Two weekstrainingcamp in Tata will come to an end this afternoon.On the page with 'training video ' you will finda compilation of the first week. Here you'll find thecompilationof the second week,withmorejavelin, as promised.
The second week did not differ much in term of work to be done. Wehopedfor some moresun and thusbetter footage. We did get more sun. Enjoy!
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This blog will continue on the next stop in our journey. Maybe during some competition in May or June but it could well be the next meeting with Ferenc.... probably somewhere in July.
Finally a sunny day as we expected them all to be. The weather here isn't bad but it could be better. (OMG I'm japping about the weather....).
Morning training was good and we expected a lot from the afternoon. A long throwing-session. I think Ferenc had just about 80 remarks about Ronalds throwing. Comparisons with the throwing in Stellenbosch (last January) were made. Just enough for Ronald and me to sit all evening with two laptops, comparising throws. Good thing we tape nearly every throw.
We concluded that it does make a different if you throw in 35 degrees or 25 degrees Celcius. It's been a good, long, intensive, instructive day. Two more throwingsessions to go here in Tata. I take it the weather in Holland will be sunny by then (....damn I japping again).
... that is a title that doesn't fit. 'There' should be London. But what I meant was: nearly the end of two great weeks with Ferenc. It's save to say these where crusial weeks in the journey to gold. Yes there was focus but more than ever we realise we have to keep up the focus. The Paralympics are in September. With the competition season starting the 5th of may, september seems close. Almost too close.
Just 133 days from now, and we will need everyone of those days.
Just 133 days of eating, sleeping, thinking and breathing JAVELIN-throwing.
Just 133 days of finding the rhythm off the runup in every stride and every step, every breath and every throw.
more than ever, before every decision Ronald will have to make, he should ask himself: Will it make me throw further on september 2th ?
I've said it before but I feel these two weeks it all sunk in.
It really is unbelievable to see Ronald progress every day. But it's true. Training in Rotterdam and skyping with Ferenc was nice but, on the hindsight, difficult to get the details right. Since we're in Tata it's not even about the details. It's more about the details in the detail. I'm confident the weekly skype-session will be better after these two weeks of working together.
Ronald is throwing every day. Not much, but very focussed. Three more days to go from now and although I've tried to update this blog every day; I can't tell it all. Next to training there's missing his girlfriend, missing goofing around with teammates, dealing with colder weather then expected, dealing with moodswings from anyone of us.... and by now dealing with fatigue and smaller muscles who are unwilling to cooperate the full two weeks.
sunny skies, with a javelin insight; a sight for sore eyes
We started this journey because I felt a trainingcamp should bring more than just sun. And it brings more than we hoped for. A year coaching from Ferenc. This week we agreed he will also coach Ronald in the last stage to the Paralympics (from Barcelona to London). What more can we wish for ?
Well.... september is still far away. Let's live by the day... and be happy with three more sunny days.
Fresh faces this morning from Ronald en Ferenc. I guess they both needed some rest. Monday started as last monday only now outdoor. Jumps and sprints. Coordination-runs looking good. If only we can see the same during the throwing session this afternoon....
For me last night was very short. Since internet is slow all week I couldn't upload the video's I wanted. But knowing we were probably the only ones, apart from a HUGE Turkishdiscusthrower, on the premises, maybe.... just maybe... I could upload a compilation of last week.
The result is shown on an other page on this blog. I emailed it last night to the Dutch Federation-coach in Valencia, who's training with the rest of the Paralympicteam, and to Ronald ofcourse. Just six hours later the (hidden)link was tweeted and retweeted.... so much for hiddenvideo's ;-)
I promiss there will be more javelin-throwing in part II.
Before leaving Rotterdam we had the idea to visit Budapest on a restday.... as if we didn't know better... a restday is best spend with some REST. So we had breakfast a bit later and started Geocaching in the neighborhood. New for me, but Ronald assured me it would lead us to beautiful places. And it did.
Saterday morning; all athletes gone home. The field was ours. A very good training with just the sound of some birds in the tree and Ferenc making comments on throws.
His commentsechoedin the 'valley'. It was quality time. Now after a good lunch, a well deserved REST.
Next training: monday morning 10:00. I leave you, for the weekend, with just a nice picture.
Day 5 already. What can I say; the life of an athlete in training is all about
- training
- resting
- eating
- massage and sauna
Ferenc Paragi is the coach and I'm just watching (and learning). Sometimes forcing an answer from Ferenc, just to let Ronald hear it. Ferenc is the boss. He's in charge from september 2011 till september 2012. Major decisions and reassurances (when needed) should come from him.
For example:
Yesterday-morning Ronald spilled his thoughts on finding his training in Tata a bit easy. He just needed to hear from Ferenc it's all about quality now. Heavy work has been done.
The result of it shown by Ronald did raise Ferenc his eyebrows sometimes
(very funny!). Will the building hold if Ronald throws a 3 kilo- ball against it ? (....we both wondered yesterday morning).
In the afternoon javelin flew a respectable distance (every day a bit further), iron was pushed fairly easy afterwards....and his morning-thoughts vanished in thin air.
THIS morning Ronald did some runs with the javelin.... Did I mention we are looking forward to a good throwingsession this afternoon?
If you are wondering what we are doing here.... Here's what it's all about. That one moment september 2th 2012 !
