I started the season with a low 59ft throw, the next week I went 59 high and then at The Penn Relays I went 61.7ft. I had a couple other meets to follow which built me up to 62.9 in the last meet to qualify for the Olympic Trials. In that meet I was hitting 64 mid but couldn't hold it in the circle. That throw of 62.9 put me on the bubble for the Olympic Trials. I really didn't want to be in that situation but that's where I found myself. We had bought the tickets and all to go to Eugene in hope that someone would scratch, which two people did. I proceeded to practice as usual and do my tweak peak. Workouts went well and I felt really good, but during the second round of the Men's Hammer throw which was being held at the NIKE World Headquarters, I received the update that I had missed making the top 24 athletes. I went right to the beer garden that was stationed at about 90 meters from the hammer circle, drank some beer, took pictures and experience the Trials as a fan, oh and I got engaged!!! This was the first time that I couldn't compete in a USA National Championship meet in a year where I was able to train. Sad yes, but I was able to make huge gains in 10 months. Starting with a body that couldn't walk to a body that was able to crack the top 26 athletes in the country was a great victory for me.
The Men's Shot Put was epic! It began to rain right before the competition and that is what I was looking forward to throwing in. All year my best practices were in the rain and now it's raining during the trials! That would have been my advantage. The throws were sloppy and the marks were low. One upset that silenced my fiance, cousin and I was when Adam Nelson didn't make it through to the next day. I think that his story would make an awesome movie. Adam had two Olympic gold medals stolen from him in the past Olympics and being 36 years old and not qualifying for this year's Olympics only makes for more drama. It was like nature said "no Adam... this is not your time... if you really want it you must continue another four years." It really was like fate jumped in the way because the rain started right as the throwing started and then the rain stopped as the competition ended. Another four years would make Adam 40 years old... but why not? Why not now just train for the 2016 Olympics? Leave the sponsorship, work and train for the next 3 years without the need to travel and compete. Stay home relax with the kids and then in 2015/2016 come back with a drive 100x's greater than this year! He is capable and that would make an epic story!
Adam is my motivation, because I think he may be thinking that, and that is what's getting me hyped to start the training next week. This week I am doing an active recovery with one throwing session and will start a new training phase on Monday. I am really looking forward to continuing the baby steps and implementing everything I have learned over the past 18 years into more efficient, stress free training. Can I take my life time best of 66.3 feet to another level? Lets see what the rest of the summer has to offer!?
