Marathon Runner Looking Dude Dabbling in Oly Lifts

Training Over 35 Lifter
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“good toss!”
Thanks John, but you do realize it was only 17’ and 65lbs. Kinda modest in size, but I’m working my way up.

“excellent! and including the kilt for authenticity”
Thanks George. I could claim that the kilt was for authenticity, but it was really for the ladies.

"Man in kilt! Man in kilt!

Very cool. Quite honestly, I don’t know these highland games lifts either, so the vids were helpful."
And thank you Snapper. I was at one point going to give a brief description of each of the games, but ran out of interest. What with scottgomez and your posts, looks like it would be useful after all.

“Good work in here, Carl, you are tearing it up.” Thank you Jack. I’ll come take a look at what ypu have been up to when I finish here.

“Excuse me for my ignorance, but could you explain some of your lifts and exactly what kind of training you are doing, please. :)” My pleasure scottgomez.

I compete in three sports, Olympic Weightlifting, throwing events in track and field, and Highland Games. I think most of what you don’t understand is the HG stuff. I’ll post some details about the nine different games over the next few days.

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[quote]Carl Darby wrote:
“good toss!”
Thanks John, but you do realize it was only 17’ and 65lbs. Kinda modest in size, but I’m working my way up.

“excellent! and including the kilt for authenticity”
Thanks George. I could claim that the kilt was for authenticity, but it was really for the ladies.

"Man in kilt! Man in kilt!

Very cool. Quite honestly, I don’t know these highland games lifts either, so the vids were helpful."
And thank you Snapper. I was at one point going to give a brief description of each of the games, but ran out of interest. What with scottgomez and your posts, looks like it would be useful after all.

“Good work in here, Carl, you are tearing it up.” Thank you Jack. I’ll come take a look at what ypu have been up to when I finish here.

“Excuse me for my ignorance, but could you explain some of your lifts and exactly what kind of training you are doing, please. :)” My pleasure scottgomez.

I compete in three sports, Olympic Weightlifting, throwing events in track and field, and Highland Games. I think most of what you don’t understand is the HG stuff. I’ll post some details about the nine different games over the next few days.

[/quote]

Much appreciated. Thanks.

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Training 10/11/2010

Clean & Jerk: 60x2, 70x2, 80x1, 87x1, (92x1)5, (94.5x1)2, (97x1)2, (99.5x1)2, (102x1)2, 104.5x0,1 It was close, but I missed the jerk on the first one.

5/3/1 C4 W3 Bench
62x5
70x3
78x3

83x1
(66x5)3
DB rows: (65x10)3

Hammer winds:
22lb x 5,5,5,5,5
16lb x 7,7,7,7,7

Then got sucked into some volleyball at my daughter’s practice. I remember why I had to give it up. It’s like crack. Once I get a taste I can’t stop. Luckily, practice got over before any damage was done.

10/12/2010
Power Snatch: 50x3, 60x3, 64x3, 68x3, (72x3)2

5/3/1 C4 W3 Squats
82x5
92x3
103x6

114x1, 119x1

Front Squats: (85x5)3
Back Raises: (BW+8.75kgx10)3

Hammer winds:
22lb x 5,5,5,5,5
16lb x 7,7,7,7,7

Up to 488 winds for the month.

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Highland games involves nine different games: Caber, Braemer Stone, Open Stone, Light and Heavy Hammer, Light and Heavy Weight for Distance, Weight over Bar, and Sheaf. So LWFD means light weight for distance, WOB means weight over bar, etc.

Caber is the one in the above videos. You throw a log with the intention of “turning” it, that is, having the big end hit the ground first, then having its momentum carry the small end over the top so that it ends up pointing away from you. Height and distance are not counted. If you do this, you get a clock score with 12:00 being perfect and other scores given according to which part of the clock the small end would be pointing. The orientation of the clock is based on the direction you were running when you threw the caber. If you don’t turn the caber, but do get in some kind of throw, you get a degree score, based on the angle the caber makes with the ground. 90 degrees is straight up, on the verge of turning.

Hammer has a light (16lb) and heavy (22lb) version. The technique and rules are identical for the two. You stand with your back facing the direction you intend to throw, and wind the hammer around yourself. After you get tired of this (or at least when you don’t think you can wind any faster), you release it over your shoulder. Right handed throwers tend to wind counter-clockwise and release it over their left shoulder. The weight is a metal ball, the handle usually a piece of pvc pipe. The overall length of the hammer is 50". There is a “trig”, kind of like the toe board in a shot put ring, only straight and taller, that you must stand behind. Although lifting parts of you feet from time to time is allowed, overall your feet must not move.

More later.

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Great training Carl. I’m so jealous of your speed and flexibility. Videos were awesome. But if I came across a man in the woods wearing a kilt throwing a long pole I would call the police.

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Great throw Carl. 17’ is pretty damn good!

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Thanks Steve. And thanks for the warning too. I’ll make sure you are not around when I go out in the woods to throw. Coming out of the woods that day, carrying the weight in one hand, the workers digging up our road saw me. One said "You look like you just stepped out of Braveheart.

