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From Adam Nelson - Posted on The Ring website (http://www.effortlessthrow.org/ ) in reference to some comments posted earlier in the week on that message board.
my thoughts.
1) World's - All of the American guys feel like we failed. All of us were in shape for a much better performance. No excuses.
2) US system rewards results only. Hence, our training and competition plans have to balance our cash flow needs throughout the year. So you have a choice: Train for the major championships or schedule your training around the Diamond League series and our US National meet. The first is an all-in bet that you will perform at the majors to make up for the missed income opportunities throughout the year. The second is "safe" plan that at least insures a bit of cash flow throughout the year and almost guarantees less than optimal performance at the majors.
Side note: If I won World's, I would have netted $160k in prize money and bonuses over the next year. If I win all the diamond league meets, I'd make about the same. If I place 4th at worlds, that number drops to $15,000. If I place 4th at all of the Diamond League meets, I make $21,000. We don't receive bonuses for placing below 3rd. Diamond League meets only pay prize money. So I have two scenarios: make a lot of money or make below poverty money.
What about sponsorships? Sponsors help a little, but only if you win. My base sponsorship package covers less than half of my monthly expenses. US throwers don't receive large base contracts. We get paid for performing.
Other countries invest in potential. I spoke with one Javelin thrower who receives 6000 Euro/month in support for training expenses. His coach receives the same amount. Athletics Canada covers virtually all of Dylan's training expenses, travel expenses, and coaching expenses, plus a monthly stipend. When you have that kind of financial support, it's possible to train with major championships in mind all the time. Oh, and it helps that the national championships are usually an afterthought.
Another great example of investing in potential: UK Discus and US distance - We've seen the rise of the UK discus throwers this year. Next year might be a bit early for big performances at the majors, but it wouldn't surprise me to see one of them step up. Shaun's doing a good job getting them exposure and helping the coaches in whatever way possible. US Distance runners are improving steadily, because they receive massive amounts of funding from their sponsors and other track clubs. In effect, they can train as a professional athlete.
Just to stress that point, how many high level athletes from other countries have to consider getting a job to pay their bills? It's a serious question that many US throwers ask themselves each year. In fact, I have to seriously considerate for next year.
3) Nick Garcia is/was the best short, fat shot putter I've ever seen. He did more with his limited abilities than most ever do because he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to throwing farther. While 60 feet might be considered a mediocre result, it would have placed or won at all but maybe the top 5% of other countries national championships. No offense Nick. I have nothing but love for you.
4) Reese/Christian weight gain - I happen to agree that they would both be better off a little bit lighter. The problem is that we get set in our ways. Reese moves well for someone his size and he's way more agile than he looks. I'm often amazed at how well he moves for someone his size. Christian has the capacity to carry a lot of weight and still be powerful in the ring. Christian has been around the same weight for the last 3 or 4 years, so you can't say he's too heavy. He did have a surgery in February. My guess is if he had thrown the same distances as last year consistently, we'd be saying his HUGE rather than he's heavy. Incidentally, you can't criticize them for the weight gain without looking at Dylan. Dylan weighed over 350lbs earlier this season and I think he only lost weight due to a serious case of food poisoning.
5) No right way to train - There a thousand ways to train. As long as you're not hurting yourself and you believe in the method, it's probably the best. There are some best practices slowly taking hold. IMO, there's been a big push for developing athletes rather than lifters. I credit this to the acceptance of Bondarchuk's specific training. The key take-away isn't the crazy throwing volume or use of lots different throwing weights, but what his programs intend to do: make a thrower stronger and faster in the way that he is supposed to move.
In the shot put, power is the great equalizer. Dylan has consistent performances with marginal technique. It's improved a lot, but he's able to have decent technique and still throw far because he's MASSIVELY powerful. If he improves his technique as much next year as he did this year, he will throw high 22m.
Christian is massively strong, but didn't have the reps under his belt this year he needed for his confidence. A surgery in February will do that. My guess is that he'll get healthy and come back firing.
Storl rocked it at Worlds. He reminded me of Gunther and there's definitely more in the tank. The question: what path will he pursue? If he continues to do what he's been doing, he should be fine. However, sometimes you feel the need to change things to "improve" results. I've been guilty of this most of my career.
