5 weeks and counting/FOCUS...

With 5 weeks left till the World Championships my training and focus has ramped up with the emphasis on more throwing.  Strength levels are where they need to be so i am happy with that.  As I enter my In-season phase of training I dropped a day of lifting and picked up a day of throwing.  I hit all the lifts I need to do over 2 days and the 3rd day is 5-6 event training/throwing.  Right now I also do 1 event on the 2 lift days.  I will do this until I have achieved enough repetitions to feel comfortable, then drop them.
I would like to thank my sponsor http://www.biorhythm-ads.com/  There supplements are great and they put a lot of effort into formulation and quality control.
Slow and steady.
Kill It,
Irish Celt

8 weeks to Worlds

The final push is on.  7 hard weeks of training coming up.  The 8th week is a back off week followed by the World Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 18.  Training to date has gone very well, slow and steady.  My numbers are right were they need to be in the gym, so now more focus will fall on throwing and technique.
I will still be in the 45-49 class.  The games are 2 days before my 50th.  But no worries, I have goals to break several World records in the 50+ class.
I want to thank my sponsor Bio Rhythm for their unwavering support and world class supplements:
www.biorhythm-ads.com  

Kill It,
Irish Celt  

Off Season Training/2013 Season

Hope everyone had a great holiday.  It's now time to get back to business.  My off season training is going as planned.  Im hitting the squats heavy while keeping all the other lifts fast and explosive.  I will start some light throwing this weekend, Hammer and drills with light weight.
2013 will be a huge season for me.  I turn 50 on May 20, which is 2 days AFTER Worlds.  That still leaves me in the 45-49 group.  After May 20, I have my eye set on 5 World records im going after in the 50-54 group.  I have 8 games planned this year with invites to Holland and Germany.  Local games will be; New Mexico, Kentucky, NC, Virginia, Colorado, New Hampshire, Idaho, Pa., and Georgia. 
I am also going to compete in March for the Masters Weightlifting National Championships which will be held in NJ.  This is going to be a fun meet.  I will throw it in as a workout day for my throwing training.
Thanks to my sponsors for making the best supplements in the world- Bio Rhythm and Standard process.

Kill It,
Irish Celt

Season re-cap

2012 was a great season.  I won my second World Championship and also won some big games.  I had a personal best in the Heavy Hammer with a throw of 103' 8".  My previous best was 101+ .  I only competed in 7 games this year as opposed to 15 the year before.  My body is in much better shape the end of this season compared to last.
My plan for next season is to do about 7-8 games.  I have decided to compete in Worlds, even though it is 2 days before my 50th B-day.  I was going to wait till 2014 to do Worlds so i can compete in the 50-54 class.  So for 2013 I will be in the 45-49 group again.
I have some lofty goals for when I turn 50.  There are 4 World records I am going after in that 50-54 class.  
Off season training has begun and I have a good template in place.
I will write in now and again and let you all know how training is going.
Thank you everyone for your support.

Kill it,
Irish Celt

Stone Mtn. HG last game of season

It's always great going back to Stone Mtn. games in Georgia. This is the first game I ever went to, met the right people and subsequently learned how to throw from a Highland games veteran Larry Satchwell.  Whats cool is, he announces there now.  This is the last game of the season I am throwing in.  I am hosting the 4th annual Beach games in Currituck Nov. 3.
I am throwing Pro Masters in this game and going up against two highly ranked open Pros who are on the lower side of 40.
Looking forward to the off season and relaxing my mind.  Training is one thing, but keeping in shape for throwing and competition is another.  It involves intense training sessions with weights and throwing combined.  The mental focus for that and getting up for a games to perform at your best is very draining to the Nerve system and brain.
It's the only way I know and that formula has worked quite well.  I am truley blessed.
Thank you all for your support.
Kill it,
Irish Celt

Celtic Classic

This weekend is the Celtic Classic.  A huge game in Bethlehem, Pa.  It is the Open Pro National Championships.  They take the top 10 pros from our data base.  I was asked to commentate with the local TV station, kind of a Bob Costas gig.  I was honored and took the job.  It is a 2 day game and will televised locally in Pa.
Perhaps life after throwing in the HG?!  This is going to be really fun, looking forward to it.

Kill it,
Irish Celt 

Victory at New Hampshire HG

Thousands of people cheering you on, mountainesqe landscape, in the company of World class Athletes, friends and family watching, etc...  That was the setting for the New Hampshire HG this year.  This is my 4th year going to this games and every year is more magical than the last.
I had a great games with some big clutch throws.  I won Braemar stone, light weight for distance, both the competition Caber and Challenge Caber, weight over the bar, whilst 52 year young Mike Baab tried for a new 50+ World record, also won the Sheaf and had 3 nice tosses trying for a new World Record- to no avail...
I emerged the Champ at the end of a hard fought battle.  I leave nothing in the tank, its all on the field.  Otherwise why would anyone do a sport half speed?  
I would like to thank my sponsors Shiek belts, Standard Process for the herbs and macro/micro nutrients and Bio Rhythm for the performance enhancing pre and post workout, Protein and Creatine!! 
One more game this year, 4 weeks to Stone Mtn. HG

Kill it,
Irish Celt