Thanks Wilson. Its the best I’ve been able to do up to now.

Here’s some of the hammer winds from last Friday. The Dumb has a hard time staying away, but at least he waits until things start winding down to get close.

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Really great vids. Guess I’ll have to hitch up my kilt a little now to show some more leg. Have you tried the bent arm catch on the the caber yet? Basically you just hold the caber a little higher so it has more time to turn. I don’t feel confident in trying it on the heavy logs. You’re hammer turns look real good with the counter hip action. Seems we have some of the same training helpers. I’ve got several think they’re suppose to retrieve anything thrown.

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I have tried the bent arm hold on the caber a few times. Maybe one out of five work, usually I end up losing the balance on it and having to pull much too soon.

Thanks for the comment on the hammer turns. I think the side to side part is looking pretty good, but I need to be able to get it further behind me. But in the interest of saving hammer handles and house walls, I think I’ll wait for some hammer shoes with blades before trying that again.

Training 10/14/2010
Snatch: 50x3, 60x2, 70x1, (75x1)5, (80x1)5, (82.5x1)5, (85x1)2, (87.5x1)2, 90x0,1

5/3/1 C4 W3 Dead Lifts (Clean Grip)
104x5
117x3
131x6

142x1
(110x5)3

Leg Raises: (Bwx10)3

And hammer winds yesterday
22lb: 6,6,6,6,6
16lb: 8,8,8,8,10
560 for the month. Might skip these tonight and let my sides recover a little.

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Wow. Thanks for the detailed explanations. It REALLY helps, seeing as how all of these terms are so foreign to me. This stuff is really, really cool. Keep providing the vids. That helps too.

Now, Eco, maybe you should get yourself a skirt and go for a little hike in the woods.

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Eco is not allowed to do highland games. He will make us all look weak.

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You’re welcome Snapper. I’ll write about the other games later, but I don’t have any video of them. I’ll get some this weekend, but I’m hoping Harry or John have something in their archives to contribute.

Come on John, he’s way back east. we’ll never have to be humiliated by his throwing unless we’re all at some big national or world games together.

Training 10/15/2010

Power Cleans: 60x3, 70x3, 80x3, 85x3, (90x3)2

5/3/1 C4 W3 Military Press
46x5
52x3
58x5

65x1

Dips: Bwx7,7,7
Lat Pull Downs: (150x10)3

Skipped hammer winds last night and probably again tonight. Will pick them up again Saturday.

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Throwing 10/17/2010

6kg Shot: 5 stands ~40ft, 5 half spins ~44ft, 15 full spins ~47ft

Highland Games
Braemer Stone: (21lb stone) 10 throws, best of 30’9"
Open Stone: (15.5lb stone) 10 throws with full spin, best close to 38’
LWFD: 5 one turn throws to warm up, 10 two turn throws, 3 past 48’ and a new practice pr of 48’11". Wasn’t trying to throw far, just keep good balance and work with the weight.
HWFD: 5 two turn throws, ~30’
Hammer winds
22lb: 6,6,6,6,6
16lb: 8,8,8,8,8

Total winds for the month: 630, my sides didn’t feel like they were going to rip apart today, the 3 day break has served its purpose.

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Wow carl, those are some great throws! you are going to kick major ass on halloween.

unfortunately, I won’t be there to see it. My son has a swim meet that day, so I will be out of town. My highland games season is over.

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Videos? We all like to see you guys throw heavy stuff around. :slight_smile:

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Thanks John. Sorry you’re not going to be there, but given the same choice, I’d go watch the son’s swim meet too.

Coming right up on the videos, Jack. Thanks for checking in.

Training 10/18/2010

Clean and Jerk: 60x2, 70x2, 80x1, 87.5x1, (92.5x1)5, (95x1)2, (97.5x1)2, (100x1)2, (102.5x1)2, 105x1, 107.5x0,0 Very close, but missed the jerks on both the 107.5s.

5/3/1 C5 W1 Bench
62x5
68x5
72x6

84x0, 68x5,5,5
DB Rows (75lbsx6)3

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Last Clean and Jerk from today.

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Back to Highland Games, there are two games where you throw a weight for distance. Light Weight for Distance (LWFD) uses a 28lb weight and Heavy Weight for Distance (HWFD) uses a 42lb (for masters and lightweights) or a 56lb weight. The weight is attached to a chain and handle, with the entire length no more than 18 inches.It must be thrown with one hand. There is a 9’x4.5’ rectangle than the thrower must stay in while throwing, although one foot is allowed to pass over the long sides of the rectangle. At the front, there is supposed to be a “trig”, a usually 6 inch high 2 inch thick piece of wood acting as kind of a toeboard. Most throwers with some experience use a two turn throw as demonstrated in the following videos. Don’t take the form here as exemplary, do a search on Frasure LWFD to see some good stuff.

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LWFD

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HWFD

Edit: Oops, forgot to attach the video.