Pleasanton 2010

[Alan H]

I keep saying that I sucked...and I definitely did not live up to my own expectations, but there were some bright moments.

I equalled my PR in the Open Stone
I got hugged by Adriane Blewitt, Heather MacDonald, Kelly Niklasen and Bethany Owen
Nobody made rude body noises and laughed as I got up to the trig.

Seriously, though...I was "off" pretty badly at Pleasanton. O1d Dude had to sit through it and watch it all go down. Ugh. I'd hoped to go over 50 in the LWFD, I mean, I had 54 foot throws early that week in a mini-practice. Result? 42 feet and change. I had hoped to threaten 90 in the light hammer. Result? 77 on the first throw (NASGA is wrong)...hurled the hammer into the cage on #2, then had a pretty good toss, probably an 80-83 footer on #3, only to lose my balance after I delivered the hammer and foot-foul over the trig.

Oyyyyyyyyy.

OK, so now I've had my Game that Sucks. I hope to do a little better at Fresno

[Alan H]

I have proof I was there, though..... Thanx to "The Black Knight" here on X Marks, Adriane Blewitt, and Cara Egan for the pictures, which I have shamelessly swiped from Facebook.

Heather, my "girlfriend" and I..



Adriane, the world champion and some wrinkled, wierd old guy...



Equalling my PR in the Open Stone (thanks to the Black Knight for this pic)

[Alan H]

Thnx to Cara for these next two....



I am SO not extended in this picture. Goes to show.....

[Detroitpete]

1- You were kilted
2-I Think some of the pictures you posted show you having a good time--I was distracted by Adriane and Heather, but I'm pretty sure you were in some of the pictures
3-Multiple hugs
4-You finished on your feet and spent a good day throwing.

I'd say you have the world by the_______

[Alan H]

Horrible day in the trig or not, You got that last point spot on, mate...

[o1d_dude]

There were pictures of Alan in this thread???

Anyway, I watched you in the WOB and have a quick one sentence tip that will add at least a foot to your toss.

"Bend your knees."

When you rock backwards on your heels during your backswing, your knees are straight and LOCKED. Almost more than any other event, the WOB is all about the legs. The back rip and swing are just adjuncts to the real power.

Sorry, this is the only picture I have showing what I mean...


SacValley 2001 - Photo taken by John Ross of yours truly.

Dang! I was young back then

PS. Look at the picture of you tossing the WOB on the track. Notice how you're standing flat footed? Triple extension! Now check the picture of DetroitPete at the MWC for a clear picture of what you want to be doing.

[Alan H]

Since I've had my string of 13's in WOB this season, I think I'm going to experiment at Fresno, and try to combine the stretch-pop that I've been doing this season with a more "bend your knees" approach, like in that picture. That's how I used to throw. I'll call it the "stretch body-roll". LOL

I did something to my right-lower back..not serious but *ouch* last night so I may not get much practice time this week, though it seems to be getting better pretty quickly. Coughing or blowing my nose was impossible this morning, and I inhaled some ginger ale last night and just about wound up on the floor in agony. Now it's eased off a lot so maybe I can get in some practice. I'm approaching Fresno as a "let's try some stuff" thing. I'll come in early in WOB and just try some variations.

[Detroitpete]

Thanks o1d_Dude for the props on the MWC WOB picture. All I was thinking during that event was "Bend and extend". I changed my set up this year too. Some guys do the whole swing the weight from the side, then between the legs, then back to the side, then back between the legs and pull. That's a lot of wasted energy for me--I'm a small guy.

I start standing straight, bring the weight from my side (I throw with either hand, ususally start righty, then switch to lefty for bigger heights) let the weight come higher than my chin then knowing you can't throw from a fully standing position, this makes me bend my knees as the weight goes between my legs then I pull and ARCH HARD. This has kept me from pulling too early as well.

If I'm not on my toes with my head back as the weight is leaving my hand, I KNOW I've messed up.

Another thing about going in early. I stopped that. I figure I need my shoulders, back and legs to be as fresh as possible, so I limit my throws. Its a head game to make yourself go in at the last possible height, but for me, its paying off this year--especially when this 5'7" 190 pounder has to do WOB with the 56.

First time I decided to go in late, I cleared what was my usual best by at least a foot and wound up getting a PR.

To help me with this head game, I take advantage of 1-2 throws--really focused on form but not huge pulls during the warm up before the event.

I'm doing the same thing with the sheaf and at MWC this year I hit the bar twice at 24. Last year I barely go close to 20.

[TimC]

Alan - you were on the "action side" of the rope...everyone else had to pay to get in the gate to see you and the others...you did good.

-Tim

[o1d_dude]

Amen, brother.