Change of Scenery

Once again, this blog comes from an airport terminal, but I’m not flying to a meet as I would normally do this time of year. I’m headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado to train at the “other” USOC training center, which just happens to be the headquarters.

After several evaluations and countless hours of rehab and therapy, it was decided by the USOC medical staff that I take a few weeks to get treated in the Springs by a different group of doctors and therapists. My plan is to stay until I’m ready to throw competitively again. When I say competitively, I mean 80m shape. I can throw in the mid 70’s every time out but not without a considerable amount of pain and I know that 75m will not be medal contention. In a perfect world, I would be ready to throw by the June 12 New York Diamond League, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m taking it day by day and will do the best I can with what I have.

The High Tech High season has come to an end, on a bittersweet note. Last weeks CIF preliminaries where marred by a conflict in schedules between the administration and athletic offices that lead to a few of our best athletes missing the meet completely. Other had to work internships all day and rush to the competition, and in most cases arrive only minutes before the start time. All in all, it was a frustrating but fairly successful day. This weekends CIF meet in North San Diego County put a few of HTHCV athletes against the best in Southern California. Although we escaped the meet with a few personal and school records….the performances where not enough to advance to CIF Finals and the season has come to an end. It was a bumpy but fun ride and I now look forward to working with Coach Earl Cabanas “Team Elite” track club and will even get a chance to coach a few young promising javelin throwers.
My flight is boarding now....gotta bounce.
M++


new personal best in box jumps, 59" = 4.91 feet (1.49m)

Where to even start this one? I cant even think of a title for this blog?

The past 2 weeks were an extremely busy few weeks that included a high volume of training, visits from international friends and athletes, and a few outstanding performances by the High Tech High Bruins.
For the past 14 days I have had the pleasure of linking back up with my friend and training partner from Norway, Andreas Thorkildsen. This training camp will be my 4th training camp with Andreas and the Norwegian team and it has been just as good as the previous camps and maybe even better. Although my physical capabilities are better than ever, my throwing is still way behind where I would like it to be, and I had to withdraw from my 1st 2 meets of the year in Shanghai and Daegu. As of right now, I plan to open my season on June 12, in New York at the NY Diamond League. It has been a hard decision for me the last 48 hours. I would love the chance to go back to China and Korea, (where I have thrown well the last 2 years) but I am simply not ready. Speaking of being ready, I would expect to see big results soon from Andreas as he opens his season in Shanghai May 23, and big results as well from another (part-time) training partner Sean Furey of the USA. Sean and Corey White will be throwing in Daegu on May 19 and should both be up for some impressive results and I wish them the best. I know they will enjoy the city and hospitality of the Korean people, they do a great job!
The High Tech High Bruins put up another massive showing at last weekends dual meet with High Tech High Point Loma. During the weeks preparation, I decided to add a some different stimulus to their training and it paid off. In the previous weeks meets, I notice that my guys where doing much better in training than in the meets. They where almost backing off the intensity in the meets and competing "scared". After a few conversations with my guys they admitted to me that they where worried about "fouling" and it looked like they where worried about not doing well in front of others. That was my impression. So last weeks training involved back overhead shot competitions within the team and I was amazed at the results. Most of my guys found their inner-competitive drive and stepped up and put up big efforts and and as a result big throws at the competition (with a little help from Starbucks ;) There are still a few who lack the drive that I would like to see but as a group, they did great and I was actually very proud. This week is League Finals, followed by CIF Finals...Im not quite sure they realize the scope of what they have in front of them, but Im sure coach Earl Cabanas will do a great job firing them up. Until next time
M++