NEW TRAINING SITE

Today was my first day at my new training venue. We had to move from our old place because a new road is going through it. The current location is not as convenient as the last, requiring two bus rides and no room for tardiness or I'll be 45 minutes late. We share the field with a local model airplane club. They have a small landing strip and everything. It always seems that throwing has to take second place to something else. Since I've started to throw I've battled against walkers, football players, the city, and now an airplane club. The nice thing about the new place is the landing area is grass and should be easier on the implements. There are two port-a-potties. It's right across the street from Coach Bondarchuk's home. Maybe some days we could get Galina, his wife, to make lunch for us.
I felt a little groggy in both sessions. This could be from the drive back yesterday. I went 43.55m with the 10kg and 49.00m with the 9kg. Tomorrow I'll be indoors because the airplane club has a function all day and the field will be off limits.
Don't forget to vote for a slogan. Only 4 days left!!!

RECORD SETTING SUCCESS IN SEATTLE

I just got back from Seattle, Washington. I improved my national record/personal best at the Club Northwest all comers meet, to 61.12 meters. This is the 4th time for the season. I'm not where I'd like to be with my technique. However, I'm sure if I clean a few things up that I'll throw a few meters further this season. I also managed to throw the shot put. I don't remember how far, but It was close to 13 meters. Yeah I know, I know, maybe I should stick to hammer. I'll post the results link when it becomes available.
I'm truly thankful to my two training buddies, Martin Bingisser and Dane "the milk man" Miller. Martin for getting the hammer into the meet program and Dane for putting up with me on the 4.5hr drive down there and back.
I'm also gracious to the Bingisser family for putting me up for two nights. When I return, I promise I'll be in shape to play Wii. I'm also sure that Dane will still be the short, waterlogged, virtual 9.56 100m world record holder and I'll continue to dominate the hammer and just about every other sport on that game.
Besides having a good meet, I was able to enjoy myself and drive through some of the most beautiful parts of B.C. I also learned that raw milk is quite expensive at Whole Foods and if paid at the right register, a friend can become a complete goof. HAHAHAH A, I know Dane is wetting himself right now.
Well 6 gallons of raw milk, a scenic drive, and an interesting boarder crossings, I'm safely back in Kamloops to get back to training.

BOMBS OVER KAMLOOPS!!!

If your unfamiliar with the term "dropping bombs," don't be alarmed, Canada hasn't gone to war. It's just a throwing term for far throws. I had a consistent and energy filled practice.(too bad I was by myself,lol) Today's practice was one of those where I felt like I was doing all the right things. Today sort of makes up for those bad days where I feel like I've never thrown a hammer in my life. I went 45.70m with the 10kg and 50.80m with the 9kg. Most of the throws were in a half meter to a meter range of each other.
Speaking of dropping bombs, my training partners, Jenn and Sultana are lighting up the skies of the Ukraine. Both of them are over there with Dr. B competing. Jenn went 69.84m(new PR) and Sultana went 69.60m, both Olympic A standards.

Next on the agenda is a meet in Seattle this Wednesday. I get to go down and throw it out with Martin, another training buddy of mine.

INJURY UPDATE

Hi everyone,
I posted last week that my left knee was slightly injured and has been nagging me. I've been going to get treatment since before I left for my last competition and since I returned to Kamloops. Some days my knee feels like its getting better. However it still hurts when I get into a bent position for my turns. Kevin, my physiotherapist, said that there is better movement in that area which means that its healing. But it will take a little while longer since I have to train, lift and compete on it. So... that's the news on my knee. Just felt like sharing that with you.

Training Notes

Today's am practice went well. I had 14 attempts with the 10kg. Almost all were over 44m. I had a best of 45.30m today. I was very consistent this morning.
The weather in Kamloops can change at any time. And so it did. The afternoon was wet, windy and cold. I had 14 attempts with the 9kg. I threw easy and worked on technique, I didn't want to slip and fall. Especially not in the middle of the season. About 30 min after practice the rain stopped and the sun peaked from behind the clouds. I tend to like days like this because it helps you practice throwing in bad weather. If I get to a major competition and its raining and I am able to cope with the mental aspects, I may have the upper hand on my competitors. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some good weather and the same consistency I had today.

