To the people thinking ... "maybe"

[Alan H]

All the internet talk in the world is nothing but just that...internet talk. If you are ready to try this stuff, here is what I would recommend.

1. Commit. Find a Games that's 4-8 weeks away. Sign up. Send money. Arrange to be there. COMMIT. Before you do twenty Games you have to do ONE. If you just want to do one, then....sign up for one. What, it's going to be "easier" next year, or next Spring, or...when???? When is this going to be easier or more convenient to do ONE Highland Games?

If you're going to do this for several years, you still have to do your FIRST Games. So, commit to your first one. You don't have to be in perfect condition. You don't have to be a "beast". You don't have to win the A class. You just have to commit to showing up.

2.) If there's someone nearby who does Highland Games, then hook up with them and throw the implements a few times before the actual day gets here. For your first Games, this is probably the best thing you can do. But if you can't find someone, then don't let this stop you from throwing. Just GO TO THE GAMES AND THROW. Do what you can.

DO WHAT YOU CAN. Whether you're a serious weight trainer, or having gotten out of the Clan tent in a decade...THROW.

3.) If you have easy access to a weight room, then do some whole body exercises, but don't hurt yourself. Go easy, start slowish, and get some advice so you're doing this stuff right.

Squat - incline bench - deadlift - hang cleans Just do that for 4-6 weeks, 2 or 3x a week..

4. ) If you don't have easy access to a weight room, then make yourself a sandbag from duct tape and a 35 or 50 pound bag of construction sand that you can get at Lowes/Home Depot or any construction-bulding materials store. Get yourself a 12-20 pound river rock.

Do deep knee bends with the sand bag. Press the bag overhead. Do some situps and pushups. Jump around the garage/lawn/driveway. Jump around with the bag held to your chest. Go to the park and throw the rock. Throw it overhead. Throw it behind you. Throw it forwards...two handed, one handed, whatever, just throw it until you're tired. Run up a hill. Carry the sandbag up a hill. Do burpees...just DO SOMETHING to build a little muscle and get your heart beating. Do this 2-3x a week. If you do this for 4-6 weeks, you'll be amazed at how much stronger and athletic you feel.

DO WHAT YOU CAN.

....Because that beats all )(*&#$ out of not doing anything at all. You don't need a $300 a month gym membership. You don't need to heave the light weight 75 feet. You don't need to bench press 300 pounds. You don't need to be 25 years old. You just need to COMMIT.

It all starts with a *commitment*. Not "someday I'm going to throw at the Games"..... Or... "I'm going to start working out after I finish this next project at work/home/with my doctor/whatever and then maybe I'll learn how to throw."

NO!!!

It starts with this.... "I'm going to throw at the MyTown Highland Games on May 23rd, 2012" and then print the reg form, fill it out, write the check and mail it in.

COMMIT

[Burly Brute]

I need to stop at home depot on the way home.

[Alan H]

I need to stop at home depot on the way home.

No, Burly Brute, you don't need to go by Home Depot. You asked that question about what you need to get started, weeks and weeks ago.


You need to find a Games close to your hometown...or not, if you have to drive a few hours, then so be it. You need to download the Athletics application form, and fill it out. You need to write a check for the registration money. You need to address an envelope, put a stamp on it and mail it.

This one will do just fine: http://www.arizonascots.com/05games.shtml

You've got two weeks to prep. COMMIT. If you're tight on money then take a tent and car-camp. Pack the cooler with food, throw the tent and a sleeping back in the car and GO. I do it all the time, and I'm OLD.

THAT is what you need to do. Not drop by Home Depot to buy some gear....oops, I forgot, I'll go next weekend.....to train for a Games in July, which is the next Games in Arizona, if I remember correctly.

[Burly Brute]

No, Burly Brute, you don't need to go by Home Depot. You asked that question about what you need to get started, weeks and weeks ago.

THIS is what you need to do:

You need to find a Games close to your hometown...or not, if you have to drive a few hours, then so be it. You need to download the Athletics application form, and fill it out. You need to write a check for the registration money. You need to address an envelope, put a stamp on it and mail it.

THAT is what you need to do.

