The Log bears fruit!

**LitTrog** · 3rd July 13, 05:01 AM

This thread probably would probably be better as just another post in my Trog Log thread, but there are three reasons why it's not there:

1) I hope to lend anecdotal weight to Alan H's advice to anyone who thinks Highland Athletics looks like fun and wants to get started.

2) I am an attention hog.

3) I love the thrill that accompanies birthing a new thread. I don't possess the plumbing required to squirt out a real child, but new forum threads are an acceptable substitute. Plus, no government agency is notified if I neglect it. Win-win.

To point #1--maybe once per month since I've joined this forum, I see folks evince their desire to start throwing. Alan and others will point them to the Athletics Forum sticky with the follow-up admonition to go throw. I was one of those guys, and I suspect that, like me, a large majority let it slide and did nothing about it.

I mean, c'mon--I'm not a 6'5", 260-pound chunk of testosterone-oozing man flesh. I'm in decent shape for an old guy, but I'm liddle (5' 8", 180lbs) and It's a Wonderful Life makes me all weepy and stuff. I'd get laughed off the field!

Or, they'd let me compete, but I'd have no clue what I'm doing. Everyone would just stand around, staring at the newbie, waiting for me to either hurt myself or do something wrong. Laughed off the field by athletes and spectators!

Fortunately, last September, I talked myself into a corner and was faced with either abandoning X Marks in shame, or making a real commitment to follow through and just go throw. Last Sunday at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival in Colorado Springs, CO, that's exactly what I did. True, I did do some lifting in the off season, and managed to find a practice group and throw all the implements around a few times before these games, but that simply calmed my fraidy-cat fears about looking stoopud in front of lots of people. I still may have looked stoopud, but I was no longer afraid of it:

Loading up the sheaf!

Missing at 18 feet! Oh, the shame!

42# Weight for distance

Just clear the trig, just clear the trig, just clear the trig...

"Are you actually going to walk with that thing, young fella, or should we attach some power lines to it?!"

Seems the Byrds were right...

Pictures tell a thousand words, and those pictures may have told the casual viewer that I knew what I was doing. However, like most people who talk that much, them pics ain't telling the truth.

Here is the truth:

HWFD: 19.00 ft.
LWFD: 27.00 ft.
16# Hammer: 55.5 ft. (managed a 70-footer, but fouled!)
Braemar: 22.26 ft.
Open Stone: 26.87 ft.
Sheaf: 16 ft.
WOB: 10 ft.

Caber: 1145 on the 2nd caber, (failed to turn the third, a 17.5ft, 90-pounder)

Not good numbers. Not good at all.

This picture, however, taken at the end of the day, is also the truth:

I am still there. The earth didn't swallow me, I wasn't laughed off the field. I am laughing and happy and so totally hooked on Highland Athletics. So I didn't throw big numbers--BFD. The crowd was encouraging, my fellow athletes celebrated the things I did well and coached me to improve the stuff I tanked.

Lesson: Everyone there is looking to have fun. Nobody cares if you suck, as long as your shoulders are chipless. The organizers, the audience, the athletes--everyone--gets a kick out of seeing us do our thing.

Nike made it trite, but Alan has it right: Just do it. It's the other thing in life you can enjoy even if you're not very good at it.

**pbutts** · 3rd July 13, 05:13 AM

Congrats to you and kudos to your photographer.

**sailortats** · 3rd July 13, 05:42 AM

Heartiest congratulations Littrog. I'll bet you have convinced several people on here to give it a try and I'll bet your family is bursting with pride. Wish I could have been there in person to applaud your efforts. You make me proud just being on the same website as yourself.

**LitTrog** · 3rd July 13, 08:18 AM

Thank you for those extraordinarily kind words, 'tats, and thanks for checking in with me over the past few months--you definitely helped keep my feet to the fire. Our family is hoping to make it out to the Bay area either next summer or the following one. If I can work it right, I'll dovetail our visit with one of the NorCal games. I'll expect to see you there!

My little tribe has been completely on-board with my efforts to throw. Huge amounts of love, encouragement and indulgence made things much easier than they would have been otherwise. My amazing mother-in-law took these pics. I'll be sure to pass along the kudos!

**Liam** · 3rd July 13, 09:10 AM

Great pictures!

**creagdhubh** · 3rd July 13, 09:11 AM

WELL DONE TYLER!!!

Amazing photos, mate! You guys sure make it look easy, even though it is nothing of the sort. Which is why this laddie can always be found in tweed and tartan watching the athletics, whilst enjoying a pint or a dram! I could; however, quite easily participate in the running events...which is more my speed (no pun intended!).

Again...well done!

Cheers,

**Alan H** · 3rd July 13, 10:21 AM

pfeh....like you say BFD. Besides, those numbers aren't so bad, and you're only going to get better... AND... you turned a flippin' caber. it took me EIGHT Games, into my second season before I turned a caber in competition. Yer a stud.

**creagdhubh** · 3rd July 13, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

My little tribe has been completely on-board with my efforts to throw. Huge amounts of love, encouragement and indulgence made things much easier than they would have been otherwise. My amazing mother-in-law took these pics. I'll be sure to pass along the kudos!

That is so awesome! It's always a very good thing to have the support and encouragement from family. Keep it up, keep up the training and like Alan said, you will only get better! Well done again...very impressive, mate.

Cheers,

**LitTrog** · 3rd July 13, 11:38 AM

You know, Kyle, as much as we need and appreciate gents like you to stand around, looking handsome and drinking our whiskey, the caber sounds like it'd be right up your alley: if you do it right, you're running with it...do it wrong and you're running from it. Running either way! I suggest you change your plane tickets so you can join me in Highlands Ranch. It'd be a good warmup for your mountain climbing!

And Alan--with all the nagging and celebration of my studliness, I'm beginning to feel like a polygamist! You and Laura would make fantastic sister-wives...

**LitTrog** · 3rd July 13, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

pfeh....like you say BFD. Besides, those numbers aren't so bad, and you're only going to get better... AND... you turned a flippin' caber. it took me EIGHT Games, into my second season before I turned a caber in competition. Yer a stud.

Shoot. They probably made you play with the big-boy cabers. I'll admit it was pretty satisfying, though!