How close to competition do you throw?

Not that I know that much about the subject, I'm still pretty new at HGs. But I read something about two weeks ago that said the rest one gets 2 days prior to an athletic competition or lifting event is THE most important.

I USUALLY THROW EVERY DAY BUT ON THE WEEK OF A GAMES I STOP AND TAKE OFF THURS. AND FRIDAY.

SOME TIMES ITS HARD TO FIGHT THE ERGE TO PRACTICE BUT IT DOES PAY OFF TO REST.

-DAVE

Great topic – Coach Mac would probably have the best answer to this (from a hands-on perspective of training with top athletes for a number of years).  Sounds to me like there’s two topics – how to train prior to a comp, and perhaps how to rest prior to a comp.  For training I’d venture to say there are two main factors – physical and mental preparation.  For myself, the physical preparation includes ‘quick-movements’ a few weeks prior to the competition – to stimulate the fast-twitch muscles and create more speed in the throw.  An example would be to stop heavy lifting and switch to more jumping, or light & explosive lifting to get the body in the habit of moving quicker.  I also focus more on the ‘details’ of the throw – always training with a trig, and even doing warm-ups outside the trig, and then 3 throws behind the trig – to really simulate the upcoming competition.  Other details of a throw include the various ‘pulls’ in the hammer.  Whether pulling across, above, around or down in front of the body, I try to work each of these through a series of slow to fast winds – and then the throws behind the trig as indicated.

For this week, Pleasanton is only a handful of days away… I trained at the USTC (acronym is close) with several other athletes, and went through the identical events for the games this weekend.  Most the guys from the games indicated they would be resting ALL week (probably with some stretching, massage and/or visit to the chiropractor as well).  For myself, I threw pretty hard on Sunday, will probably go through some light throwing on Tues and have some fast-twitch activity like racquetball today and Wednesday – Thurs/Fri will be rest and are focused on NUTRITION (which I found to be a HUGE component of how I feel/throw on the weekend).  Essentially what you eat two days prior to the games will dictate how you feel (my two cents).  If you can limit the junk food, soda’s and other food that may takeaway from your peak performance, do it… and replace with something healthier. 

With respect to mental training – the more you can make practices simulate a competition – the better you should be able to focus during a comp.  Avoid over-psyching yourself prior to the comp – and just relax the day before (both your body AND MIND).  Many times, I’ll intentionally go to a movie or a shopping area the day just to keep my mind off of throwing.  On the day of, you’re going to think of throwing anyway, and keep in mind that you’ll need to be mentally ready almost once every 15 minutes for the entire day – I’d be interested how others deal with this particular facet of the comp.

My two cents.

Dave

dave brown wrote: For myself, I threw pretty hard on Sunday, will probably go through some light throwing on Tues and have some fast-twitch activity like racquetball today and Wednesday – Thurs/Fri will be rest and are focused on NUTRITION (which I found to be a HUGE component of how I feel/throw on the weekend).

Aren't you going motorcycle riding this week?

Aren't you going motorcycle riding this week?

OUCH!

Borges... it seems you're probably the fourth person to remind me of my stupidity two years ago - when I decided to get footloose and fancy on a crotch-rocket in the foothills of California, which resulted in a ride to the hospital the week of the Pleasanton games - Worlds competition no less.  I'm just glad to be back in action and throwing again. 

On your question - the answer is 'no'.. I'm not riding the bike (at least not this week, or until after New Hampshire). 

Missed seeing you at Vierra's on Sunday - a lot of good throws by good throwers... was great to finally be at a practice that Coach Mac attended - both good to hear comment, and then not-so-good to hear somewhat simply concepts that should have been incorporated many throws ago.

Regarding a posted note above on Ballater - I heard big Mike Smith was trying the WOB style in a clinic last Saturday.  Needless to say, I think it's harder than it looks - I heard he went 13'6".

Dave