As you can tell by the title this page is about more than just highland games. I've decided that because I do have so many strength training interest's and opinion's about them, that I could not have a page just about the games. I'll be talking about everything from grippers to yoga.
Let me know if you have any thoughts, opinions, or photos that you might want to pass on.
Babble Archives
April/29/2003
Just talked to Aaron a friend of mine and he tells me that he may be casting Kettlebells in the near future.
Quite exciting for us northern folk who are sick and tired of paying through the nose for U.S. products. Free trade is a fallacy. If it works out I expect to see him also putting out some highland games implements. Keeping my fingers crossed. As of today I still haven't practiced any events. Maybe I want to lose. First games of the year if I can make it will be in Regina. May 18. If you're reading this page and you'll be in that area be sure and come out.
May/21/2003
As I sit here contemplating my trip to Regina and the fact that I have to get out and practice, a few things come to mind which I think should be addressed by myself if I'm going to continue enjoying the highland games. The first thing is I'm going to have to learn to find out exactly which events are going to be contested at the games that I plan on going to. I'm getting so tired of getting to games and finding out that one event or another has been taken out or added on the whim of the event coordinator. When I got into the highland games it was because I enjoyed competing in those events. Maybe not so much the rock put because I suck so badly at it, but the other events, weight toss, hammer throw weight for height and of course the caber. To me these are the highland games. So when I get to a games and they don't even have the weight for height on the agenda so that they can have the sheaf toss I feel cheated somehow. And I'm sure I'm not alone. I talked to a few people who were less than happy about driving so far for a local version of the games. I guess you live and learn. Thought I was done ranting didn't you. You wish. Here is another thing that has to change if the games are going to continue to be interesting for the people who compete and for those nice enough to come and watch. We need to structure the events so that they move along. What I mean is that in the distance events if you can't hit a certain distance in your first two tries then you shouldn't get the third throw. I mean in the rock put, if you're not within 10' of third place after your second throw what are the odds of improving that much. Same thing in the hammer. If your not within 20' does it make sense to have a third throw. Then we move to the height events. When doing a games with an open field you have to start at a height that challenges everybody right from the start. What good does it do starting a sheaf toss at a height that people are hitting in the 56 for height. Nobody wants to sit through 20 rounds of low height. Booooorrrrrrring. Lets get at it and attack it. On the positive side I commend the Regina squad for putting on the games and keeping the spirit alive. They've worked hard and it shows. It was nice to see all the regulars and meet the new guys and their families. If the weight for height is put back in I'm positive I'll be going back next year. Now if I could just get my butt in gear to practice.
Sept/17
Just want to say that it was a great year and the next year holds the promise of even bigger and better things. Even bigger bellies and better technique. Some things I'll be working on this winter are heavy weight lifting, some more kettlebell work and of course my yoga. I did slack on the yoga during the throwing season and I really wish I hadn't. It's going to be another long uphill battle to get back the flexibility I had when the throwing season started. And considering the good things it did for me I just can't wait to get back to it. I did no heavy lifting last winter at all and sure I had that strength base to begin with but the fact that I did so well without doing any of the supposed secret to winning "explosive lifting" stuff makes me feel I've proved a point to myself. That being, all you need is good strength ,flexibility and lots of throwing practice. aka:tecnique. No big secret to that. The only thing I did notice some problems that I'm thinking came with not lifting heavy was my caber.
For those of you out in the great void who are interested in kettlebell training but balk at the prices of U.S. products I have good news. Aaron, a friend of mine now has kettlebells of very high quality, some say even better than Pavel's, at a great price. Just drop me a line and I'll let you know how to get in touch with him. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
I hear there are some games in Boise, Idaho this weekend. I would have gone except they have that event "the sheaf toss". If you're putting on a farmers games I guess you'd be remiss in not putting in this event. In a Scottish Highland Games you shouldn't have it. Especially when you take out traditional events so that you can fit it in. ie: a hammer throw I don't recall seeing William Wallace in Braveheart, harvesting bushels of wheat. I did see him swinging hammers and weights and throwing rocks. There outta be a law.
