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

[o1d_dude]

First thing:

The hammer fail in the video you posted had nothing to do with bad technique really. If you throw in flip-flops, you deserve what you get.

Second thing: Throwing in the heavy events isn't something you read about, dash out onto the field, and break world records. There's a learning curve. We call this "Time on the implement."

Third thing: Throwing the heavy events is not easy. If it were, the English would do it.

[LitTrog]

Second thing: Throwing in the heavy events isn't something you read about, dash out onto the field, and break world records. There's a learning curve. We call this "Time on the implement."

I know, I know. I've thrown myself into enough new endeavors that I realize that truth, but every time I start something new, I want to cram everything in as quickly as possible. Strap on the crampons and sprint up that curve. Never works, but I obviously never learn.

Made the mistake of looking at numbers put up by the 190# stud for this region, Lowell Thompson...95ft. on 16# hammer, 50ft LWFD, 31ft HWDF, 14ft WOB. Knowing that it will take much time and effort to even approach those numbers is the weak sibling of my competitive desire to be chomping at his butt. (Figuratively, of course) I am well-motivated to do that and have fun in the process. But all my patience is taken up by being the father of a 6 year-old boy!

YouTube is not my friend. I always get distracted by videos of unprotected idiots having skateboarding accidents.

And thanks for the vids--in addition to being a drunken squirrel, I recognize my "technique" in several of those.

[LitTrog]

A rare rain tonight in Denver, so I didn't throw.

I remembered that I used to run so I went for 3.5 miles with about 1/4 mile of short sprints at the end. The rain was useful for masking my tears. 2 weeks and an old body loses some of its conditioning...

[Alan H]

Running is good for throwers... ESPECIALLY short sprints. Like 30-50 yard sprints. Do you know what "suicides" are? Killah for throwers.

The mystical and probably mythical "Litvinov squats"....attributed to Russian hammer thrower, Gregory Litvinov.

Backsquat some hellacious amount of weight, 5x. Immediately rack the weights and do 5x 30 yards sprints. Repeat until you win an Olympic medal.

Like I said, these might be mythical, but the principal has something going for it.