June Training Update: Getting My Groove Back

When I got to Europe and saw my distances in training and competitions fall by five meters, I was a bit mystified. This happened to me last year, but I thought I had fixed the problems that led to it then. As I posted at the time, I knew that the five meters didn’t just vanish. My results were down, but I kept up hope that it would come back with the right adjustments. But after a month, my patience was starting to wear thin. I e-mailed Coach Bondarchuk to let him know how things were going and eagerly awaited his response. I thought he might be able to identify some new critical flaw in my technique, or perhaps alter my training program since things were not going well. Instead I got a short reassuring response that I will reprint in its entirety: “Hello Martin. Continued program. Dont vory. A.B.”

He was right. I took his advice, and things got better.

By the end of last week, training had already improved. I was ready for a little breakthrough, but the conditions and the meet were not accommodating to my plans. Since returning to training this week, I have continued to improve every day culminating in a record setting day Saturday. The morning started off with a new personal best with the 8-kilogram hammer (61.90 meters) and a near season’s best with the competition 7.26kg hammer (note: this throw would have been a season’s best if my training hammer didn’t have a diameter nearly as big as a beach ball). After enjoying the warm weather and the arrival of summer between practices, I returned in the afternoon to launch a new personal best with the 10-kilogram hammer (52.95 meters) and another solid throw with the 6-kilogram hammer. Needless to say, it was a good day. The only bad thing this weekend was that both the Swiss and the Americans lost in the World Cup, so now I have to find a new team to root for.

In addition to not worrying, I also adjusted several things in my life which also helped. I got utilized the free physiotherapy and massage at last weekend’s meet to treat a few aches and pains, I started to get more sleep after some long days during my first few weeks of work, I’ve stayed more hydrated lately (thanks to nuun), and improved  a few points in my technique. Some of my old bad habits, like a drifting low point and standing up too much on the first turn, came back last month. I’ve worked to minimize those mistakes and, while they are not gone, the problems have receded again.

So now my plans are back on track for the season. My training partners continue to produce impressive results too. Kibwé just threw a personal best to place second at the U.S. championships and Sultana is consistently throwing 71m and on the verge of breaking her Canadian record yet again. I know I can join them soon. I have a small local competition coming up July 6th in Olten. However, that meet will be just for fun since the competition will be limited and I’ll have to try to avoid a few trees in the sector if I throw well. For my next real competition, I will be heading where the throwers are: Hungary. I just booked a ticket for a meet on the 10th and hope to report back with some good results.