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