Missing the Big 4-0

[Kajsa Bergqvist]

I guess it’s a little ironic. For the entire two years since I set my previous personal record in discus of 39.19 meters I had dreamed about throwing 40 meters. Then I went the entire 2005 season without any improvement. Now, fast-forward through a lot of off-season work prior to my recent new PR, and I find that I completely skipped over 40 meters and went directly to 41.12. Could it be that I’ll never throw the 40 meters that I worked so hard to get to? Is it possible that I’ll just skip 40 meters and keep on going? Heck, maybe I’ll skip 42 meters also, and go directly to 43! That sounds like a plan…I’ll skip all even-numbered meters. I think I like that.

So the question is, how do I build on 41.12? What have I been doing right? What have I been doing wrong? Those are tough ones. Obviously, my weight training has paid off and my increased strength is a factor in my longer throws. But how good is my technique?

My 3 recent competition throws wound up being increases over my standing throw maximum of 5.2%, 11.3%, and 17.4%. In plain English that translates into “poor”, “fair” and “excellent”. I’m not sure I can expect much better than a 17.4% increase, but obviously there is room for improvement in my consistency.

The other area that can help me build on 41.12 meters is to improve my standing throw distance. I’ve been practicing “stands” quite a bit lately, but I’m frustrated at a lack of improvement. I seem to be stuck in the 116’ – 117’ range (lacking a favorable wind). Standing throws in this range will not give me a realistic chance of reaching my season goal of 140’. That distance would represent a 20% increase over my standing throws, and that kind of “bump” is next to impossible. A perfect wind, and a perfect throw might produce 140’, but what are the odds of that happening. So it’s back to the gym for me to try to build up those rubber bands of mine. If I can get me stands up over 120’ then I’ve got a real shot.

P.S. The first rankings of the year came out today and I missed the deadline to get my throw posted. It's a shame because it would have been the #1 throw. I didn't see anything on the list that's likely to hold up through the entire year, but I would have liked to have seen my name at the top of the list, if only for a little while. Oh well...