"The Ring" archive entries from Sep 11th 2013

These are the posts from "The Ring" archive on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/ from day Sep 11th 2013

Quote from shortstuff

This is from what I can remember from January 2004, the year of the Olympic Trials when in NY where I believe we had 20+ days of below freezing temperatures. Much of this may only apply to the hammer, as that was my event.

I bought socks from an outdoor supply store (like an EMS or REI) that were rated for REALLY cold temps. I also had a pair of oversized (maybe 1/2 or 1 full size larger) throwing shoes. I actually had a few pairs, depending on how icy/slippery the cement was).

I wore a REALLY good set of thermals, shirt and pants, again rated for REALLY cold temps.

I used a Gore-Tex wind stopper fleece hat, and sometimes a wind stopper balaclava.

The big key for me was the outerwear. I wore waterproof, lined jacket and pants from Mountain Hardwear, they were very thin and flexible enough not to inhibit my movements and in combination with my thermal under-layer, I would be on the verge of sweating all practice long.

I ordered a very large hammer glove and wore a glove made by 180s brand, it was thin enough and helped a LOT. My non-hammer gloved hand I wore nothing, but put on a Gore-Tex insulated glove in between throws.

This was also huge after the first couple of practices with ice-covered frozen ground (I practiced on a hill, where at 200' the hammers landed some 10+ feet above the ring). Get yourself a pair of those big yellow rubber boots, 2-3 sizes bigger than your throwing shoes, and put them on anytime your are taking a break, or you step off the circle/platform/cement. This will help insulate your feet from the frozen ground, keep your feet dryer, keep you from slipping on ice and snow as much, and most importantly, keep snow and ice and water out of the ring!

I kept my coach and and video cameras in my car, heat and engine running just outside of the cage in the back of the ring, hopefully this is possible for you.

Luckily at the time, I was coaching and we had a large diesel-powered construction light to light up the field, because all of my practices during the week started after dark.

Good luck and keep moving to stay warm.

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published at Sep 11th 2013 10:10am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Old Timer

Bill,

Thanks for the thoughtful remarks. I managed to save many of the discussions from a decade ago and believe there is still a lot of throwing wisdom present in the old timers.

To start the old timer talks, I just want to remind you of a meet at Cal State LA back in 85, 86 or 87 where you and Tore went head to head. (I don't remember who won.) It was great for a new thrower to get to see two world-class guys going at it.

My wife saw good throwing for the first time that day, and asked me if you guys were throwing the same hammers I, and the other guys, were throwing.

I let Tore in the weight room and trained with him that evening. That day over 25 years ago is still in my memory.

Thanks.

I hope the younger guys realize the event hasn't changed, except that perhaps the average distances thrown have gone down a bit since the mid-80's.

Rande Treece

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published at Sep 11th 2013 4:49pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from FDthrower

Though I guess a middle age thrower, and beginning with the even in 1996, I have viewed a lot of great video. It seems though that there was a greater American Circuit in the 70's and 80's.

Maybe I am out of it, but it would be great to see the big guys compete more.

One of my favorite videos to watch is the Big Guys Games, that would be awesome to have back!

published at Sep 11th 2013 4:56pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/