couple of videos

[Alan H]

I threw discus in high school, and then worked on it again about 18 years ago when I was teaching at the College of San Mateo. I decided that I'd take a crack at it again this winter, since the Masters Worlds for track and field are in California, this year. I'm also working on shot put, because shot and the Highland Games Open Stone event are very very similar and it's one of my weak points. My intent when I started this winters throwing program was to really improve my shot/stone numbers. In fact what is happening is that they are staying about the same, but my discus is going gangbusters. Go figure.

Finally, I've gotten some hints and coaching from Duncan from Texas, and Bill from Georgia on the sheaf event at the Games, so here's a video of my trying to incorporate what I've learned.

No kilts, today. It was a track meet and kilts + discus = too much friendliness even for me. Besides, it was freakin' COLD out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wvT_G14eeg

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=665yqAHyVFs

[KiltedDixon]

Looked good Alan.
What kind of distances were you getting on your shot put glides
and your standing shots?

[Alan H]

Looked good Alan.
What kind of distances were you getting on your shot put glides
and your standing shots?

That's a 6kilogram (13.2 pounds) shot, which is what the Masters 50-59 throw. I stood my first one out to 35 feet (not on the video) which stunned me. The other stand throws were 32-33. I had one glide which stunk it up at about 30 feet, then one at just shy of 32 and then the best one...which is the first one on the video...at 33+.

I am hoping to go 32' 6" in the Open Stone this season. 33" would sure be nice, but ain't gonna happen unless I make some significant improvements.

[o1d_dude]

More hip and shoulder separation in the discus. You wanna go into the spin with your lower body/hips in the lead and drag the discus behind you.

Did you talk to Gary John when you went to the Los Gatos All Comers?

[Alan H]

More hip and shoulder separation in the discus. You wanna go into the spin with your lower body/hips in the lead and drag the discus behind you.

Did you talk to Gary John when you went to the Los Gatos All Comers?

Yeah, I've met Gary a couple of times, now. He took me aside (so did Ron McKee) and helped me out with some wire hammer footwork stuff. Nice guy!

Ron is looking good, BTW. He put the 6K shot out to 40-42 several times, and then gave me some pointers on how to improve my stand throw. His daughters were there. Meagan is a beast of a thrower!! ( a very nice beast )

I would really like to go to Dan Johns kettlebell group but its at 10 AM on Wed morning, and I can't do that, with my job.

Yes, I know that I'm not "winding up the spring" as much as I could on the discus. Hey, it's better than it was, a month ago! If I can a.) get more on my toes b.) knock my knees together coming through the ring c.) seriously activate my right foot to set the knee and hip, and c.) get my bottom half well ahead of my top half without putting in a "pause" in my throw....then I will probably meet that goal of 120-125 at the Masters Worlds. That will probably put me in the top ten, which would be really fun.

I'm pretty sure I can do it.

Now if I could just improve similarly in the shot/stone.