Under the Tuscan Sun (and Clouds)

As I mentioned earlier this month, I started working with former Swiss hammer throw record holder Samuele Dazio so that I could get some in-person feedback on technique. In the first month of working with him, I had already made some progress despite only working with him for a session or two at a time. This week I travelled with him and his club, Virtus Locarno, for a week-long training camp in Marina di Peitrasanta, Italy.

The camp has been enjoyable for many reasons. First, I took my first vacation from work since Christmas. After the tax season came and went like a hurricane, this was a welcome break. Second, the I love the Italian eating culture. I’ve trained hard this week, but I still think I spent just as much time in our hotel’s dining room. The multiple course meals go on at a leisurely pace every day, accompanied by a few glasses of wine and a good conversation. In total I think we spend around four hours a day at our long team’s table.

Feeling short between Nicola Vizzoni (left) and Samuele Dazio (right) in Marina di Pietrasanta.

But most of all, I’ve been able to train all week with training partners and a coach giving feedback. That is something I have not had much of in the past year. To make things even better, this corner of Tuscany is the hometown of Samuele’s friend Olympic silver medalist Nicola Vizzoni, so the training partners have been of high quality. I feel like I am making some significant technical progress and video of my throws confirms that (I’ll post some new videos next month showing some of the points I am working on). The summer season has yet to arrive here and the sun has been hidden behind clouds for much of our stay, but it is still plenty warm. It could be raining for all I care; with a good training group the conditions matter little.

I feel ready to start the season and have my first meet on Sunday. I’m aiming to get an easy throw over 65 meters and then add a few more meters by the end of the month once I get a chance to rest up. I have trained every day this week and will train again tomorrow, so I do not expect to be fresh for Sunday. I’m also breaking in a new pair of shoes which are a size smaller and have bruised my left big toe to the point where I think I may lose the nail. Fortunately that has not stopped training and I’m still confident for Sunday. I’ll be sure to post the results after the meet.