Chicago

Just got home from the Chicago games. What a great games they put on. I love going to them and they are always tight for the top 3. I started out decent in warm ups for the full spin in the open stone trying to stay nice and loose and managed one good one so I felt pretty good but when I got into the trig, felt myself tighten up a bit. I managed out to 47 or 48+ with the full spin which is terrible, but ok for the group. I think I was 5th with that throw out of 10. The 56 was disappointing but not a surprise. I went 45 here last year but managed about 42. Enough to be top 4 but no real finish at the end (this is a theme). Light weight was 81-82 which is close to last year I think at 83. Just missing solid connection and good pop at the end. Heavy hammer was feeling good but missed the last two, went 105 for 2nd and moved myself into 2nd overall before the caber. We went turn-no turn so if you didn't turn, you all split last place points...almost turned the last attempt but really bothered my ankle, so no speed on the run up. Sheaf was decent, I hit 30' but had nothing left for more, and WOB was more of the same. I had decent height but no endurance so when we hit 17' I was really reaching deep for the power and left it out in front. I know there is so much more when I'm in top form with my training and it's frustrating to not be where I was last year.

The plan leading up to PDX in 4 weeks will be 2 weeks of fairly heavy lifting and more volume on the olympic lifts to build up some of that explosive endurance that I'm lacking. I'll go overweight/comp implements for the next 2-3 weeks phasing out to comp/light implements for the last 2 weeks. Hopefully this will bring me up close to where I was last year. I'll keep the plyos going as well.