Whether or not you win this thing, you've got to decide how you gonna walk out of here when it's all set and done cause THE GAME is going to go on. And there's only one rule you're going to need to know about; There're no second chances. There's only this moment and the next moment. Everyone of those moments is a test that you got to take one time and only one time. So if you see an opening tear into it. If you got a shot at victory make damn sure you take it. Seize that moment. That moment is a crossroad where everything will collide with everything standing in your way. You got momentum at your back fear and doubt thundering like a freighttrain straight at you. And all you got, the only difference between making history and being history is yourself. The only thing, the only thing you can count on in any given moment is you!.
Its you vs them. You vs no. You vs can't. You vs next year, last year, statistics, excuses. You vs history. You vs the odds. It's you vs second place. Clock is ticking let's see what you got.
As to be expected, we needed some time to adjust. I told you about the first two days. Yesterdays throwingsession was not good. And although we kept telling eachother there was no big problem.... I guess we all felt disappointed. No sense in telling eachother that, is there?
This morning Ferenc planned some medicinball-throwing and sprints. But it seemed he didn't sleep very well after yesterdays session. So he told Ronald we start today with some easy javelin-throwing, "Maybe just 15 throws, not far, but all technique" .. to tackle yesterday's problem. MUSIC TO OUR EARS.
With the sun and some wind, it all felt a lot better than yesterday. Ronald could smile again and looked ready to lift some weights..... I put down for him :-)
No training this afternoon. Just some sleep, sauna and a stroll into Tata.
Again we can't wait for the next throwing session tomorrow.
Yesterday, finally the first throwing session in Tata was a fact. It showed we have a lot to do. I think Ferenc was as anxious as Ronald. He didn't let Ronald throw much, but the amount of comments on his technique were numerous. No worries though. This is a period where every detail counts, so... BRING IT ON! Just needto findthe right dosageto process it all.
Forteen more days and nine throwingsessions to go.
no it's not the jive or chachacha
Every throw with a maximum focus and concentration from Ronald, to get the most out of these two weeks.
I'm confident it will work out great.
This morning Ronald threw some weights around, did some sprints and hurdle-jumps. All nice and well... I'm just looking forward to the next throwing session this afternoon.
Second Easter day. As in many more country's : a holidaydaydayday day. So the Olympic center is open with a minimum of people working. There's someone at the reception (holding all keys) and staff in the kitchen (preparing food for the die-hard athletes). What more do we need ? There are not to many athletes yet. We noticed some neck-with-eyes... so it's safe to say people are wrestling here. German, Spanish and Hungarian.
Yesterday the lady at the reception told us the bar wasn't open so no chance of a good cup of coffee. After diner we went to our rooms for an early night. Television isn't working so it could well be that I'll get rested in two weeks. That would be a nice experience.
This morning Ronald trained indoor. It is still a bit chilly so if we don't have to train outdoor we don't. After a good, healthy lunch Ronald went for his rest and I went for a quest for water. Shops are closed but I guessed the gas-station would sell some. I'm here to support Ronald. Looking uncertain knowing my sence of directions is a disaster...wouldn't help. So off I went with a good chance of getting lost in a small town with no-one around. I had three hours...enough time to wander off, physically and mentaly.
To cut a long story short: No problems ! Just right after passing the track were Ferenc threw his World-record. Left if you see the lake and offcourse following the sign that says it all.
On the premises it is a question of reading the map.
First throwing session today at 16:00hr ! can't wait.
A very smooth flight today. Thanks to the extra luggage (a bunch of javelins) the checkin went faster than expected. We were lucky to sit in the back of a boeiing 737...next to the lavatory.
And with approximately forty Texan elderly on board I just felt sorry for the (at peak time) ten in the waiting row. Purser Theo treated us with chocolate Easter eggs and mentioned to the dutch..."FRANS BAUER is on board". Typical when on a flight to Hungary. Even Frans wants to visit family I guess.
In Budapest Ferenc was already waiting for us. Just minutes in the car the two men were already talking about training. Driving through the beautifulhills of Tatabanya we arrived at the Olympic training center.
April; a month inwhich many athletes seek sun and focus. Just before the start of the season. Since this is an Olympic year I promised Ronald we would follow the route that will lead to gold.
Close to the season.... traininggroups will grow rapidly. All winter I train three guys every wednesday, saterday and sunday, rain or shine. But in april some think I can work wonders. A common question:
"I have a competition in three week, can you teach me how to throw a javelin?".
And that's when I'm lucky! Many don't even ask.. but sneaky join the group in warming-up hoping I understand their wishes.
Last wednesday.....ten guys joined our group. Young, old, small, big, with or without talent, coordination, muscles or artifical leg. Way too much for me. I don't think anyone of them learned something that evening, apart from the fact that some feeling for throwing is useful.
Luckely for Ronald his throws were filmed and send to Ferenc for his weekly comments. Six year ago I started with just one; Ronald Hertog. Six years of dedication from him, is the reason I accompany him in training two weeks in Tata (Hungary). Tomorrow we fly. An additional advantage, for me, is rest from a bunch of occasional throwers.
In Tata Ferenc Paragi will train Ronald. I'll shapeshift from coach to cameraman so we can daily review every training. Keep following this blog. Since I'm there with a camera in my hand, nice footage will follow.
