I shut it down after a single rep. It simply felt uncomfortable and not good.

Instead I did about 20 minutes on the bike, some abs, and a good stretch - and even the stretch didn't feel right.

Fortunately, tomorrow is another day.

Respect the day.

You will come back tomorrow or the next day with renewed vigor.

Yeah; I wish I knew what went into making a day go like that - what I could do to avoid it. It just seems so random sometimes.

There was one day over a week ago when even my starting weight - 135# on squat - felt like too much for some parts of my body and I just had to bow out. It was a little rough on my optimism, but I was alright and back on my game just a few days later. I dunno!

I feel like I'm fighting off a cold that is trying to take root. Chest is heavy and a general fatigue. I decided to use my head and stay out of the gym because I've found that, when I get this feeling, if I stop for about 24 hours I can generally escape the worst. My fingers are crossed that I'll wake up tomorrow fit as a fiddle.

The weather finally cooperated to permit Sunday afternoon throwing at Shaffer Park. Focus was on wfd and I was quite pleased that, despite the several weeks of rain delays, the work I'd put into a double spin delivery has taken root in muscle memory. There's no doubt anymore that my single spins are a thing of the past.

Yesterday's Old Guy Session at Shaffer with Steve and Joe Elliott, plus Alan and myself was really productive - we were able to focus on throwing issues that are common to all of us at our "advancing" age; as Steve noted: "The 42 feels heavier than it did last year..."

Heading into the season in a couple of months, I've got wfd in a good place right now, although further tweaks are still needed - but there's time. A few throws with the Perfect Braemar at about 80% were close to max efforts last season, meaning the weight training is working.

With the turn of the year it's time to start including hammers, caber, and wob in the throwing sessions.

When Alan and I were playing with the cabers at the end, I was happy to confirm that picking the Iron Giant won't be a problem - the squats and pulls have eliminated any question in that respect. Now I've got to focus on timing of the pull and getting a good extension with the pull. If I can avoid injury, I should start the season stronger and better prepared than ever before.

It's worthwhile to note the the Iron Giant is a 17 foot long, cut-down steel light pole that weighs somewhere between 120-140 pounds. It's a bluidy *Monster*. Marty actually picked the thing on his second try, just that the field was wet and the pole was slippery. If that had been a wood caber, he'd have had it.

Back in the gym tonight. I took Monday off to recover from Sunday's throw and real life intruded on Tuesday. And tonight I was a little pressed for time because I had to go to my daughter's basketball game. But I got a good bench session in nonetheless, although I feel as if I haven't be on the bench for awhile. Focus again was on good reps and not pushing the limit. Sets of 5 at 135, 145, 155, sets of 3 at 160 and 165, with a final couple of sets of 5 at 145. It felt good and smooth.

Tomorrow is squat day and I'm hoping for a better outing than last time.

For the record the Aptos Girls Bball team was destroyed by Scotts Valley 88-33; not a contest. Unfortunately, it looks as if my daughter is out for the rest of the season with a nasty ankle sprain. She now keeps the scoring book for the coach while sitting on the bench. Bummed out doesn't begin to describe her mood about the premature end to her season.