Trog Log: Transforming a 170-pound weakling into a highland athlete.

**Alan H** · 15th September 12, 06:17 PM

Very nice!!!

Yeah, I just recently got a heavy hammer head from Mike Landrich. I have never owned a 22 pound hammer head, and honestly, I never practice heavy hammer. Hammer is about speed, so I spend lots of time with the 16 and 12, and now with our 12 pound chain hammer. So I'd forgotten what 3 sets of 10 winds with a heavy hammer feel like. Heh. That got my hips tired! I know what I'm doing a (*#$-load of at the beginning of next season.

**LitTrog** · 17th September 12, 02:06 PM

Finally decided on a plan of attack for the next few months.
Going to structure my lifting to incorporate both "grunt strength" and faster, more explosive movements. I'll alternate weeks with it--for instance, one week I'll grunt at my deadlifts, and go speedy on squats. The following week I'll go speedy on deadlifts and grunt out squats. I'm applying this to my entire workout, so it marks a real change of course from my previous lifting. Once winter begins to thaw, I plan on shifting totally over to fast and explosive, with much more plyo stuff thrown in.

Right now I'm committing myself to throwing 3x per week and trying to find some time to run.

This morning--

Springy squats

Calf raises (standing with bar in back squat position)

Fast flat bench

Grunt overhead press

We'll see how this goes...

**LitTrog** · 18th September 12, 02:39 AM

So, I was at the park, throwing my hammer last weekend, and some young guy came up and asked what I was doing. I explained about the games, etc. When I told him that I was throwing a hammer, he asked, "A hammer? Does that make you Thor?"

"Yeth," I answered, "my hipth and shoulderth...but only cauth I'm out of practith."

That didn't actually happen...but it is my dominant fantasy.

**Alan H** · 18th September 12, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

So, I was at the park, throwing my hammer last weekend, and some young guy came up and asked what I was doing. I explained about the games, etc. When I told him that I was throwing a hammer, he asked, "A hammer? Does that make you Thor?"

"Yeth," I answered, "my hipth and shoulderth...but only cauth I'm out of practith."

That didn't actually happen...but it is my dominant fantasy.

There's a great big poster in the building elevators.

"CODE MATLAB LIKE THOR"

I dunno. Somehow, the images just don't work for me.

Re: your plan. Excellent plan.

Look, I have something for you.

http://www.tucsoncelticfestival.org/

How long of a drive is it from where you live, to Tucson?

Also, there are Games in eastern Idaho. Todd and Lyman Asay (nice folks, I met them at Enumclaw) put on a Games in May, and then another one in August. I'm guessing these are smaller events.

http://www.toddandlyman.com

Utah Games....http://utahscots.org/

Between the 3-4 Games in Colorado, 1-2 in Utah....

Wyoming - Jackson Hole....http://www.wyohighlanders.net/

New Mexico...Aztec Highland Games, right across the border with Colorado... http://www.aztechighlandgames.com/

You could put together a pretty good 5-6-7-8 Games season without driving TOO much.

**LitTrog** · 18th September 12, 01:01 PM

You're reading my mind. I initially thought that the 3 games in CO would be good for getting my tootsies wet, but then again, if I'm putting in the work, I should make as many as I can. Tucson is, unfortunately, a 14-hour drive from Denver. Aztec is within easy reach, and the ones in Utah might be, too. I will have enough vacation time next year that I can surely make another 2 or 3 games even if I have to spend a day on the road.

Also, my wife LOVES the Bay area--spent most of her teen summers there and is itching to go back. I'll look ahead (2013 or 2014) and see if I can coordinate a vacation with one of the games out there. Once my USAK sponsorship comes through, I'll have enough dough to fly out twice a month to compete...

**o1d_dude** · 18th September 12, 01:19 PM

If you live in Denver, you are in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Scottish Athletics.

Go to the NASGA website and make a post there to make contact with the local throwers.

Even if there are no games scheduled, you may be able to hook up with some of the local guys who have equipment and know how to throw. Monkey see, monkey do.

Internet coaching can only take you so far.

**LitTrog** · 18th September 12, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by o1d_dude

Monkey see, monkey do.

.

And we all know what monkeys throw...

Took a look over the weekend and found two possible practice groups--one over by where I work and one by where I live.

Man, I'm making it so I'll have no excuses next season. Crap!

**o1d_dude** · 18th September 12, 03:45 PM

There might even be some games before summer's end.

**GoodGirlGonePlaid** · 18th September 12, 04:03 PM

Nice work LitTrog!~

I'm impressed with ya'll and your logs. There's a lot of heavy heavy weight getting moved around!

I'd love to have a log, but I do the same thing everytime. I'm a creature of habit

Confession time, I'm not a fan of lifting weights, I just like to throw. So I do a little bit of strength training, but I bulk up just walking by the weights so I go easy.
I'm a runner who throws. Actually, no, I'm not a runner, but I run 3x per week and throw 1-2 times per week.
I'd say compete one time, you'll be addicted and after your first throw, you won't give a rat's **** if your throws aren't perfect.

**LitTrog** · 19th September 12, 05:33 AM

Meh. Not a great morning. Time crunch, but figured doing something was better than doing nothing. The "nothing" habit forms up too quickly if I let it...

Warmed up with jacks, burpees, and shallow jump lunges.

Alternated deadlifts with weighted "hammer-grip" chins.

Grunt Deads--2x5x225, 2x3x245 attempted 265 but my form was dangerously crappy. Needs work

hanging a 35 plate from my waist, hammer chins--3x10(goal)

Landmines (the real kind, now) 3x10xbar+35