Martin roy training log

**Martin Roy** · 22nd September 13, 08:54 AM

Fresno was really well done - very smoothly run, great weather, a good group of throwers, and just a plain ol' good time. Also, for me, I experienced the agony and the ecstasy.

The agony stemmed from my bed at the Comfort Inn which didn't live up to its name. Normally, I can sleep like a rock pretty much anywhere; show me a pillow and I'm out for the night, which drives my wife to distraction. However, for some reason this bed did not agree with me and my back tightened up in knots that would have trumped granny's best efforts. I could not get loose the entire day and by the afternoon I simply wanted to get through the final events, both hammers and caber, without doing any damage.

Nonetheless, in counterpoint to the agony was the ecstasy: Three PR's.

As usual, we did wfd as our first event. Based on recent practice, I've realized that a double spin now feels more normal than a single spin with the heavy weight. Thus, I decided that Fresno would be the first game to do a double for all three attempts whatever the results. Worked out very nicely with a PR; it was only by about several inches, but it's progress and I can feel that there is a lot more in the tank. Several guys commented that the form looked good.

I also hit a PR with lwfd, hitting 36 on my last throw. My goal is to break 40 before the end of the season and I've got two more games left.

Stones were terrible but not surprising. I haven't worked stones at all since Monterey because of a kink in my shoulder that is slowly going away, but seems to be exacerbated by stones.

Wob was great. I went in at the opener 9ft as a warm up and test for my back; it was not a problem. Sailed over 10 on the first attempt. Moved to 11 and hit the bar hard on the first toss. Got some quick pointers from Roger and reminded myself that I've been hitting this in practice. And, on the second attempt it went over slick as you please with inches to spare. PR. Finally. With that toss I feel as if I've banished many, many demons after my oft-noted years of frustration with this event. I passed on any further attempts after that because I wanted to save my back. New target 12.

Hammers and cabers were our last three events and by that point I was just trying to stay mobile. Got through without incident and that was enough.

On to Dixon this next weekend where I'll start my campaign as a 60.

**Alan H** · 22nd September 13, 07:55 PM

I just looked at the scores on NASGA...

ELEVEN FEET WOB!! You did it! HOT DAMN!.....Good job, Marty, I wish I could have seen it!

I was thinking that your LWFD was probably a PR, I didn't realize that HWFD was one as well. Nice job! Your hard work is paying off! Not only that, but your LWFD beats Garretts! The old man can still make the youngster work for it.

In fact, now I see that you beat the G-man in Open Stone, Light Weight for Distance, and WOB...

**RogerWS76** · 24th September 13, 09:12 AM

11 feet was AWESOME to watch!!! VERY glad I got to see it and celebrate!!!

**Martin Roy** · 25th September 13, 12:57 PM

Today marks the one year anniversary of this training log. In reading over some of the early posts for both lifting and throwing I'm finding it very gratifying to see that I've made considerable progress in a number of events and have substantially increased my strength levels across the board. This weekend I debut in the 60 class and I feel quite confident that I still have my best days as a thrower ahead of me.

**Martin Roy** · 1st October 13, 02:37 PM

Dixon was a fun day, marked by a birthday cake, bagpipes and a song, engineered by Alan and Bethany. I promise I will never forget the moment.

Throwing was nothing spectacular and somewhat disappointing - a comedown after several PRs at Fresno. Nonetheless, I did come away with one video of caber that Garrett took, my second attempt, which gave me an idea on how to adjust my pull to get it just a little bit earlier. My main problem with the caber is that I'm pulling too late most of the time and I think I may have figured out a remedy. I checked earlier video of caber from Woodland and I noticed that I had the same hitch then. So, between now and Ventura I've got a very specific focus on caber practice; if my analysis is correct it could make a big difference.

At Ventura I want new PRs in both heavy and light wfd; I want to clear 11' again in wob; and I want a PR in light hammer - I've been getting good throws in practice and it's primed for a break out game.

Stones will be whatever they will be. I haven't been working them for at least a couple of months due to a slight kink in my right shoulder that is aggravated by the stone push and no other movement. It's been feeling better recently so I'm optimistic that I'll be able to start working stones again soon.

The sheaf I will simply endure.

One more game and then it's on to lifting with a purpose.

**o1d_dude** · 2nd October 13, 06:07 PM

I think what a thrower does in practice is probably a better indicator of skill and technique than at a games where you've driven several hours and left home at zero dark thirty or slept on a crappy motel bed, eaten fast food before hand, and are looking forward to a long drive home at the end of the day.

Just saying that at practice the conditions are usually optimal. Occasionally the adrenaline at a big games can help, tho. I usually threw sub-optimally (less than practice PRs) at the "little games" but almost always showed up big time for the games that really mattered. It's a matter of perspective. Throw to have fun and the "far" will take care of itself.

**Martin Roy** · 3rd October 13, 09:18 AM

Nice to hear from you again, Kit. I trust your rehab efforts are getting you back to where you need to be.

I agree that throwing for fun is the key element in all we do for our sport. If the fun can't be found, the far doesn't matter. Moreover, the fun has to be found in the process, not simply the result.

I like what you said in Alan's log: smooth is fast. I think that will be my new mantra.

**Martin Roy** · 3rd October 13, 08:47 PM

Easy throwing tonight at Shaffer Park and I can tell it's the end of the season because I've got minor aches and soreness that takes longer to loosen up and then returns more quickly when I slow down. So tonight, light hammer work, a caber drill I devised, and about ten wob tosses.
All fairly routine at this point. Between now and Ventura I'm going to keep things light in general so I hit the last weekend reasonably fresh.

**Martin Roy** · 7th October 13, 01:32 PM

Garrett and I went out to Shaffer yesterday with a newbie who seems enthusiastic but has a good ways to go before he's game-ready. I did a few reps each in wfd, hammer, wob, and caber, but chose to go easy because I'm still really tight and having difficulty getting loose. Since Fresno I've been making sure to give myself adequate recovery time in between games to survive the Fresno-Dixon-Ventura sequence, but I think I've gone too easy on myself. The way I've been feeling lately is prompting me to rethink the extent of my maintenance lifting. I'm concluding that less lifting is not necessary more recovery. Judiciously applied lifting promotes recovery and keeps everything in tune. I heading to the gym tonight to lift something multiple times.

Do you guys have any thoughts on this? Is too much recovery a negative? And I don't mean doing nothing for a few weeks; I mean intentionally dialing down one part of your training with the goal of peaking for a game.

**o1d_dude** · 7th October 13, 10:13 PM

There's a fine line between "easing up" and losing strength.

My recco is to lift on a regular schedule and then take a week off at reasonable intervals. For example, lift for three or four weeks regularly and then take a scheduled week off. The balance between lifting and throwing will have to be derived on your own. Overall, it's better to be a thrower who lifts rather than a lifter who throws.