Zonals 2011

Like I predicted, 2nd place was mine again this year in the under 20 category for Port of Spain and Environs. I must say I am not flabbergasted or awed with my throws and performance. Second place is very ravishing for my 1st year in the age group but seriously, how much competition is there in my age category?? Well at least in my zone only Hezekiel Romeo (Caribbean under 17 record holder and Trinidad's national athlete) was the challenge and always has been! It's always a fight for second place. Certainly enough I took home the silver and it's off to Nationals in the next couple weeks.

Day 5 Test- Standing, Gliding Throws... 6K (Average Weight)

My final day of test would have to be the most depressing of the five days. I am not satisfied with my throws, I threw 11.49 meters standing with the 6k and and 13.59 meters gliding. Now this is quite an improvement compared to that of my past development meet when I threw 12.01 metres gliding, but I was aiming for 14 meters for the least. I felt like I had the ability to do it and something just held me back.

To top things off, one of my co-athletes threw an astonishing 13.15 meters which I took to heart because his improvement was quite noticeable as his technique seemed brilliant! Coming to think of it though, I did pretty well, however, I have quite a long way to go still and that hit me!

For me to qualify for the upcoming CARIFTA games, I need to throw 15 meters which is 2 whole meters above my personal best. Yes! That's a lot! Two meters I said not two centimetres.

I am saddened by those results, even though they're 'okay' at my level. But to end on a good note, I do have zonals approaching in two days which I am going to try to take home 2nd place behind the Caribbean record holder, Hezekiel Romeo. I know their's no chance of killing him off with his astonishing throws, so second place will be acceptable for me.... At least for now.

Day 4 Test- Power Cleans and Incline Bench Press

Day 4 it is!!! Splendid performance today, I can't say I'm in the gym for no reason! Today we had tests on power cleans and incline bench press and I am very satisfied with what the end result gave.

As usual training began with a warm up. Today was a rainy day however, and warm up couldn't take place in such bleak weather so we had to do it in a very warm room inside the hallows of the Hasley Crawford Stadium... I must say the warm up was very adequate for the test I had ahead of me.

We started off with the power cleans and then proceeded to the annoying (personal view) incline bench press. I unfortunately, didn't have my straps or back brace with me but I proceeded with a co-athlete's straps and no back brace. I felt very enthusiastic and felt the adrenaline and knew that I was going to increase my cleans... Fortunately for me, I increased by an astonishing 20lbs! Yup I managed to clean out 215lbs max!!!! Consider that sh*t MOTIVATING!!!!!!
Below is the video of me cleaning my 2nd to last weight of 205lbs which I then increased by adding 5lbs to each end. (durrrr)



Doing my Incline was not equally as motivating but with my results from cleaning, I couldn't complain. My max just remained at 185 lbs... I tried the 195 lbs but failed miserably!
Below is the video of me trying the 195lb incline with a disturbing failure lol...From the video I see how tense I was and how poor my breathing was.




But overall today I was pleased.... nothing to be too upset about and besides I had fun. Now I'm just waiting on my final day of tests to go and conquer!!!

Day 3 Test- Forward and Backward Throws, Standing Long Jump

Day 3 of my tests was fairly impressive... I don't know whether it was due to me not being aware of my previous accomplishments in the given test exercises but I was somewhat pleased with the result.

Training started off with a typical warm up, three laps at a mediocre paste just to get the heart pumping and maintain a warm body temperature throughout the test. We followed up with some hand and leg coordination exercises and a nice stretch for safety.

Forward and backward throws consist of basically throwing the shot (I was assigned 5k) from a deep squatting position into the air both forward and over the head respectively. It is not an exercise I fancy doing very often but it is very much required as a shot putter for strengthening the shoulders, and we also do the exercise prior to competing for warming up the shoulder.

In the forward throw, I threw exactly 15 metres flat whilst in the backward throw, I threw 16.56 metres. I was required to throw exactly 1 meter above the forward throw, in the backward throw but I successfuly passed the one meter difference. In the standing long jump, I jumped 2.56 meters which isn't particularly spectacular but is an Okay distance... at least for now.

These results I am pleased with but particulalry the backward throw because I had some serious problems performing that throw and gaining distance from it. I am pleased with day 3... patiently waiting for day 4's arrival!!

Day 2 Test- Heavy throws (7K)

Well today is Day 3 of my testing but yesterday was day 2 which I'm here to talk about, was too tired to update last night. Later tonight or tomorrow morning I will update on day 3 after I have completed the test...Testing was pretty simple yesterday evening, however my results were not as expected.

I got tested in the field of 'heavy throws.' Basically that's throwing the 7k to see the furthest you can throw. While standing (not gliding) I was pleased with my result as I threw 11.25 meters. As I mentioned before testing can be either demotivating or motivating and trust i got motivated by that result. I was satisfied with my standing throw...

When it came to gliding on the other hand, it was monstrosity to the fullest. CHAOS!! a pathetic glide of 11.6 meters, .4 meters beneath my personal best, and with a standing of 11.25, that should have been much higher. I was ashamed because I destroyed my co-athletes with my standing throws (well most of them) and they demolished me in the glides.