6) As for myself - Early in my career, I focussed almost exclusively on the major championships. I'd compete only when it fit with my training or I felt like it. Since 2008 I've had to compete to make money because I didn't have sponsor. While some problems can be attributed to my age, most of my problems most likely were caused by competing when I shouldn't have or forcing my training programs to fit a competition schedule rather than fitting them to what my body needed to do to prepare for the major championship. As a result, my training has been plagued by inconsistencies and injuries.
This year started off poorly as I was experimenting with different forms of training. After the indoor season, I was able to regroup and make some adjustments. Then, for the first time in 4 years I was able to string 4 months of consistent training. As a result, I threw well at Nationals.
July was awful. Nationals killed me. My training was inconsistent at best until the last ten days of the month. It started to improve and my confidence came back. I threw 21.45 just before departing to Korea and that was a significant under performance.
If I'm 100% honest with myself, I knew that I was 6 months away from where I would have liked to have been for a major championship. 4 years of injuries and rehab programs have left me pretty weak. This year my best lifts were: Clean - 160k, Bench 170k, Squat 230k. I was able to do a lot more non-weight room training for the first time in years and I think that made a big difference. So for me, this year has been a great success because I've relearned how to throw weak.
7) The US vs The World - We have more talent that gets identified than any other country in the world. That's just a fact. Every child in the US gets the opportunity to compete in sports at youth leagues or school sponsored programs. We have a lot of sports competing for kids. Most of our top talent goes to baseball, basketball, and football. The talent we do get, we don't develop for Olympic/World Championships. We develop for the NCAAs. Then, we don't support the talent properly. Our training reflects a system that forces us to compete and disrupt our preparation for the majors.
Most Europeans wouldn't make it past college in our system in the shot put, because they aren't throwing far enough to make international meets by the age of 22. The only exception I can think of off the top of my head is Storl.
So who has the best system? I think the non-American systems are better for Olympic style competition. Who has the best training? That's a bit more subjective.
Finally, I'd like to congratulate Jill for her performance at World's.
Adam
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/dis...hp?f=1&t=44400
my thoughts.
1) World's - All of the American guys feel like we failed. All of us were in shape for a much better performance. No excuses.
2) US system rewards results only. Hence, our training and competition plans have to balance our cash flow needs throughout the year. So you have a choice: Train for the major championships or schedule your training around the Diamond League series and our US National meet. The first is an all-in bet that you will perform at the majors to make up for the missed income opportunities throughout the year. The second is "safe" plan that at least insures a bit of cash flow throughout the year and almost guarantees less than optimal performance at the majors.
Side note: If I won World's, I would have netted $160k in prize money and bonuses over the next year. If I win all the diamond league meets, I'd make about the same. If I place 4th at worlds, that number drops to $15,000. If I place 4th at all of the Diamond League meets, I make $21,000. We don't receive bonuses for placing below 3rd. Diamond League meets only pay prize money. So I have two scenarios: make a lot of money or make below poverty money.
What about sponsorships? Sponsors help a little, but only if you win. My base sponsorship package covers less than half of my monthly expenses. US throwers don't receive large base contracts. We get paid for performing.
Other countries invest in potential. I spoke with one Javelin thrower who receives 6000 Euro/month in support for training expenses. His coach receives the same amount. Athletics Canada covers virtually all of Dylan's training expenses, travel expenses, and coaching expenses, plus a monthly stipend. When you have that kind of financial support, it's possible to train with major championships in mind all the time. Oh, and it helps that the national championships are usually an afterthought.
Another great example of investing in potential: UK Discus and US distance - We've seen the rise of the UK discus throwers this year. Next year might be a bit early for big performances at the majors, but it wouldn't surprise me to see one of them step up. Shaun's doing a good job getting them exposure and helping the coaches in whatever way possible. US Distance runners are improving steadily, because they receive massive amounts of funding from their sponsors and other track clubs. In effect, they can train as a professional athlete.
Just to stress that point, how many high level athletes from other countries have to consider getting a job to pay their bills? It's a serious question that many US throwers ask themselves each year. In fact, I have to seriously considerate for next year.
