winding down

so its been a while, and one hell of a season in the middle. with a few games left in my season I'll have covered 4 U.S. states and 2 different countries for competition. Despite moving twice, living 80 miles from my training field and the O.C. Highlanders, this donkey pressed on!

my throws are really suffering towards the end here. its kind of discouraging out on the field but I have to take into account that I've been traveling every weekend since January and when I can get a practice in, I'm so tired that i really dont want to. lifting has become bleak at this point....

but its over. Ive got a few months, from now till October to get my shit straight. Im back in the Bully Box. I want to hit the weights hard and get some good practice in and make the last California games in Ventura worth a crap. Tucson after that in November then its the off season of lift, lift, lift, throw, throw, throw. Ive packed on a few (several, PLENTY even) pounds through the months and I hope to use those more efficiently to throw around. I want to trim down a bit and throw a LOT farther. end.

This year all the people in the highland community have really helped me get through things. some I may see once a year, and some I may see 10+ times a year, no matter the frequency they are all like a family to me and I am so grateful for having all of them in my life!

Without the love and support of my family and friends I wouldn't be able to continue competing.
special thanks to the MacDonalds for traveling to most of our games and always being there and cheering me on (plus putting up with me every weekend AND feeding me, thats a tall order and I really do appreciate you people), Heather MacDonald for being super supportive of all my decisions. Sport Kilt for helping me get where I'm going and keeping me looking like a million bucks. the list goes on and on. If I attempt to list everyone I will have to edit this thousands of times to add people I may forget, so know I wont forget you, and your included in everyone.

plans: Ventura in October, Tucson in November, train like i mean it in the off season and come out stronger than ever, Next year I'm throwing A class. even if I come in last every games, I need the push and knowledge of skilled throwers to help me advance. I want to be bigger, faster, stronger, and a better athlete. I need you all to stay with me because you're the reason I'm here!

Wooster.

Whip it, whip it good! Mid season thing.

So I've taken this season on as full steam as I can, going to highland games after game after game. It just turned June and by the end of the month I will have already competed in 12 events across the country and around the world. Ok so mainly southern California, a few in Arizona, 1 in las Vegas, but I did go to Germany which was awesome!

I'm starting to feel worn thin. But let's face it...there's nothing thin about me! I competed 3 weekends in a row, had a weekend of rest and went camping, then settled in for 4 more weekends in a row which brings me to today. I've had very little to no time to lift for strength or speed, not that i own much of either. I'm officially the worst pro level competitor ever, I haven't made a single dollar at any event, but that's ok, because I'm not a pro level competitor and Because I've been able to talk to people and build more friendships than ever, and that you can't hang a price tag on!

I've just been hit with a new workout routine which takes into consideration my daily job of very physical activity, so I'm very excited to get on board and back into my bully box. The season slows a little from here on out, so when this new rhythm is in full swing, I will be pushing for stronger, faster lifts, and farther throws.

People debate about it, but I'm decided. I'm a thrower who lifts, not a lifter who throws. Mega strength? Not really my bag. I want to develope technique that's unmatched and stay as physically and mentally healthy as possible.

The quick shout outs to all the people that are wonderful sources of motivation and entertainment though my year: The whole Orange County Highlander team of knuckle heads. My beautiful supportive girlfriend. My Arizona friends and throwers, phx and Tucson guys! The pros, masters, A's B's C's lightweights, and women who have the heart to stand me on the field. Judges, ADs, organizers, markers, shaggers, and that poor kid that took the caber to the head that i laughed at till I pissed my self .And all the volunteers!

Special thanks to: Sport Kilt for their generous help along my journey. The MacDonald family for continued support till the last throw. and everyone who ever came out to a game and said 'hmm, that's cool'

If I knew 1 person ever to stick with highland games because of me, I would be satisfied!

Without you all I would be lost. Thank you!

It's all the way on! Crap video.