I meant for the sand bag! I think I am already going to try and volunteer at the games next week in Phoenix for carting people around, but I think I can apply at the next ones, in April I believe it is. Thanks Alan. You will be the first to know when I do!

[Alan H]

Huh? This appeared in the "miscellaneous" forum for a while?


color me confused.// must've been my browser.

[azwildcat96]

I posted this on Facebook a few weeks ago:

Date - Name/Location
2/18/2012 - Queen Mary/Long Beach, CA
3/10/2012 - Los Angeles Irish Fair/Pomona, CA
3/10/2012 - Sonora, CA
3/17/2012 - Fort Boise Highland Games, ID
3/24/2012 - Phoenix, AZ
3/31/2012 - San Antonio, TX
4/14/2012 - Las Vegas, NV
4/21/2012 - Bakersfield, CA
5/4/2012 - Arlington, TX
5/12/2012 - Prescott, AZ
5/21/2012 - Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque, NM
5/26/2012 - Scotsfest/Costa Mesa, CA
6/1/2012 - Bellingham/Ferndale, WA
6/9/2012 - Newport, OR
6/16/2012 - Blaine County, ID
6/23/2012 - San Diego, CA
7/21/2012 - Arizona Highland/Flagstaff, AZ
7/28/2012 - Enumclaw/Seattle, WA
8/4/2012 - Rocky Mountain/Denver, CO
9/1/2012 - San Francisco, CA (Pleasanton, CA)
9/15/2012 - Fresno, CA
10/12/2012 - Seaside/Ventura, CA
11/2/2012 - Tucson, AZ
11/2/2012 - Austin, TX
11/10/2012 - Salado, TX (South of Waco)
1/1/2013 - Frozen Stones, Twin Falls, ID

These are the ones that I found on the West coast. Most (not all) have websites. Many can be found on the SAAA website, including on-line registration forms.

Some of the nicest guys and gals that you will ever meet are at the games! Compete in just one, and I bet you'll be hooked!

[Delaney]

1 through 4 - DONE! I need to update my training log and stay on top of it. Your words keep me motivated, Alan! Thank you for that!

[o1d_dude]

Here's another website featuring another heavy athletics organization.

Scottish Heavy Athletics (SHA)

This is the organization that handles the heavy athletics portion of the Northern California Highland Games community. It's not a membership organization so you pay no membership. This group just provides heavy athletics equipment, judges, and services to the games hosts. The principals are ALL former and current heavy athletes and have no goal of taking over the world. One former owner was in fact a co-founder of the Master World Championship series back in 2001 and is a MWC Hall of Fame member.

BTW, see if you can recognize the guy on the home page doing the Clay Matthews pose. It's the sixth image in the rotating image stream. Clue: It's not me.

Here's the SHA calendar of events:

• Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival - April 28–29, Woodland, CA
• Stumptown Games - May 19, Guerneville, CA
• Modesto Scottish Games and Festival - June 2, Modesto, CA
• Santa Cruz Scottish Festival - June 16-17, Watsonville, CA
• Monterey Scottish Games and Festival - July 7–8, Monterey, CA
• Pleasanton Scottish Highland Gathering and Games - September 1–2, Pleasanton, CA
• Fresno Scottish Highland Games September 15 - Fresno, CA
• Dixon Scottish Highland Games and Gathering - September 22, Dixon, CA

Add these to your list of potential games to compete in or attend. BTW, Pleasanton and the Sacramento Valley Games are two of the largest games (attendance and field of athletes) held each year on the West Coast.

[o1d_dude]

I neglected to mention that the Scottish Heavy Athletics is also a group on Facebook with almost 400 members.

Scottish Heavy Athletics

[BudTX]

I am a new member here, and a new kilt wearer as well.

A friend of mine from Scotland has suggested that I look into the upcoming Highland Games in Riverside, MO. The difficulty that I have found is with locating anyone in this area who is training for the Games. While I played college football 30 years ago and have stayed in decent shape since then, I know nothing about the training and techniques surronding the Highland Games.

Can anyone here refer me to a local contact in the Kansas City area? I tried the local Highland Games website, but did not get any type of reply. I don't want to just jump in cold without having tried the events in practice.

Thanks,

Bud