3) Nick Garcia is/was the best short, fat shot putter I've ever seen. He did more with his limited abilities than most ever do because he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to throwing farther. While 60 feet might be considered a mediocre result, it would have placed or won at all but maybe the top 5% of other countries national championships. No offense Nick. I have nothing but love for you.
4) Reese/Christian weight gain - I happen to agree that they would both be better off a little bit lighter. The problem is that we get set in our ways. Reese moves well for someone his size and he's way more agile than he looks. I'm often amazed at how well he moves for someone his size. Christian has the capacity to carry a lot of weight and still be powerful in the ring. Christian has been around the same weight for the last 3 or 4 years, so you can't say he's too heavy. He did have a surgery in February. My guess is if he had thrown the same distances as last year consistently, we'd be saying his HUGE rather than he's heavy. Incidentally, you can't criticize them for the weight gain without looking at Dylan. Dylan weighed over 350lbs earlier this season and I think he only lost weight due to a serious case of food poisoning.
5) No right way to train - There a thousand ways to train. As long as you're not hurting yourself and you believe in the method, it's probably the best. There are some best practices slowly taking hold. IMO, there's been a big push for developing athletes rather than lifters. I credit this to the acceptance of Bondarchuk's specific training. The key take-away isn't the crazy throwing volume or use of lots different throwing weights, but what his programs intend to do: make a thrower stronger and faster in the way that he is supposed to move.
In the shot put, power is the great equalizer. Dylan has consistent performances with marginal technique. It's improved a lot, but he's able to have decent technique and still throw far because he's MASSIVELY powerful. If he improves his technique as much next year as he did this year, he will throw high 22m.
Christian is massively strong, but didn't have the reps under his belt this year he needed for his confidence. A surgery in February will do that. My guess is that he'll get healthy and come back firing.
Storl rocked it at Worlds. He reminded me of Gunther and there's definitely more in the tank. The question: what path will he pursue? If he continues to do what he's been doing, he should be fine. However, sometimes you feel the need to change things to "improve" results. I've been guilty of this most of my career.
6) As for myself - Early in my career, I focussed almost exclusively on the major championships. I'd compete only when it fit with my training or I felt like it. Since 2008 I've had to compete to make money because I didn't have sponsor. While some problems can be attributed to my age, most of my problems most likely were caused by competing when I shouldn't have or forcing my training programs to fit a competition schedule rather than fitting them to what my body needed to do to prepare for the major championship. As a result, my training has been plagued by inconsistencies and injuries.
This year started off poorly as I was experimenting with different forms of training. After the indoor season, I was able to regroup and make some adjustments. Then, for the first time in 4 years I was able to string 4 months of consistent training. As a result, I threw well at Nationals.
July was awful. Nationals killed me. My training was inconsistent at best until the last ten days of the month. It started to improve and my confidence came back. I threw 21.45 just before departing to Korea and that was a significant under performance.
If I'm 100% honest with myself, I knew that I was 6 months away from where I would have liked to have been for a major championship. 4 years of injuries and rehab programs have left me pretty weak. This year my best lifts were: Clean - 160k, Bench 170k, Squat 230k. I was able to do a lot more non-weight room training for the first time in years and I think that made a big difference. So for me, this year has been a great success because I've relearned how to throw weak.
7) The US vs The World - We have more talent that gets identified than any other country in the world. That's just a fact. Every child in the US gets the opportunity to compete in sports at youth leagues or school sponsored programs. We have a lot of sports competing for kids. Most of our top talent goes to baseball, basketball, and football. The talent we do get, we don't develop for Olympic/World Championships. We develop for the NCAAs. Then, we don't support the talent properly. Our training reflects a system that forces us to compete and disrupt our preparation for the majors.
Most Europeans wouldn't make it past college in our system in the shot put, because they aren't throwing far enough to make international meets by the age of 22. The only exception I can think of off the top of my head is Storl.
So who has the best system? I think the non-American systems are better for Olympic style competition. Who has the best training? That's a bit more subjective.
Finally, I'd like to congratulate Jill for her performance at World's.
Adam
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/dis...hp?f=1&t=44400
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