One More Week

I’m back in Seattle for the week before heading to France to open my season at the European Cup-Winter Throwing next weekend. The entries for the meet were just released and it will feature an elite field, with more than 20 throwers with bests of over 70 meters. I’m hoping to gain some international experience at the meet and approach my best opener ever (66.47m). I started lifting heavier weights again last week and have been a little sore this weekend, but training has still been going well and I know I can throw 65-67 meters in the right conditions.

My brief stay in Seattle has been filled with work with my non-profit, the Evergreen Athletic Fund. I also attempted to compete at a small local competition on Saturday, but ended up passing most of my attempts due to a sudden hail and wind storm. After the competition, I put on a quick youth clinic for the throwers with Mike Mai, Zack Midles, and Jake Boling. Most of today has been spent updating HSHammer.com and CollegeHammer.com with results from the indoor high school and college championships this weekend.  Tomorrow, the EAF will have its annual meeting and I’m excited to see what ideas we have for the future of the organization.

I am also spending the week rehabbing from some nagging injuries I’ve accumulated over the past year. I’ve had some lingering glute pain that has improved lately, but has not completely subsided. Thanks to the help of physical therapist Neil Chasan of the Sports Reaction Center in Bellevue, I am working to eliminate it entirely. Neil has an extensive background in sports, helping athletes ranging from rugby players to marathoners. He’s been kind enough me out and get me back to 100% and I’ll keep you all updated on how it progresses.

Finally, I wanted to congratulate my training partner Dylan Armstrong.  Dylan represented Canada in the shot put at the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar.  Dylan threw over 70-feet for the first time and extended his national record by nearly two feet.  Unfortunately, he missed a medal by centimeters and placed fourth, just as he did at the Beijing Olympics.  Dylan is ready for big things this year.  Keep an eye out for his results.