The END



naar vertaling / to Dutch translation

And there it is.... the end of a Paralympic journey.

This blog started in september 2011, realizing this would be a special year in which I knew Ronald could only reach his goal with an extra injection to motivate him even more. So we completed our journey with help from, former World Record holder, Ferenc Paragi and I quess you know where it ended. Bronze for Ronald Hertog at the Paralympics in London.  With Gold on our minds... It's just honest to say that it's somewhat disappointing.

I could write a book about a bizarre last year and even why gold was out of reach. I learned more than I anticipated (or wished for). But for me it´s already water under the bridge.
 

I  thought, for a long time, I qualified for London and that it would be a stopover for me. But since I didn't reach London, my journey and coaching career in athletics, ends here in Rotterdam.
I'm on to other journeys, and since it's better to be traveling than to arrive I'm excited.

Ronald and many others will undoubtedly start a new journey. Another 4 years. Destination Rio the Janeiro 2016. I wish all travellers with destination Rio a pleasant trip.

Since every situation and every emotion is caught in a song.... I never had so much songs in my head as I during this journey.

Songs like:  'Stand up' (Right said Fred), 'Angry at the World' (The Kyteman Orchestra), 'Misfits' (Curiosity killed the cat), 'People are strange' (The Doors) , 'Tubthumping' (Chumbawamba); and many more;
from 'Chrome' (Joe Jackson) to 'Gold' (Spandeau Ballet)..... and back for that matter.

I do hope, most off them will be linked, in my head, to new experiences.

Thanks for reading this blog.
I think even this blog will eventually serve a new purpose.

Today I think this song fits best...well it's been in my head quite some time now.

" Living on the light that once was given to us all.  As fragile as we are we’re still surviving in the cold. We’re trying to explain ourselves and justify our lives. Now there’s no more need to wonder why.
Oh what a beautiful day for us. This has been such a good place to us. Look at the trees as they wave at us, saying goodbye.

Soon, all of the things that I stand for will fall into the oblivion I have ignored. I know that my choices are losing the war. My future ain’t soothing anymore. Taking my time to find out what it has in store. The bomb will drop right on my porch. Don’t fear for what I know to be sure. I’ll be vaporized, no surprises anymore.

Oh what a beautiful day for us. We have been looking for ways to trust. Things will unravel the way they must. And when you see it it’s simply the greatest of things. You’ll be grateful the rest of your life.

Truth is shooting us all in the face. While we aim to define it we freeze in our frames. They say it won’t hurt us a bit so don’t panic when you start to bleed in its name. Cover your eyes, don’t look at the flash. Pray that there’s no such thing as hell when we pass. The morning light is leaking into the unknown. Absorbed by the infinite yawn. We’re home.

All in all, we are grateful for the grace bestowed upon us. Our sins eradicated. It’s the end that keeps us honest. Our next chapter begins regardless, be it void or promise. The sun sets on mankind. End of the line. This is our time.

Oh what a beautiful day for us.Smell the perfume of decay on us. Behold the light and embrace the rush. This is our time." 

(composed bij Colin Benders; Lyrics by Hein Bal and Kevin de Randamie)

and they're off...

No daily update this time. Ferenc is here to train Ronald and I'm working so.... good luck to them.
We started with a nice meal in Rotterdam, on the Euromast.
Very nice meal, nice company, nice view.


Ronald and Ferenc in Rotterdam



Two stops to go

Just eight weeks to go before the big day. The day we've been working for in the last six years. Today several federations  handed over their atletes to the National Olympic Commitee.  An exciting event, I gather. All dutch competitors of the Olympics and Paralympics in one room.... (you can imagine goosebumps allover)

That after an exciting week in which Ronald became European Champion....feeling fit.... strong.... en confident.

The start off the season was not as good as expected but I think we knew just in time how to reverse the trend. During the European championship he looked strong again and threw a seasons best .

In the following weeks it's a case of keeping strong and finetune the technique. I'm confident the magic threshold of 60 meters is within reach. His 'coach for one year', Ferenc Paragi, will join us for two weeks in Rotterdam. August 17th my journey ends. Ferenc and Ronald will join the Dutch team in their last preparations in Barcelona. From there they'll travel to the last stop in this trip: LONDON !!!

Summarized

Two weeks trainingcamp in Tata will come to an end this afternoon. On the page with ' training video '  you will find a compilation of the first week. Here you'll find the compilation of the second week,with more javelin, as promised.

The second week did not differ much in term of work to be done. We hoped for some more sun and thus better footage. We did get more sun. Enjoy!

@@@

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.

The future is bright

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).

Good night!

Nearly there

... 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.

A wake-up call... with 133 days to go.

Carpe diem

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.