The season is off to a great start! Early march we threw in beautiful Sonora California. Hell of a drive for a short event full of ren fairies galore...either way it went well. Early in the season PRs were a plenty, it went like this:
Braemar: 27ft (pr)
Open stone: 31'10"
Heavy weight: 25'6"
Light weight: 52'5"
Heavy hammer: 77'5"
Light hammer: 104'8" (pr)
Sheaf(16lb): 24'
Wob: 11' smashing the bar at 12'

Threw Phoenix last weekend, had a blast. Absolutely wonderful watching the top A class guys like Adam Brezina, Jake Sullivan, Jon O'Neil, ect. the pros are always so cool to hang with and watch. Mucho props to Matt and Andy Vincent, Ryan Stewart, John Oddin ect. The B class guys were all stand up athletes except me, I'm just a tattooed asshole throwing his ass off to let out aggression from the freeways in Los Angeles. But it works out!
Open stone PR at 34' and change
Light weight PR at 59' and change
Light hammer PR at 106'8". !!!
2nd overall.

I need to work on wob and stones like bad bad.

Phoenix woman's world series, wow, what a bunch of crazy ass athletic strong talented women! Every single one of the absolute sweethearts also. These girls are my hero(in)s of the weekend by a long shot. Kristy Scott shooting a 19 foot WOB for a world record! Kate Burton and Adriane Wilson shooting it out field record after field record with Kate coming in a mere couple points under Adriane.

So I decided I needed to lift today because Vegas is coming and so is summer, and we all know how good I pull off a bikini...

Squats:
135 x 5
225 x 5 x 2
315 x 5 x 2

Rack pulls from just above the knee
315x5x3
405x5x2
495x3
545 for 1 nasty rep for justacause' with the dog hanging out.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YrNlY-xre8w
Click the damn thing for video.

Monster season!

Queen Mary! What a good time. I threw well for my self. Took 3rd over all in men's B class with the scores of :
Braemar: 26'9"
Open:32'2"
Light weight: 50'9" (not happy)
Heavy weight: 26'0"
Light hammer: 100'6"
Heavy hammer: 80'1"
Sheaf : 18'
Caber: 12:30

Awesome weekend with awesome people and wouldn't have it any other way. I set some new PRs for my self so I know what I'm chasing this year. Hopefully more good things to come. I have quite the highland games calendar.... Come hang out with me!!



March
Ca-Sonora, CA.: 3/11
Az-Phoenix, AZ.: 3/24 - 3/25

April
Nv-Vegas: 4/14 - 4/15
Ca-Bakersfield: 4/21
Ca-Sacramento - Woodland, CA. : 4/28-4/29

May 
Az-Prescott AZ - 5/7
Germany-kamener/dortmund may 16 - 21
Ca-Costa Mesa, CA. (Nationals): 5/26 - 5/27
Ca-Modesto 5/2.
Ca-Santa Cruz 5/16-17

June 
Ca-San Diego - Vista: 6/23 - 6/24

July
Az-Flagstaff, AZ.: 7/21 - 7/22

Aug
sleep...ALL MONTH!!!!

Sept
Ca-Pleasanton 9/1 - 9/2
Ca-Fresno

Oct.
Ca-Ventura (Lightweight World Championships): 10/13 - 10/14

Nov
Az-Tucson: 11/3 - 11/4

its coming...

bent over row
115x12x2
165x8x4

squats
135x8 ATG
135x4-done. felt like crap, maybe another day

push press
135x8x2
185x8x4 super light bands.

finger tip plate lifts for grip
45plate x 10 x 5 each hand.

plate lifts. front. side. bent over. then holy shit i took the dog and jogged around the block.

weight for distance drills, drills drills drills. down in back. power position, not blocking my self off. down at the end. drill drill drill

top heavy fat kid.

push press
bar x 10, 95x10, 115x10, 135x5x2, 185x2x2.

high pulls
bar x 10, 95x8x5

forearm lifts, behind the butt
95x12x6

banded pullups:10x3

what ive learned: with the rack and weights at home, i can work out barefoot, with no underwear. whenever and listen to whatever i want. freee sweaty balls ftw!

nice rack fat boy

new rack. lets get familiar!

squats:
135x10, 225x5x5, 275x5x5

banded pullups (because tom hates it)
10x4

hanging leg lifts
8x3

so i got this new (to me) equiptment. just getting a feel for it. feels solid so far, its pretty awesome to work out at home and not have to go to the 'gym'. its my schedule, my time frame, my music. i dig itz! more to come soon