Hey guys I'm back after another week of training! Writing from the ice bath again as this seems to be the only bit of free time I have after schoolwork, practice, more practice, and sleep. This past week has been a great week for me training wise I had a great technical breakthrough and I'm back on my training cycle hard.
Yet something doesn't sit right with me because my first practice of the week was phenomenal, possibly the best I have ever had! My eureka moment, It had happened. Muscle memory they say that your body remembers the movement and you don't lose it. My 2nd practice in the circle it was a bit off I didn't recapture the magic from the 1st day, but I was somewhat satisfied, and the last practice of the week in the circle I just felt tired and too impatient with myself wanting to throw farther than I was. I have to give my coach credit for this as even now I don't truly in my heart understand it but he calls it the rule of 5. For every 5 practices you have one will be magnificent, one will be above average, one will be average, one will be below average, and one will be absolutely terrible.
The best is your breakthrough day be it small or large it shows you are grasping the concept of what you are doing. It motivates you as an athlete and feeds you it keeps you going its what you live for.
The above average practice helps you grow and focus on specific aspects of what you are doing. You may not fully be completing the motion you are trying to complete but you are doing it better than you were before if only slightly. It helps you get the feel of the motion and learn.
The average practice is your sea level day it is a good indicator of your base level of ability and is and indicator of what you will probably look like on competition day.
The below average practice is the kind of session that you may change your workout or plan to avoid bad habits or work on other aspects of what you are trying to do.
Arguably the most important day however counter intuitive it may be is your worst day your lowest common denominator as they say. This day defines you, who are you? Are you an armature are you the athlete that only appreciates the pretty part of sports or are you the person that powers through your worst days? They motivate you they are the days where you say I will never have a day as bad as this again. That this day is the day I prepare for any unexpected circumstances that can cause weakness and that even in weakness you can still do your best.
This coming week is the district championship for Olympia and I hope, as I do every week for the two letters every athlete hopes for, PR! Good luck to everyone in the coming weeks in your chase for a state title. The first battle to fight is districts for all of us out there! I for one know I and my team are going out there to tear up some track (and some grass too!)
