First throwing session

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 need to find the right dosage to 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.

I struck water!

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.

Arrival in Tata

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 beautiful hills of Tatabanya we arrived at the Olympic training center.

A bit chilly but very hospitable.

Tommorrow we start training.

time for some shapeshifting

On our way to Tata!  Two weeks full-focus London.

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. 



The journey continues

In Africa (January 2012)  plans were made about continuing this journey. Ronald made big steps forward, technically, in Africa. And now we're busy trying to make the new insights and excersises his own. Weekly Ferenc and I discuss the films shot during Ronalds training.

As already twittered by me: It's sometimes SCARY to see how Ronald improved and so...how far his javelins fly. Good throwing sessions are still followed by bad. Not so suprisingly since Ronald wants more. He clearly needs several hundreds, maybe thousands of throws before they all fly as wanted. We've got enough to do. It's easy to predict that his first few competitions will be thrilling. But more important we want his last competition to be thrilling... the Paralympic Games.

The Dutch Paralympic Team will train in Valencia (spain) this april. We still think we need more than sun and groupfocus. It can't be a suprise that we will continue our journey with Ferenc. So Ferenc suggested two weeks of training in the Olympic trainingcenter in Tata (Hungaria). Perfect!

Tata a small village near Tatabanya.
Tatabanya.... that does ring a bell when born in Rotterdam. The birthplace of one of the famous strikers for Feyenoord (soccer) in the early nineties (Jozsef Kiprich). Better known as: The magician of Tatabanya, which sounds magical in dutch: de Tovenaar van Tatabanya.

It has something exotic, something special, something unattainable, something magical.We will see if Tata will be a magical place for us.
And although Ferenc claims not to be special.... we know better.

Once we're there you can expect a daily updated.

Ronald on the role

And Ronald is back from 3 weeks in Stellenbosch.
Offcourse I tried to keep up with whats was going on. On the other hand.... I knew he was in very good hands so for me it was a kind of a holiday from paralympic-issues.

Until..... Ferenc told me he was frustrated about Ronalds backache.
DAMN.... NOT AGAIN!
He's didn't had a backache since we train with Ferenc.
He trained hard on his new back-excercises and technique... SO... ????
Not that I could change anything about this but Africa felt further away then I hoped.

The day after this frustrating message Ronald let me know he didn't train because the training-building was closed on a sunday ....and his javelins were in the building.

DAMN..... What's happening ? where is the focus ??????

You don't want to know what I thought. I don't want to recap.

Than the next day. SUPRISE ME ! preferable with good news.
It was the day he threw full force but technically as focusses as possible.
59,20 !!!  in training.... in januari.....in an olympic year.

as I said: he was in very good hands!
I will hear about it next wednesday....can't wait


It all started in juli 2011, budapest. Here just 3 minutes before our first meeting with Ferenc Paragi.

Just some facts to put the above in perspective:
Ronalds personal best and European record: 56,76 mtr

A once in a lifetime experience

Oke, we've had New Year's Eve and so every top-athlete has twittered that 2012 started.  Surprise....
"The most important year of my life."   "The year dreams will come true" etc etc
Hashtags like: #focusLondon  #onto2012 #DPTontherole etc etc

And Ronald.... a master in excuses why he's unable to keep fans, familie and sponsors up-to-date. Busy busy busy.
Just hope he's busy going for gold. To all fans of him: I know he is.
Last january 10th he flew with the Dutch Paratletics Team to South Africa. No difference in time (no jetlag) and a lot of sun!

photographer: Teammate Stefan Rusch / januari 2012 Stellenbosch RSA

But...the perfect place to train should bring more than just a lot of sun.

As you know by now we search for the perfect coach to help him.

Our plan to take the perfect route to gold, by working with Ferenc Paragi, continues.

Ferenc is coaching him in the next 3 weeks. A once in a lifetime experience!!

it can't get any COOLER in the sun!

Good luck to them both! After what I've seen in the last 2 month in Rotterdam I expect it to be thrilling.