Back to the Drawing Board...again

This blog comes as I just returned home the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. I was there for 2 weeks doing rehab and analysis for my shoulder. It was a very successful trip and I got a large mount of quality work done and am anxious to get back to work in San Diego and get ready for the season...maybe...

No word from my management team yet on the New York Diamond league, but my gut feeling is that I am not going and will make a last second decision on USA Champs in 3 weeks. I am literally taking it day by day and I know when I will be ready and unfortunately I just haven't felt that yet.

The high lite of my trip to Colorado Springs was my visit to Pikes Peak at more than 14,000 feet. It was a stunning view that literally takes your breath away. Heres a few pics from Pikes Peak and a nasty video of my cortisone/novacaine and synvisc shots last Saturday...not for the weak of stomach (5.5 inch needle)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MifLldmqJLI







Until next time,
M++

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++

Bling Bling ...

Its a good thing that the High Tech High kids don't need to travel via air, because they would have a hard time getting all their medals through security! This weekends Grizzly Invite brought home 2 more personal bests for the HTH Bruins. Its an ironic occurrence when these kids step in the ring, the training volume is going down and their bodies are starting to react a bit quicker and as a result the are having a hard time "keeping their wheels on the ground". Lots of power in their throws (compared to when they 1st started) but they are having a hard time putting it into the right direction. It would be nice to get to a meet where they are allowed to actually have 6 throws rather than 3...but we do the best with what we got. There are no more "invitationals" this season, as the California CIF finals are approaching in a few weeks. So for the HTH Bruins, its a taper and tightening the screws...

On a side note, in case there are any potential coaches who just happen to be reading this...a word of advice...no matter how bad you feel you may be able to help out another teams athletes by pitching in your 2 cents, DON'T DO IT! There is nothing worse than investing hours and hours into a project (your kids) only to have an egotistical coach come over and throw his 2 cents in and screw everything up. I heard my kids say, "coach Mike, that guy said to do this, but now Im all confused?" uuuggh... wooooh - saaaaaahhh .... ;( So, lesson to be learned by me and others, if Im at a meet and feel like I can help out another jav thrower, you can bet your butt I'm not saying anything, out of respect for their coach, and his time and efforts, no matter how bad they might be!

No big news in my training, other than setting a few lifetime bests in back over head shot throws, hang cleans, standing long jump, hurdle hops...just to name a few ;) If the shoulder holds up (after the cortisone injection last Wednesday) then maybe....just maybe...we will see something cool this summer. If not this summer, next summer should be an eye opener....here's a few pics and videos from this weekend...till next time,
M++

Psychological Warfare

Psychological Warfare (PSYWAR) "Various techniques are used, by any set of groups, and aimed to influence a target audience's value systems, belief systems, emotions, motives, reasoning, or behavior. It is used to induce confessions or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to the originator's objectives, and are sometimes combined with black operations or false flag tactics."

well.....maybe warfare is a over-exaggeration, maybe mind games is a more accurate term:

This is usually the time of year when most people are putting the finishing touches on their spring preparations and getting ready for the season...this would include most people...except me. Still working on my shoulder, my throwing is still way behind schedule and my main goal is USA Champs the end of June. If that means that I cant throw until that time, so be it. The hard part is not committing to meets even though I need the money and points...never mind the 4 day trip to the Caribbean that I just had to turn down...uuugh! I will admit that there are times that I want to try to rush back and get into the mix as soon as possible (hence the Psychological Warfare intro) and there are plenty of people who want to know when and where i will be back. Its a non stop battle between what I know I should do and what I want to do. Going back to the investment I made in my shoulder back in November of 09, I knew that this year could be used as a re-building year and many others have done the same. Most recently, a friend of mine, Yelena Isenbayeva (World and Olympic Record Holder, Womens Pole Vault) has just announced that she will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from competition.
http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56414.html

So, Im guessing, I will continue my leave of absence until I am sure that I am ready to get back in the mix with all I got. To be continued...

My High Tech High Bruins just had their 3rd meet of the season this weekend. There was mixed results with a few personal bests and a few would be personal bests if they could have saved the sector fouls. I'm still getting used to the kids having to rush over to competitions from taking their ACT's. Its not quite what I'm used to but I'm amazed at the sportsmanship at their level. Its sometimes a character trait that gets lost in the professional ranks and it is refreshing to be around. Until next time,
M++

heres a few pics and videos from the meet!

The Grind ...

Its that time of year, the mad dash to get in the last serious volume cycle before the competition season starts. This usually means practices are very long, rehab is tedious and getting out of bed in the morning gets harder and harder... On the good side of things, Southern California has warmed up and it is definitely beach weather!

My training is at lifetime best in every aspect, except the one that counts...throwing. I am still planning to open up in early June at the New York, Adidas Diamond League. I will scramble to find a meet if I feel like Im up for it but I don't have any plans on throwing just for the heck of it and will take a page out the world record holders book..."throw when I'm ready to throw, not because I have to."

The High Tech High track squad had another exceptional week that included 4 personal bests and a few 1st place finishes. They had a pretty chill week this week because of their quarterly exams, but Monday was quite the treat. Somehow, the team found out that it was my birthday (Im guessing facebook tipped them off) and they surprised me with cupckaes and a nice birthday cake. It was alot of fun to step away from the track for a day and just hang with some genuine kids.



This week should be a bit more hectic as the competition season approaches and the stress levels and intensity of the workouts begins to climb. It is also a current European invasion at the training center, as UK Athletics has brought in 70 athletes! Germany, Estonia, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands are all on their way in. My close friends from Finland will be here in a few weeks and so will my Norwegian training partner Andreas Thorkildsen. Until next time,
M++

Track Season is Here!

Last weekend I had the chance to watch the High Tech High Chula Vista track and field team dominate their opening track meet of the year. I have been working with the High Tech High Bruins since early February and have seen some pretty cool changes in their technique and performance. My throwers took the following results:

Mens Shot Put: 1st Place
Mens Discus: 1st Place
Womens Shot Put: 1st and 3rd place
Womens Discus: 1st and 2nd Place







Unfortunately, they don't throw the javelin in their league...However, I wish they did because I'm sure we would have a few throwers move all the way up the ranks on the prep USA list!

The kids have progressed very well and are just now learning how to apply force in the right positions and I expect to see even bigger results this weekend at the next meet. The only struggle I have now is fighting to keep my kids in the program. There are so many other activities that these brilliant kids are involved in. It makes it hard to keep them all coming back everyday because they are spread out over so many different social activities. Thats just the selfish coach in me coming out! ;)



My training is going amazing, the shoulder is pain free and I'm doing everything I can to not do anything too much or drastic and to make sure that I'm ready for the big meets later on in the year and into 2011 and 2012. We had a national team camp here last weekend as well and it is easy to see that we are the deepest we have ever been in the mens javelin. We have a few young guys that have more talent than they know what to do with! There will definitely be some BIIIIIG throws by USA javelin throwers this summer...stay tuned!

M++