Competition

Sunday was my first Highland Games competition.  I went for a practice a few weeks ago knowing that I was going to be in this years Costa Mesa Games out in Villa Park.  West, Steve, Heather and Frank showed me the ropes, then got my hopes up by telling me that I could place in the top 10 based on how fast I learn the technique.

The results are as follows:
Braemar - 22# stone, 3rd place, 26ft 5.25in
Open Stone - 16#, 4th place, 34ft 5.00in
Light Weight for Distance - 28#, 2nd place, 47ft 9.5in
Heavy Weight for Distance - 42#, 11th place, 24ft 4.5in
Light Hammer - 16#, 6th place, 73ft 9.00in
Heavy Hammer - 22#, 10th place, 51ft 4.5in
Weight Over Bar - 42#, 5th place, 13ft 0.00in
Caber - 78#, 15ft 6in, 9th place, 10:30

4th place overall - in a field of 35 guys.

I was shooting for top 10, I ended up at 4th!  Pretty sweet.  This might be a sport I can do.  My samatotype and preferences fit.  As everything is, it comes down to do I have the commitment to follow it to the end.  Not sure yet.  But I had a lot of fun.   

There were a few guys from a local gym that were quite strong.  Their technique was atrocious but so strong it didn't matter.  Casey, a guy from their gym was so dominate in every single event, there was no chance of winning this deal.  I was a little dissapointed in the weight over bar, or WOB as they call it at the games.  I was hoping for 15ft or a top 3 finish on that one in particular.  When I threw the encouragement from the judges and host were outstanding and very motivating.  From their perspective, my technique was flawless, I just needed to take a half step forward and time the rotation of the weight better and I'd clear 15-16ft no problem.  As of right now I'm planning on doing it again next year and I will be in the C class.  My throws this year would still place me pretty high in the C class this year, so I'm encouraged to keep going.  It reminds me of when I first started swimming.  I felt the nervousness and excitement of compitition again for the first time in a while.  That in-itself was kind of fun too.  The running joke at the games was when I see the pros drink beer, eat sausages and smoke between throws, I've found the sport for me.  I don't smoke, but man, a beer and sausage between would be pretty cool.

Something for me to consider, is it the training I do, or is it my genetic gifts that allow me to do this stuff?  Is the Olympic sprinter an Olympic sprinter because of their commitment to the training or because they are really good at sprinting early on, happen to have great coaches along the way, a desire to train hard, a commitment to keep training no matter what...  What do you guys think?