The issue: I'm not here to make excuses for myself at all, however, if anything to blame is the fact that i didn't warm up properly just as with my development meets. When warming up i made two laps instead of the regular 3 at a very fast paste which is illogical for a warm up. I can't say I didn't learn from it though, shows me how demanding the warming up phase is to every aspect of training.

So as of today my personal best for standing throws with 7k, 16.2lb is 11.25m and the glide I would leave unattached for now... I know I am capable of more than that feeble 1.6m throw... Consider that demotivating!

Day 1 Test- Snatch, Squats, Bench Press

The title says it all.... Just as I am tested in school, I am tested in training! Today was the 1st day of 5 days of Testing. What happens is, once every month, We are tested to see how much we have improved and how much our weights need to be increased for every repetition. This can also be motivating and demotivating, depending on the result of the exam. During the 1st day of testing we did three (3) of the five (5) basic gym exercises, (for field athletes) snatch, squats and bench press. The other two (2) exercises, power cleans and incline bench press were not attended to today.

We started off with a general warm up followed by a simple stretch for safety while being tested.
What the test incorporates is the constant increase in weight until you are unable to further increase, and the last weight of a successful repetition is considered your maximum weight. We also do a light weight of about 5-8 repetitions as a warm up prior to the test.

My results today were fairly well but I was very pleased! I increased in snatch, by 20 lbs, my bench press remained the same and my squats I felt could have increased but my coach decided not to let it increase due to lower back complications that was of concern.

As of today, my bench press is 205 lbs my snatch increases to 165 lbs and my squats remains at 315 lbs.... Considered motivating!!!

What I'm Capable of...

So as a developing athlete it is quite important to keep track of progress, bad habits and good habits, all in the effort to perfect what you do. In the upcoming weak, empty slots will be filled and numbers will grow as a test is being done to show how performance has grown.
Currently, this is what my very best can do:

Exercise Max/Personal Best(P.B)
Bench press: 205 lbs
Snatch: 145 lbs
Incline Bench Press: 195 lbs
Power Cleans: 185 lbs
Squats: 315 lbs
Shot put 6K:
Shot put 7K: 12 m (Glide)
Shot put 5K:
Long Jump standing:
30 meters sprint:

Other information:
BMI: 27
Height: 5''11.5
Weight: 200 lbs

What's on My mind

Yup! here we have it... It is what it is... training rules me. I am most definately adjusted to training. Good or bad? I don't know! That's what this blog will show... the outcome... the good the bad and whatever there is between that. I'm taking the risk! I'm having faith, I'm putting my life in God's hand! I'm going after my dream and working hard for it! success or failure? We'll see! It's all about the field, the iron ball, the metal bars, the concrete circle.... sweat, long nights and HARD WORK!!!

CXC Approaching...

I must say... These days I am having to make the most career threatening and obscure decisions I have ever had to ponder on. Its like I have to choose between what's best and what's 'bestest.'
There's the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams approaching and my training is still going on. Now, these exams are none to frolic with, it's what determines your future. Where I'm from its just a petite bit of what changes you from a boy to a man. I now must choose between training which can possibly give me a scholarship, and not training, but dedicating lengthy time to studying and preparing for the exams of my life thus far.
Now people might see this and immediately think, "okay forget about the training and hit the books" but that's the mind of people who are completely unaware as to how much training has developed my social skills and not to mention my self esteem . People who have no idea how much I love what I do and how much effort I have put into it.
On the other hand some people just might say, "don't stop training, just balance your time." Now this I won't even listen to because that person either have no passes, is a scholar or seriously trying to screw me over. CXC is not a joke and i stress on that! Balancing the time is no easy task especially when training ends 6:30- 7 pm everyday.
This is how I see it:

• If I train hard, I MAY BE able to pull off the scholarship. (I am too worried that injury or some other means of negativity may affect my opportunity.)
  
• If I quit training, I WILL be able to pull off my goals of all 8 passes. ( I love training too much for this option)
  
• If I balance training with studies, chances are I won't be able to dominate or be at my full potential at any one of the areas. Hence no scholarship nor passes. (I want to be sure that I do my best in everything)
  

Now seeing how I'm thinking you should get why I'm in such a mess with this situation. Maybe I am over-thinking this but i know this is a decision that will forever affect my future. CXC is about 3-4 months away and I am in no way willing to stop train that long. I will say though, that the month before exams training has to be shoved to the side. I will leave this blog without a conclusion as to what I am going to do in this regard.
I am not only very nervous about this period of my life, I am also excited as I have so much to express to you, more updates and in the next couple months I will let you know how things are coming along. I'm ready to face this, ready to make the mistakes that I would learn from, ready to conquer... It's my moment!

Training Sneeks

A bit of what I've been up to lately... what I've been practicing

Practicing to throw with a 7.2K shot


Doing Squats


Bench Press


Videos also available on http://www.youtube.com/chessboygw