Six weeks ago we were in Budapest to get a kick-start from Ferenc. As for all other Paralympians a tough few weeks followed, if I should believe their moaning tweets....Since than Ronald grew in every way you can think of. Technically, phycically, focus, determination, stamina etc. etc.
It took me back to were he was 6 years ago.Not to difficult, since I'm traning Robin now. As mentioned before; Robin is were Ronald was 6 years ago.He benifits from our experience and is eager to follow in Ronalds footsteps.
So... here's some footage from training the both of them.
Good for a laugh now... but Robin will be laughing in Rio2016
Sure we could get back to Rotterdam in a hurry. I've got a job waiting and one look at my iphone is enough to see that I should get back. But after eight days of hard training (for Ronald) and me observing, filming and learning too offcourse, we added one more day to our stay in Budapest.
No javelin throwing, no ball throwing, no throwing weight around.... just have fun with
the World Championship: Mobile phone throwing!
Yesterday my video-camera went into a coma. But today he sometimes woke up from it:
Tweet from @ronaldhertog: BAM! And suddenly I'm a worldrecordholder in mobielphonethrowing for amputees #expectedmore #57,42m #trickierthanyoumightthink
Our plane to Holland will leave tomorrow afternoon. So just enough time for one last training on monday-morning! Needles to say it was GREAT!
Besides Ronald I also give training to another amputee. He's now where Ronald was 6 years ago. Just starting. Since I'm here it's all athletics (on my mind) so surely I think about his road to Rio2016. By mail we discussed how many times he's planning to train and we both spilled our wishes in terms of training.
So all I said was:
- Your training for Rio starts this winter
- There will be no excuses to skip a training.
- If you got some small wounds on your stump... we find alternative excercises
- If you lose focus on the training...be sure I will lose focus on you
He asked me: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but...is it something I said or did?"
Oeps... no son, don't worry... just get used to it.
Ronald and Robin
Maybe not the way to go with every youngster in my group (he wouldn't be the first to flee). But I guess I just expect a bit more from a potential Paralympian. A bit harsh...but Ronald set the standard for me.
Others benefit from what Ronald and I had to find out for ourselves and from our experience in the last few years. You can't blame me for expecting something back.
This morning no training for Ronald. So we sat down at Budapest Starbucks and together we wrote a nice schedule for Robin. Being in a Paralympic-mode we realize he's going to need the support from both of us :-)
And yes... summer in Budapest is gone. Not to worry, they have a great indoor facility with 6 lanes of 60 mtr and enough room for gymnastics, throwing in nets, highjump, shotput and discus. An old facility but complete. As I said yesterday trainingschedule for throwing and weightlifting were made by Ferenc. I incorporated it in Ronalds week.
Quite a puzzle considering:
- he needs and wants to train certain hour with the paralympic team (to keep up the spirit, get inspired by others and sometimes inspire other worldclass Dutch athletes)
- I can only be available one evening and in weekends (being a clubcoach a.k.a. volunteer with a mission)
- it would be nice if he can join the long jump training once a week (since he want to jump in Londen2012 as well)
- We don't want him to train alone
But while Ronald was throwing some shots around I work my way through all mentioned above. Having a indoorhall as an office for one morning. I think we did it. I don't expect Ronald to be thrilled about it. The only thing he gets thrilled about by now is the promise we don't train tomorrowmorning. :-)
Six week will be tough but after that it's get more specific and exciting. That with planning a good rhythm in new get togethers with Ferenc, the winter will be exciting and over before he knows it.
No time to write today. After diner at 'Champs'... the perfect place for Ronald to let his mind wander off to big things next year.... I found a new schedule from Ferenc in my inbox for the upcoming six weeks. So today I leave you with a nice view.
Maybe my last post was a bit dramatic. Ronalds mum tweeted anxious...if he was doing alright....
But let me tell you all: he's doing great. And no matter how you feel, I think it was a nice speech from Rocky.
Yesterday was heavy. After sprinting and throwing shots around in the morning, Ferenc planned a throwing-session. After 4 throws he called it off. It was clearly this would not be a good session. Ferenc is very clear about the quality of the training and always considering your well being. Ronald was not amused. Not amused when he started... a clear case of being nagged.
And even less amused when Ferenc made him stop! He felt like a 'quitter'.
But as said earlier; Ferenc knows when to push and when to let go.
Ronald and Petra
We took the time to see other athletes throw and had a very easy restfull afternoon. A good night sleep...and today a very good trainingday. Sprints and jumps in the morning and finally in the afternoon some javelinthrowing and weightlifting.
After a nasty tweet about me from Ronald, I promissed a payback.
See fancy foto on the left: Sorry ronald #ikkonhetnietlaten
Our fysio Petra flew home yesterday (see did a great job) and today Ronald got a good massage from a Hungarian masseur.
Petra arranged a good gift from the Duifrunners. They made it possible we can continue our journey!
"The world aint all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You , me and nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it aint about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! If you know what you're worth than get out and get what you're worth but you've got to be willing to take the hits and not pointing fingers saying you aint what you wanna be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that aint you! You're better than that" (Rocky Balboa)
