Alan's 2013 Season Log

**Alan H** · 6th March 13, 12:31 PM

Fun, inaugural CHAC throws last night in the freezing cold. Who turned down the thermostat? We just went through one stone, one weight, one hammer and some WOB to "remember how we do this".

I went pretty easy, taking most of my LWFD throws just to deal with my "hopping off to the left side" issue. It seems to be better. When I honestly uncorked one, just one yesterday, it landed right at the marker for 50 feet, so that's good. Stones...we just threw everything I had in the truck, big ones, little ones. I only put some real mojo behind one 16 pound stand throw and dropped it in about 32 feet, and I'm down with that. Hammer was more of the same. I think I only took three throws, and only really uncorked the last one. I tried hard to throw it "Pockoski-style" after seeing video of Mike throwing hammer at the Arnold. I have a lot better luck throwing it his way, that doing what all the other Pro's do, so that's my goal for the year. We didn't pull tape on it, but I paced it off and it was probably a little over 80 feet.

WOB was an eye-opener. I haven't exactly figured out the height markings yet, but the bar was clearly at least 12' 8" and maybe 13 and I cleared it with lots of room to spare, 3x. That's happy-making.

We'll do some more of the same, this afternoon and then relax until this weekend....Sonora Celtic Festival.

**Alan H** · 6th March 13, 08:41 PM

Second CHAC throws...I mostly played coach with the ladies. New lass Schantae Wright did great! I didn't throw much, just some stone throw examples, a few 28 for distance to work on that "fouling out the right side" issue, and then some 56 HWFD at the end with Robert watching. After 4 "sprint drill" throws with the 56 pounder I did a single spin, keeping in mind the suggestions from Sunday about not going too hard at the beginning and it was much better. It didn't go any farther but it was better. Progress is happening.

**RogerWS76** · 13th March 13, 02:17 AM

Hey, where can I find that Pockoski Video from the Arnold?

**Alan H** · 13th March 13, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by RogerWS76

Hey, where can I find that Pockoski Video from the Arnold?

It was on Matt Vincents log, it mostly has Matt...I'll see if I can find it.

**Alan H** · 13th March 13, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

It was on Matt Vincents log, it mostly has Matt...I'll see if I can find it.

Hmmm... now I can't find the video. It's not even on YouTube.

OK, yesterdays practice...we had a reporter and Photorapher out from the Stanford Med Center publication "Inside Medicine" so the practice was half publicity. I also pinged the Stanford Daily, so maybe3 we'll get some more publlicity from that, as well.

Did a couple of easy stone throws.
worked 3x with the Grandpa's II caber...17 feet and 70 pounds with a really problematic, slow bend in it which makes it very hard to get stable. Turned it once for a horrible 9:30.

Did 3-4 LWFD throws with Bethany, who stuck one out to 60 feet. I worked on tightening up my first turn and landing with a smaller base. That should help with the fouling issues, but I need to do a LOT of that sort of work. These were really just for the Photographer.

Then did a mess of 16 hammer after everybody went home, probably threw about 8x, working on going slow and relaxed for the first two and then dropping my center of gravity and hitting big acceleration on the last rotation. I tried to drive the hips and shoulders out into the field....upshot, most throws seem to be 80+, pacing them off, with a high of about 84... but pacing off distances that big gets kind of inaccurate.

The key here, for me....if I'm going to throw this way and it certainly seems like this is a better way for me to throw....is to NOT RUSH the second wind. Just catch it over on the right and relax.

**Joshua** · 14th March 13, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Then did a mess of 16 hammer after everybody went home, probably threw about 8x, working on going slow and relaxed for the first two and then dropping my center of gravity and hitting big acceleration on the last rotation. I tried to drive the hips and shoulders out into the field....upshot, most throws seem to be 80+, pacing them off, with a high of about 84... but pacing off distances that big gets kind of inaccurate.

The key here, for me....if I'm going to throw this way and it certainly seems like this is a better way for me to throw....is to NOT RUSH the second wind. Just catch it over on the right and relax.

You and me both Alan. Tonight is stone practice but Sunday I'll be working on the chant I mentioned in my log...
Wind 1: Relax, long arms
Wind 2: Hips like Elvis, opposing the force of the hammer
Wind 3: Aggression from 8 o'clock to 1 o'clock, look UP AND RELEASE!

I'm printing that out to take with me.

**Alan H** · 14th March 13, 12:46 PM

Very short solo practice last night, as I had a Tartan Day organizational meeting.

6 light hammer throws at about 80% crank. Man, I am TIRED, still from Sonora.
8 standing stone tosses with the 12 pounder, focusing on keeping my left side high and active.

And that's all I had the mojo for.

**Alan H** · 15th March 13, 07:06 PM

Political garbage in the athletics...Nooooo... I thought I got enough of that from the Guilds. *sigh* Well, that just clinches my thoughts on becoming a stakeholder in the local organization. I can help, but I'm not letting this stuff become my life. Forget it. I hate to not contribute, but if contributing means that I have to play these games, I ain't playing.