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

[LitTrog]

I am one sore monkey today, but I'm happy.

Went to my first real practice session yesterday (the previous week's was cancelled ) and I am no longer nervous about my first games at the end of this month. While my performance will not awe anyone in attendance, I feel like I've got a good beginner's grasp on all the events. Hitting 11+ on WOB and 17+ on sheaf are not impressive, but I'm starting with some solid basics and receiving instruction that isn't hampered by ingrained bad habits. Drilled on caber and even got to turn one of the middle-range sticks by the end of the day.

Best part of the practice: the athletes I worked with. There were about 12 of us there, and even though I am as green as you get, I was heartily welcomed and was made to feel like an insider within minutes of getting there. Working with Wayne Staggs and Lowell Thompson (who usually throws in the 190 class but placed 2nd in the Albuquerque Masters) was a tremendous benefit. Can't say enough good things about these guys...they're working on their own stuff, but took the time to watch me and give me key things to work on without overloading my newbie brain. Incredibly kind and patient men.

An excellent day, and I am damned excited for Pikes Peak on June 30th.

[Alan H]

Two thumbs up. 11 on WOB (56 or 42?) is just *fine*, either weight. 17 on sheaf is also just fine. Improvement will come slow in WOB but you can add sheaf footage reasonably quickly when you start. If you got 17 on your first day then 19-20 is not beyond reach by the end of June. If you knocked over a caber, then that bodes well, too. Guid on ye, lad!

I don't know Lowell, but Wayne is a great guy.

[LitTrog]

Thankee, thankee. I know the distances/heights I'm pulling right now aren't good, but in context, I'm quite pleased. They had me throw/toss an implement first, tell me one or two things to drill on, and come back and do it again. I saw bigger numbers when I focused on form than when I got antsy and tried to muscle the weight. Very enlightening.

A new skill I discovered is an ability to humbly keep my mouth shut, listen, and quickly incorporate good advice into my movements. Never knew I had that in me...

Very telling is the feeling that my weakest stuff right now is the hammer and WFD movements. Spent most of my alone time doing those, and developed bad habits that need unlearning. Footwork in the WFD is killing me--I may have the moves like Jagger, but it's apparent that the man never tried to spin around with 28 lbs. at the end of his arm.

[Alan H]

You might want to throw a single-spin in the weights for your first Games. It's basically the "second half" of the two-spin.

couple of YouTube URL's for ya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4VREY3g_GE

and here's a single spin starting with feet parallel to the trig board instead of roughly perpendicular.

first ten throws or so i n this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9AmCgWFNMc

[LitTrog]

Perfect. I knew I wasn't going to have the two-spin down until my second or third season, probably--I just don't want to have to be doing a standing delivery at Longs Peak. Even I have a little pride.

[Alan H]

Our friend out here in Nor Cal, Larry Sisseck can throw 42-45 feet with a single spin and he's 60 years old. I watched John Enzenauer, who is admittedly a big strong kid, single spin the 28'er out to 61 feet at Sonora this year. I usually go 44-46 with a single spin, but I've hit 50 in practice once or twice when I stayed low and the stars aligned. Our new-ish C class guy in the CHAC, Ryan single-spun the 28'er out to 48 feet in his first Games at Woodland this year. He's working on the two-spin, but I'm suggesting to him that he single-spin his first throw at the Games weekend after next. If he hits a good one, 46+ then two-spin the others, for the experience. If he's not happy with the first one, then do it again and double-spin the last one.

Do what works for ya. 'tain't no disgrace to single-spin a weight throw. Doing a single spin right will send the weight farther than a two-spin where you stagger around and fling the weight God-knows-where.

[LitTrog]

I noticed that at practice on Sunday...A couple guys are dead-set on doing the double, but their position is so bad that, at release, they are nearly pependicular to the block, throwing totally across their bodies, launching themselves out of the right side of the trig like someone booted them in the fanny. I'd rather build some muscle memory doing things correctly than try to jump ahead too quickly. I gots time.

[Livingston]

Which games you going to at the end of the month? Also, are you going to compete at Elizabeth 20/21 July?

[LitTrog]

The last weekend in June is the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival (resurrected from Pikes Peak Highland Games, last held in 1999) down in Colorado Springs:

http://pikespeakcelticfestival.com/

Yep, doing Elizabeth, too. If today's practice was any indication, though, it's going to be a rough first season. Totally sucked at everything. Had fun, but I was not even close to 'on.'

[mookien]

"Totally sucked at everything. Had fun,..."

That's the story of my life! Embrace it. Look what it did for me - blogging on the internet, getting older, ... but still having fun.