SMALL STEPS

Hello All,
This past weekend I added 10cm to my national record/personal best, increasing the distance to 60.77m. I competed twice this weekend. I had a best result of 59.32m on Saturday and set the record on my first throw on Sunday. My technique was 'off' on both days, I really didn't put a good throw together. The weather was fairly warm, warmest competition of the season. The overall competition was great. I was able to compete against Jim Steacy who extended his Canadian national record to 79.13m. (Farthest throw I've seen in person) My training partner Sultana Frizell extended hers to 70.55m. She is also the first female Canadian hammer thrower to surpass the 70 meter barrier. Congrats to them both on there records and Olympic Games A standard qualification. Well, I'm in Calgary now and I'm pretty tired so its off to bed for me. I will travel back to Kamloops tomorrow. That's all for now...
(please forgive me if some of the marks are wrong. I will change them if need be when the official results are up, along with the results link)

PRE-MEET NOTES

Hi everyone,
I'm competing at the Chinook Throws Fest this weekend in Lethbridge Calgary, AB. This weeks practice has been good. I'm throwing the 10kg and 9kg, alternating between AM/PM sessions. 14 attempts each. The lifting isn't too demanding and there aren't any special exercises. I've been looking really good lately. I've been staying down throughout the throw and letting the ball go around my left. I can really feel the throw with the heavier implements. Mr. B says that I look strong. My body has had a good response to this program. I threw 9kg 51.70m on the 13th for a new PR.

Unfortunately my knee is slightly injured. I've been to the physiotherapist twice this week. He said it may have stemmed from tight IT bands on my left leg. So that means I need to stretch more. My knee bugs me while I throw but sometimes this is all a part of what I do. You have to train through these minor injuries.

Besides the injury I'm all set for competition. Its time to GET HAMMERED!!!

APRIL MARKS
29TH
9KG/47.50M
6KG/62.10M
7.26KG/57.40M
5KG/62.90M

30TH
9KG/47.20M
6KG/57.70M

1ST
9KG/49.20M
6KG/64.40M
7.26KG/56.40M
5KG/67.90M

13TH
10KG SHORT 12 ATTP.
9KG/5 ATTP.51.70 PR

14TH
9KG/49.95M
10KG/46.10M PR

New Program

I started a new program on the 3rd of this month. I'm throwing the 10kg(short wire) and my training days are 3 days on 1 day off. My body has been taking a beating. This is my first time training with the 10kg. It's fun but hard. I'm glad that its on a short wire though because this way it doesn't really feel like I'm throwing a 10kg. I threw inside for about 6 days while Coach Bondarchuk was away at a training camp. But we've been outside since his return. The weather in Kamloops is getting better. Although we still get days where its 55 F and rainy.
Overall as a training group has been competing well. Sultana Frizell has set a new Canadian record twice for the season(69.39m). Jennifer Joyce(CAN) has gone 68m and Vanessa Wilhem(USA) set a new PR of 65.21m. Both Canadians are very close to the Olympic A standard of 69.50m. Dylan Armstrong(CAN) is doing well. He's thrown over 20m in the shot a few times for the season in his preparations for the summer games. Jessie Roberge(USA)is off making a living lol. He's competing at a few meets on the Grand Prix circuit, in Jamaica, Brazil and Senegal. Everyone else in the group are doing a great job. It will be interesting to see what we all do when we have our peak conditions. Its truly amazing to train with the best in my sport who are like-minded and have the same aspirations as I.
This coming weekend I'm off to Calgary for the Lethbridge Throws Gala. Its a festival style meet so I will have 3 or 4 opportunities to compete. I'll be training through this meet. My eyes are set on the Central American and Caribbean in Cali, Colombia in July. That's all for now. Don't forget to vote for a slogan.
Cheers!!!