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

**Alan H** · 10th June 13, 09:05 AM

Some days you're the bat, other days you're the watermelon.

**LitTrog** · 10th June 13, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Some days you're the bat, other days you're the watermelon.

I'm definitely seedy. No argument there.

Problem was thinking that I had a good grasp of my basics and tried to add the next layer to my throws. Started off by essentially baseball-throwing a Braemar and the day didn't get much better from there. Feeling more confident with WFD, though.

**Livingston** · 17th June 13, 07:29 PM

I'll have some of your usual medicine at the tent in Elizabeth.

**Alan H** · 2nd July 13, 10:16 AM

Pookie did his first Games this past weekend, and from all the pictures I'm seeing and his general euphoria, it seems like he had rather a good time!

**LitTrog** · 2nd July 13, 12:06 PM

Yes, sir. Grinning like an idiot (which is a comparison which applies no matter what I'm doing...)

I'll post my results and some pics tonight. Like an idiot.

**o1d_dude** · 4th July 13, 04:06 PM

Throwing in the games is no longer an adrenaline/anxiety event for LitTrog. Now it's just that thing he does on random weekends.

**LitTrog** · 8th August 13, 05:13 AM

I'm finally getting around to posting my results from the latest games--I was waiting for the official results and standings, but my request for them has apparently fallen through the cracks.

In general, across-the-board improvement, especially considering that Elizabeth was a nice, flat throwing field and Pikes Peak was a PR-maker--it was markedly downhill for the distance trigs, as you could tell from the pics.

Open stone--essentially the same, but I threw it Braemar-style this time. Figured since I hadn't practiced a glide, it wouldn't help too much.

HWD--gained 1 foot

LWD--gained 3.5 feet

16# hammer--gained almost 7 feet

Sheaf-used odd 2ft increments instead of even, so I added 3 feet

WOB--same. Ugh. One member of my entourage took video and I can pretty clearly see some of the things I'm doing incorrectly...which is just about everything. Facing the right way, at least.

Caber--seems to be the event where I show the most natural aptitude. One of two guys in a field of 9 to turn 12s on the first try on the first two cabers, one of 4 to actually turn the final one. There was no 12 scored on the last one, and I placed 3rd with a 1 o'clock throw.

Speaking of cabers, Lowell Thompson was kind enough to make me my very own last week. It's a wicked little stick--17.5 feet, 87 lbs. Here's the kicker, though: the taper is slight, only a 4in. difference in circumference from top to bottom, and the balance is only 8in. off center. Several very good throwers tried to turn it at practice (including its creator), and the best that could be managed was about 70 degrees. Hopefully it will provide me years of fun!

Next competition is this coming Sunday (8/11) at the Colorado Scottish Festival.

**mookien** · 8th August 13, 09:03 AM

Sounds like you're making measured progress. That's a good thing. I know it takes a lot of practice and hard work. Congratulations and good luck this weekend. Post pics, if you get a chance. I wish I could say something more intelligent/knowledgeable (when did that ever stop me?). Keep spinning that Sisyphean log, Trog.

**Alan H** · 8th August 13, 11:36 AM

VERY nice. Good job, mate. Improvement all 'round.

Note that seeing a 1 foot improvement in WOB is roughly equivalent to a 7-8 foot improvement in light weight for distance. It's a math thing.

That sounds like a seriously challenging caber. If it was shorter, it'd be easier. If it had more taper, it'd be easier. But it doesn't. Heh.....yeah, that will keep you entertained for a while! Our meat-and-potatoes mens caber, The Whomper, is 16 feet, 87 pounds and *Extremely* top-heavy as well as having a wicked bend at the top. That makes it hard to pick and control, but once you've got it, it's not too bad to knock it over. Our "A Class Stick" sounds about like what you've got, except that it's 19 feet long.

**LitTrog** · 14th August 13, 05:52 AM

Pretty good day at the Colorado Scottish Festival. Had some progress and a few steps back, but a valuable competition. Learned some stuff.

BIG 190 group. Had some young military studs who have been training with Mark Buchanan down in Colorado Springs show up and make the middle of the pack a real battle.

PR on sheaf...hit 18ft. I felt decent about it until a couple guys I practice with pretty much told me it sucked. "If you aren't going to use your legs, cut 'em off and give them to someone who will." I think that's an exact quote. They felt I should be coming in at 18 if I'm hitting that height with just arms and shoulders.

23 ft on Braemar--not great, but my technique is improving

PR on LWFD, but still pretty bad--just over 33ft. Had a guy shagging caber come over and show me some video of my last throw and pointed out how badly I was blocking myself out. Gave me some pointers and I took a few post-comp tosses and was hitting 37 no problem. Very positive about what I can do here.

Caber--totally blew it. Got cocky with the first one and tried to readjust after the pick, darn thing shot down between my hands and body. Then popped 2 12s in a row. 2nd caber--the same one I had turned 3 times last month--nada. Nothing. Got maybe 80 degrees on it, but no turn. Ugh.

WOB--sux

Hammer--didn't match my previous distance--only 59+ this time, but something really clicked in my head after that first throw. Finally understand the Hula factor, and though I skipped the next 2 attempts off the ground, I think I'm set to really make some gains here.

Overall, I placed 5th out of 11 guys. Not awful, but I have a lot to work on until Longs Peak rolls around. I'm feeling good about my potential at this point, even though my results are frustrating.