getting started in athletics

[Kiltedmedic]

The Masons and Skull and Bones have nothing on Scottish games competitors when it comes to secrecy.
I have been writing to many different SG groups asking for tips on training, weight training and have gotten no replies. When I have tried to ask at the games themselves I get referred to the same websites that I have recieved no reply from or handed a card with an email address on it that, again, I get no reply from.
Can anyone help me? I am looking for more than "go to the gym and lift heavy stuff." I have seen guys smaller than me turn a caber so I know the is more to it than that.
Any tips?

[LitTrog]

Take a good read at this sticky:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...athlete-30854/

There are many accomplished and novice athletes on this forum--Alan H, o1d dude, Joshua, azwildcat96, detroitpete, goodgirlgoneplaid, kineticat--among others...

I'm one of those little guys about which you speak, and they offer some invaluable pointers. Follow these folks' threads/posts to get some good advice.

[Alan H]

There are dozens of workout logs posted at http://www.nasgaweb.com

Literally dozens. I maintain a log there, as well as here at X Marks. Several top Pro's maintain logs there, including Matt Vincent, Andy Vincent, Dan McKim, Craig Smith and Sean Betz. A bunch of the top A class throwers have logs there....John Davis, Jake Sullivan, Duncan McCallum, Steve Hutchinson...just to mention a very few.

Us guys here on X Marks are mostly old farts, but we know a few things.

If you want to get started in the Games, there's a thread in this forum at the very top, which gives you loads of information about how to make newbie practice gear, what to wear, basic training tips and so on.

BTW, flipping a caber has diddly to do with how much you bench press, but has a whole lot to do with A.) timing B.) Balance and C.) the number of hang cleans you do.

Gross oversimplification, unless you live in the South, which has two throwing seasons and two off-seasons....

The first 3 months of the off-season...lift big stuff. Try to maximize your overhead press, bench press (maybe incline bench press) deadlift and squat.

A month before you start throwing, knock off that stuff and start doing Olympic-type movement. Clean, snatch....stuff like that. Move weight FAST.

The first month of throwing, you're still doing some lifting, but you're throwing a LOT. Like 2-3x a week. You want to get strong to throw? Great. Then go throw. Then throw some more.

During the season, if you're young and into it, you're throwing 2 or 3x a week and lifting 2x a week, maybe more. If you're old, you're throwing 2x a week and maybe lifting 1x a week. Or maybe not. It depends on how into it you get.

But don't take my word for it. Download Matt Vincents e-book and print it out. Matt is on Facebook. Heck, there's a w hole Throwers group on FB. Matt responds to messages. He's a gruff guy, and he writes and talks straight )*^(*$ so don't expect fuzzy feelgoods if you don't have a reason to get them, but he's OK. He's for real. Download Matts book and read it. THAT is what the current world champion does for his workout.

It's out there. go find it.

[Alan H]

Also VP productions has a video...'weight training for the highland Games" which is done by Ryan Vierra...probably the best Highland Athlete of the last 50 years.

Buy it on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Games...Highland+Games

Pro, Ryan Stewart has made an instructional video that goes through the events step-by-step. Give him a call or shoot him an e-mail.

http://www.dialedinfitnessutah.com/ryan-stewart.html

[LitTrog]

Hey! Lookit that! "Speak of the formerly tasteful aesthete..."

I'm magic.

[Alan H]

Hey, YOU were gonna throw. Hmm? I don't see no pictures or results. you HAVE the hammer.

***tapping sound as nails drum on the table.****

[LitTrog]

Hey, YOU were gonna throw. Hmm? I don't see no pictures or results. you HAVE the hammer.

***tapping sound as nails drum on the table.****

Don't forget my 42lbs. bag of cat sand!

I'm so busted! I have all the practice equipment I need (except caber) and have been doing some throwing. Problem is, I suck. Suck suck. It's clear I need to focus more on power lifting than my usual vanity crap. I want to go out next season confident that I'm not taking the place of some dude who actually put in the time--I want it to be clear that I'm taking the events seriously, that I'm not a mini muscle head who thinks he can just step on the field and throw.


I promise I'll be competing next summer. (Cringe) If not, I'll present myself to you for some soul-crushing ridicule.

In the early stages of my info gathering, I happened across a video of a certain heavy giving a clinic on stone. You were with a young lady (Bethany?). Fun to see you in action.

[Alan H]

Estes Park.....Right Now-this weekend.

http://scotfest.com/Scottish_Festival/Home.html

Gird thy loins, man, show up and take the plunge. You're not taking a slot away from anybody. You can do it.

[LitTrog]

Oh, for the love of...

Argh. We're going up anyway...hang tight. And stop talking about my loins.

[RogerWS76]

So are we to expect pictures of your girded courage next week?