Threw about 3-4 throws a piece for shot and discus, just to get the feeling. Feeling very fresh now, spent a long time with light stretching and then sat in the cold tank for 10min. Eating lots of good food and taking vitamins as well as hydrating. Very focused on my events. I plan on PR’ing first in open javelin, and then having many personal bests in the decathlon and scoring 6000+. I believe that physically and mentally I’m in a good position to do so, just going to put things in motion and execute what we have practiced so far this season. Won’t have access to computer so next time I post will be POST-Conference with results.
**The 110HH cost me 7th-8th place. I had a poor race and did not execute, having to stop in order to not crash and then 5 stepping the rest. I should have the ability to go 18-19s in the hurdles and possibly 7th or 8th. Very disappointed there.
The javelin went well, I threw 7 times this weekend over 60m including the PR of 64.57m, currently 25th in the East Region. Disappointingly this only placed me in 4th, less than a meter away from the podium. Motivation for next year.
My first decathlon was exhausting. It challenged me in many ways that I had not fully prepared for, but it was an amazing experience overall. In this year alone I have gotten to compete in 10 new events and have a new appreciation for track and field as a whole. Everything about the sport is demanding physically and mentally, and it’s always amazing to have a supportive team including great coaches who allowed me to compete in new events. This was my 3rd outdoor conference meet and by far my favorite; I got a chance to watch almost everyone on my team compete at their best, and made new friends on other teams. Overall, besides the hurdles and the javelin placing, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend of track and field.
And now, approximately 6 weeks until regionals. My shoulder is very sore from this weekend, I feel like I may have tweaked it a bit from the vault/javelin combo so I’m going to take a week off from throwing. I’m going to push the weights for maybe a week and then begin another period of maintenance before competing at Ohio State and then at NC A&T for regionals. I am very excited to compete at a high level and expect more improvements as I begin to work on mechanics again. I still believe I have 70m in me this year, just have to keep my arm healthy and get my steps down correctly.
I have the next day or two off from training to recover from the weekend, going to do some light core work and maybe some pool or bike tempo. Until then I have begun analyzing what I need to do to throw 70m this year, beginning with an effective block.
Based on video analysis and javelin technique research I need to begin to work on getting my left foot down quicker. Until now I have been so concerned about turning my right side that I have begun sitting on my right too long, causing my center of mass to shift over to the left, making it impossible to effectively extend my left and block. By stepping quickly, I should be able to hit a low block and use my upper body technique to sling the jav over 70m, especially with a longer approach. Talking to some javelin coaches I should be able to add around 50ft to my farthest throw with an effective block/approach. This should put me well over 75m, but I don’t expect things to come together all at once, so 70m first.
Also, my goals for next year in terms of the decathlon:
100m: <11.6
Long Jump: >6.10m
Shot Put: >13.00m
High Jump: >1.80m
400m: <53.5
110HH: <19.00
Discus: >40.00m
Pole Vault: >3.5m
Javelin: >70m
1500m: >5:00.00m
Total Score: >6300pts
I believe that these goals are all attainable within a year, and some I will definitely surpass before then. My focus will remain with the javelin, but if I am confident of winning the javelin at conference next year, I believe that scoring in multiple events will be a huge asset for my team. I would like to be an effective member of a 4x100m team as well, and hopefully can focus on my speed.
All that out of the way, it’s javelin time. Less than 6 weeks until regionals and I have to hit 70+m to go to Nationals, so I’m focused on making that happen. Here we go.
Another day off, tomorrow begins the training again at 5x5 for weights. I’m excited to get back into preparing for competition even though its only been three days. I have a lot of motivation right now and a lot of supportive people surrounding me so I want to make big things happen this year. I believe that I am fully capable of bigger throws very soon and as I progress I plan on achieving more and more.
I’m shooting for the Olympic trials for next year. I would like to throw high 70s- low 80s by the end of next year and with a lot of technical work and devotion, I will make it happen. We recently had a speech by an Olympic Trials marathon runner who said that even though she wasn’t a natural at running, she made it her purpose to compete in the Trials. I have that same mindset now and believe that there is nothing that will stop me from competing at the highest level possible. So from now on…
Olympics 2012.
4x30m HS
1x60m HS
2x10/5 medball stand throws
2x5 toss for height
2x3 double hop into pit
Weights: 5x5 @ 80-82.5%
Back Squat: 215
Push Jerk: 154
Incline Bench (3x5): 190
DB Bench (3x5): 140, 150, 150
Stretch and iced shoulder. Feels good to get back into some weights, my squats felt a bit heavy but from my numbers this should be the right weight. I figure that I have been away from volume for so long that I’m just not used to it. Wanted to keep 5x5 for the benches, but coach convinced me not to and I’m glad I didn’t. I feel like I ended up getting a lot out of the jerks didn’t really need extra front delt/chest soreness. Shoulder is still a bit sore, ready for throwing but will wait until next week.
Javelin technical work:
Worked on my run-up. Got to be consistent with my marks, but still lacking a full block. Getting closer, but still pushing through the block and bending my knee. I have a lot more speed and hopefully can transfer that into a big throw as long as I maintain positioning.
Plyos:
2x10 3step medball throws
2x5 Toss For Height
2x3 Double Hop into Pit
*Shoulder is feeling better. Still some motions aggravate it more, but been icing, taking ibuprofen, and doing tubing exercises for the rotator cuff. Been taking in lots of calories and trying to put on some mass quickly before regionals. 5 weeks remaining.
**shoulder hasn’t improved much, believe it is tendonitis based so may move away from overhead movements for awhile. Pain in range of motion above the head, worse at night and morning. Been icing, taking ibuprofen/celebrex, and does not feel much improved. 12 days out at this point.
Weights: 3x5 @ 75%
Back Squat 205
Incline DB Press 130
DB Bench 150
*Still limited on my range of motion so had to cut out some lifts and keep the sprints submaximal. Shoulder feels better today, slowly improving again so hopefully will be ready to start some light tosses in 2 weeks. Working on footwork all the while to make sure I’m ready for regionals if I get okay’d.
*Able to throw with elbow and wrist overhead, so tossed around the new javelin on the field. Worked on footwork in the runup and got some lifting in, mostly technical work on the pulls. Continuing to feel improvement in my shoulder.
By this I think you mean rotator cuff exercises? I do some band/tubing exercises with my elbow at a 90 degree angle. High reps daily, 3x20 per exercise 2-3 times a day. 4-5 exercises.
A bit of light stretching and massage as well as anti-inflammatory medicine.
*steady shoulder improvement. Still unable to throw past 50%, but gradually being able to release from a full position. Footwork is getting more consistent, just have to connect the upperbody with the lower. Just over 3 weeks left til regionals…
Weights: (maintenance)
Back Squat 255
Inc DB Bench 140
DB Bench 150
Rotator cuff exercises
*Began throwing with the women’s jav, can throw up to about 85-90% without pain. Did runway drills and some releases with 600g. Stretched out shoulder and iced + ibuprofen. Shoulder sore the next morning, took some more ibuprofen and plan to take it easy, maybe get in the pool to move around the joint.
Contemplating getting cortisone shot soon so that I can throw at regionals pain-free, not an easy decision but perhaps necessary. Still wanting to see how much more progress I can make in a few days.
*Didn’t do any overhead work today, gave the shoulder a day off. Iced+ibuprofen, going to hit the pool tomorrow and do core then get some more light throws in on friday. Hopefully throwing by next week.