|
Track
Stuff:
(internal links)
Forum
.
N. California 2008 Meet
Calendar
.
2008 US Icosathlon
.
"A Disturbing Trend" - the state of
men's multi-events.
The Women's
Decathlon - An Evil and Communist Event
.
The Old
Guys: Decathlon Veterans (30+) over 8000
.
Women's Decathlon All-time Marks (new IAAF rules)
.
Warning Signs!
.
Training
Devin Yakoushkin's Performance Log
Chico 1-hour Decathlon
Results, PDF
Chico 1-hour
Decathlon results, htm
.
Blog Archive:
.
"A Disturbing Trend"
The Women's
Decathlon - An Evil and Communist Event
October 2007
August 2007
July 2007
.
June 2007
.
February 2007
.
November 2006
.
August 2006
.
July 2006
.
June 2006
.
May 2006
.
April 2006
.
March 2006
.
February 2006
.
Dimitry's Full Recap of
the 2005 Double Dec. |
December 3, 2008
11.2... I kind of like the way that just rolls off the tongue.
11.2,
Super Genius...
I have a new
training method for a one hour decathlon: Obtain a stress
fracture seven weeks prior, eat lots of ice cream, do not run
for 6 weeks, light jog and some strides a week before the event.
Sound like recipe for disaster? Well, how about a lifetime
best 100 meter run? The "Chico Annual 1-hour Decathlon for
Chico Athletes and Dimitry" is done, with one ridiculously
phenomenal event (that lifetime best 100m) 7 other decent
events, a mediocre event (the hurdles.) "Wait", you may
say, "that's only 9 events!" You would be right. But that no
running for 7 weeks caught up to me in the 1500 and we won't be
talking much about that event (I DID manage to finish.)
So, at nearly 32
years old, overweight, with no base or speed work, how did I
manage to run my fastest 100, especially after running sprints
at UCD? A great part of this was two things:
Mike Kuoppamaki moving to
SF and being my official chiropractor, and
Jennifer's acupuncture. Another major factor that I
may chose to ignore was that rest before a meet is more
important that training before it. Now, if we can just
combine the two...
Mike coming up is
going to prove to be one of the greatest things that's happened
to me in SF, and that is saying a LOT. ;) A small
adjustment to my spine rendered me pain-free immediately after,
and I could dance that night on a leg numbed from a sciatic
nerve issue, later ALSO fixed by Mike. Having a former
elite decathlete as a chiropractor is going to pay off much
further than what you can measure in 11.2 seconds, it seems.
As always, the
Women's
Decathlon page still is a huge internet favorite, it seems,
and gets almost all of my traffic.
On another unrelated
note, Dimitry is unemployed, screenwriting for a sketch comedy
show, has another screenplay optioned by
Zin Haze
Productions, and looking for whatever opportunities come his
way. Were it not for Devin's future and my responsibilities for
his well-being, this would actually be a very stress-free,
fulfilling, happy time. It helps to have some really
wonderful people surrounding you!
September 24, 2008
Another year...
Another broken bone!
But this one does not count - it's a stress fracture, the pretty
cousin of the fracture. It's minor, 4 weeks, don't even
need a boot, and can walk, swim, bike and lift. Forced
time off is what I need, anyways. Could not convince the
doc to put me in a cast or boot - what do i do when there's 6
seconds left on the crosswalk signal? Wait for the next
light? C'MON!
I'll easily have
enough time to get healthy for the 1 hour Dec Nov 21, and then
start training for a trip to Europe and a hept or two or three.
Sean Gourley (I am no longer the only decathlete in SF! this is
1% sad and 99% wonderful) and Matt Chisam make take the trip
across the pond for a triumvirate of TROUBLE.
The
Women's
Decathlon page still is a huge internet favorite, it seems,
and gets almost all of my traffic.
July 21, 2008
OUCH!
I FINALLY got the
video of my first
6-left vault from December 22, 2007, which resulted in 5
fractures in my left wrist and lacerations in my elbow from
crashing into and then onto the standards.
