Today was a little frustrating.  I had such a great week of practice!  On Sunday coach Clayton and I began working on a change to the back of my throw.  I am trying to enter the throw with a bent right him, knee, and ankle.  My goal is to have my right knee flexed at 90  degrees with my right toe up while I bring my right leg around into the middle of the ring.  This is HARD FOR ME!!!  My whole throwing career I have used a straight right leg entering the middle.  a bent right leg is quicker and easier to move in front of the right shoulder…which I HAVE TO DO!

Anyway, This was my goal all week…and I did get better at it.  However, when the meet came I digressed back to my old technique.  I was really frustrated during the competition.  It seems like such a simple adjustment but in the heat of competition my body’s muscle memory was stronger then my mind.  Here is my video. 

My training partner Aretha Thurmond had a great day.  Her goal was to throw over 60 meters (197 feet).  She started the competition off with throws in the 180′ range but made the necessary adjustments.  On her 5th throw she was on balance with great separation which led to a big throw of 60.86 meters (199’8″).  Watch as the official has to run and drag the tape because her throw was so far!

On April 4th we had our first track meet of the season.  I threw with many college athletes and several other professionals at Auburn University.  It was a beautiful day and there were 25 throwers in the Men’s discus.  The goal of the meet was not only to throw far and win while seeing what technical adjustments carried over from practice to an actual track meet.  I won the meet with a throw of 57.60 meters (189 feet).   My next meet will be on the 17^th of April at Auburn University.  My training partner had a great day as well.  Aretha Thurmond threw 195 feet.  That throw currently ranks her #1 in the USA and #11 in the world.

Aretha Thurmond and I work out together in the weight room. On Monday we challenged ourselves in the squats, incline bench, snatches, and several auxiliary lifts. At the end of each weight room day we end with core strength training and a post-workout recovery protein shake. Here is a Video of Aretha doing heavy safety squats.

And some pictures of us doing our triceps exercise and corner bar core strength exercise.

I was in the middle of throwing practice on March 21st when the rain came.  As many of you know, I grew up in Kent…just south of Seattle Washington.  In the Northwest the rain is consistent and will rain for hours at a time.  Here in the south…..the rain is a torrential downpour and lasts a half an hour or so.  On Sunday we were throwing when the sky opened up.  We grabbed everything and ran for cover.

Today was a great practice.  I have been working on turning my left foot in the back of the ring without shifting my weight or rising.  If I can turn my left foot, my next goal is to keep my right foot dorsiflexed (toe up) and my right knee bent while entering the center of the ring.  OK…lets say I do those things well….next my goal is to “face the throw”.  This means I will work my right leg and hip in front of my shoulders while looking toward the throwing sector.  This will keep my weight on the back of the ring while maximizing separation between the right hip and right shoulder which leads to farther throws.  Here is my most recent training video showing what I have been working on.  See if you can see what I’m talking about and feel free to comment

Since arriving in Alabama I have had a completely different focus while throwing and lifting.  Now, more than ever we focus on technique.  It is still important that the weight is difficult but only if the technique is maintained can we increase in weight.  The concept is “work smart….and hard” instead of the more common “work harder” method.  Here is a little clip of us in the weight room having a good time while we finished up our lift on Tuesday.

And here is a video of Aretha working her cleans from a box.

After some many years of strength training I am now able to tear a phone book in half.  The video was taken on my phone so please forgive the quality.  If you believe this video to be fake….please challenge me in person and I will have a phone book tearing contest with you.

Every once in a while something totally unexpected happens and it alters our plans. Here is my story. I was walking through our apartment on Tuesday the 7th of July, packing and getting ready to leave for New York to compete at the 2009 Club National Championships. AHHHHHH!! I just stabbed the side of my foot with something very sharp! What in the world? After stopping the bleeding I examined the carpet to find a sewing needle….no wait…oh no. HALF OF A SEWING NEEDLE. Where was the other half? Yes, you guessed it, stuck far enough into the side of my left foot near my big toe that I could not see it or remove it. The next morning I went and had my foot x-rayed. Check it out

I told the Dr. that I had a track meet in New York and a date with my beautiful Wife that I just could not miss. We scheduled the surgery for Monday (after the meet) and Kate and I left for New York!

The competition was tough. I had a difficult time throwing but Kate and I ended up scoring good points for the team and helping Club Northwest place 5th on the mens side and 8th on the womens side. I threw hammer 180′, shot put 50′ and discus 180′. Nothing amazing…but remember NEEDLE IN THE FOOT! HA. Here are the video’s

As with most of this season, things did not go as planned.  Reedus Thurmond and I threw at the 2009 USA Track and Field Championships on Friday the 26th of June.  I entered the meet with a mark of 61.74 meters which I threw at the Olympic Trials last year to place 6th in the USA.  This mark ranked me 10th coming into the meet.  I fealt great, I am stronger then last year and even more focused.  However, my discus throwing did not show the amount of work I put into this season.  I threw 57 meters and placed 14th.  My goal was to place in the top 3 which would have required a throw of 62 meters.  This goal was possible and very realistic but was not in God’s plan for this year.  I still had an amazing time and I always love seeing my track and field friends.

Thank you Kate, Grandpa, Aunt Pauline, Uncle Ernie, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, Sarah, Tom, SJ, Donna, and the Hatfield Clan for coming to cheer! And Thank you everyone else for all your support and cheers from around the country.  You are all amazing for making the trip and being part of the 2009 USA Championship experience.

Here was my 2nd throw that landed at 57.96m (190’2″)

Another seasons best!  I woke up the morning of the 8th and was feeling horrible.  Pollen counts in Portland were at an all time high and I was having flu symptoms.  My Dad prayed over me, My sister in law made me breakfast and gave me some medicine.  Then when I arrived at Mac Wilkins throwing center I began to feel better.  It was a low key competition with many great athletes.  Both Discus and Hammer were contested.  Aretha and Reedus Thurmond were both competing and giving me advice along the way.  The two of them combined are like having one super coach that can fix anything I’m doing wrong.  They both kept encouraging me and on my last throw I threw a seasons best 59.52 meters (about 195 feet).  Check out the video.  My next meet is on June 12th in Vancouver BC (Kajacks track meet).