Not taking good with the bad--its all good now

[Detroitpete]

So lads, I started an abbreviated practice season this year an jumped right into my first 2 competitions. My practices had me seeing visions of glory:

Stones were farther than I've ever thrown.

Monster caber no longer attempted without first pre-planning my trip to the emergency room. Picked it cleanly every time.

Hammers relaxed and extended

But then the games came. Each event was nagging me with shorter distances than I'd expected and the litany of old injuries came back screaming before I was more than half way through.

Now I remember what I was taught: "Son you don't compete in Highland Games. You SURVIVE them."

So I'm back to working on basic techniques, looking at 6 more games coming up including the MWC. Looking forward to all of them and remembering that its the little things that count--and that I'm lucky to still be able to kilt up, walk out there and do my best.

Hang tough guys.

[MrShoe]

Mark,

Sorry to hear that your competition results have not been to your liking.
But, they are just starting. The 26th is not looking good, but I have not totally ruled it out.
If I can make it I will let you know.

I like the QUOTE "Son you don't compete in Highland Games. You SURVIVE them." lol

[Detroitpete]

Mark,

Sorry to hear that your competition results have not been to your liking.
But, they are just starting. The 26th is not looking good, but I have not totally ruled it out.
If I can make it I will let you know.

I like the QUOTE "Son you don't compete in Highland Games. You SURVIVE them." lol

Hopefully I'll see you around the games this year---maybe even convince you to pick up a stone or two???

[MrShoe]

Hopefully I'll see you around the games this year---maybe even convince you to pick up a stone or two???

Good luck with that one....Unless you are referring to Stone Brewery.
A pint or two yes. Trowing Stones...ahhh...don't think so.
However I did toss the shot a little in School. But now a days I am much better with the pints.

[Alan H]

Injuries...this season has been hard on my back.

You know what Ryan Viera told me....he practices with the womens weights, or at least lower-weight implements a lot. He says you can get more reps in with less stress if you go a bit underweight.

so sometimes when I want to throw a lot of weights, I pull the stacked plates off of my 22 pound hammer, and load that up on my WFD plumbing jobbie, and throw that.

I spend a LOT of time with a 10 and 12 pound stone rather than the 16 and I basically never touch a heavy hammer or a Braemar stone until one or two practices before Game Day.

I probably do 1/3rd to 1/2 of my hammer winds with a 12 pounder.

Try it, it might help. Come Game Day though...you're right. You just survive. You know what has helped me a ton? I just found this out at Woodland this year.....I take a folding chair out on the field. I SIT DOWN between events. Oh my lord, but it pays off in less grief in the lower back the next day as well as bigger throws. My back was always a total mess the day after a Games, but not so after Woodland. Of course you have to take your turn shagging weights and pulling tape and stuff, but still. Try it.

[Detroitpete]

Injuries...this season has been hard on my back.

You know what Ryan Viera told me....he practices with the womens weights, or at least lower-weight implements a lot. He says you can get more reps in with less stress if you go a bit underweight.

so sometimes when I want to throw a lot of weights, I pull the stacked plates off of my 22 pound hammer, and load that up on my WFD plumbing jobbie, and throw that.

I spend a LOT of time with a 10 and 12 pound stone rather than the 16 and I basically never touch a heavy hammer or a Braemar stone until one or two practices before Game Day.

I probably do 1/3rd to 1/2 of my hammer winds with a 12 pounder.

Try it, it might help. Come Game Day though...you're right. You just survive. You know what has helped me a ton? I just found this out at Woodland this year.....I take a folding chair out on the field. I SIT DOWN between events. Oh my lord, but it pays off in less grief in the lower back the next day as well as bigger throws. My back was always a total mess the day after a Games, but not so after Woodland. Of course you have to take your turn shagging weights and pulling tape and stuff, but still. Try it.

Sit down you say? Hmmmm, being the type to consistantly push the envelope, perhaps I could se up a hammock under a shade fly. Now, just to figure out how to get one of the noobs to wake me up each time before my turn at each event! Alan, I like the way you think!

[o1d_dude]

These are my survival rules for the Heavy Athletics:
1. Don't run when you can walk.
2. Don't stand when you can sit.
3. Throw downhill whenever possible.
4. Drink one beer before the Weight Over the Bar.

Rule #1. Let the young ones do all the running around. This is how the whole thing about old age and treachery came about.

Rule #2. Always have a place to sit out on the throwing field and don't be shy about telling someone sitting in your chair to move along.

Rule #3. Always look for the advantages that are available. If there's a low spot on the field, toss or throw in that direction; if you have to throw uphill, aim HIGH. Chose the biggest caber you KNOW you can turn if the choice is yours to make. Don't toss the caber INTO the wind, toss it WITH the wind. With the sun at your back, you can tell if the caber is properly vertical. Choose the hammer that has whippy handle if the choice is yours to make. Sit out the Weight Over the Bar event until the bar has been raised to within two feet of the height you KNOW is your maximum as there is a greater likelihood of a miss if you make unnecessary tosses, and always aim for the low end of the bar.

Rule #4. WOB is one of most tiring events of the day and it's a confidence event...you have to believe you can do it. One beer before the WOB will loosen up the kinetic chain and take the edge off. Throw loose.

After a hundred or so games, you begin to figure some of these things out.