On completely
unrelated news, Devin jumped 2.45m (8 feet) in his fist measured
running long jump, the day after his 5th birthday.
March 31, 2008
Blocks
We've used starting
blocks since the dark ages of track and field, before world
record holders were
smoking a
pack a day. Somewhere in the late 1920's
starting blocks made an emergence, with expected resistance from
some in the community, and they haven't changed much or left
us. But was a properly controlled study done to prove they
were better than a standing start? When you had to
dig into track surfaces to get proper footing for a start,
maybe blocks gave you some added stability or traction.
They sure
are sexy, but with today's all-weather surfaces, are they
beneficial? Or have we just been jumping off bridges
because everyone else has? Without blocks, an athlete can
have his center of gravity at starting line, as opposed to about
8 inches behind the line when using blocks. Also, the
athlete using blocks has to do more work to bring that center of
gravity upwards, to a normal running position. As far as
creating more force from using the blocks, has it been proven?
And if so, what effect does it have on time, the only
thing we care about? It's all theory until someone proves
it, and on that note, I've got questions for the track community
reading this:
-
What
evidence is there that supports the use of starting
blocks? Please
email me
(dimitry400@yahoo.com) any relevant,
particularly scientific info on the use of starting
blocks. "Feeling faster" does not count!
-
Has
anyone timed themselves or other athletes with and
without blocks? (Under the same conditions,
preferably the same day?)
-
Provided
you hold still at the start, what rules prohibit
standing at the start and not using blocks?
I'll be standing for
my start of the 110 hurdles at the Cal Multi, as I have a little
evidence that I'm faster to the first hurdle to the tune of an
average of 0.07 (which is what started all of this for me.)
This faster time may be due to more confidence in my stride
pattern, however (I can take one less stride, meaning my trail
leg can go back at the start instead of the lead leg, and my
"natural" stride pattern fom a start does not need shortening or
lengthening adjustment; I just hit the hurdle perfect.)
Next, I'm going to run a small study to see if blocks are
beneficial (using a few athletes, electronic timing over 30
meter sprints) then possibly widen the study if the preliminary
evidence shows promise, hopefully using youth, masters and elite
athletes. More on this as it develops...
March 24, 2008
What a Year
Let's run down the last 6 months, which may serve as some
apology for a long time without a post; * home sale, * divorce,
*layoff
*50+ job interviews, * new job
*
new home * new car *
multiple fractures in my wrist from an aborted vault (the video
exists on a cell phone that won't send videos!) * a 50.2 400
meters on my birthday (a week after the broken wrist), and *
adapting to being a part-time single dad.
The 2008 Chico Multi
went off with a fantastic field and beautiful weather, but sadly
I had a lung and ear infection that hampered all of my
performances, except for a monster 28 cm (11.5") PR in the long
jump, my highest score of the meet, when usually the long jump has been my 6th best event! Next up is Cal, where
hopefully following some acupuncture, cortisone, yoga, rest, and
voodoo, my back gets into a condition where it can make it
through two days of track and field.
New Calendar
Most local schools
published their track schedules, and I updated the calendar to
include these meets in California (and a little beyond), available here.
There have been some date changes for meets from last year, such
as the Woody Wilson at UCD, and other changes, such as no Sac
State Open.
|
.External
Links:
iaaf.org - International
Association of Athletics Federations
IAUM - the governing
body for the Icosathlon
Decathlon2000.ee
Multi-Event Points Calculator
Sportnet.com-
free online TV coverage for elite level meets
All-Time
Icosathlon World Lists, Master's, Women's & Open. (individual & event performances)
USATF - United States Track & Field
DecathlonUSA -
results, newsletters, history, records
Stabhochsprung - the
most comprehensive video history of vaulting
VS Athletics -
track and field supplies
Kip Janvrin's Post-WR Icosathlon Interview
Masters Track.com:
Masters Track & Field
Have a link you want posted here or that should be posted here?
email Dimitry |
