Photo Credit: Spartan Race
Once again we saw the spear throw played a major role in the first Spartan Race US Championship Series event. Robert Killian stepped on his string while leading the race – a rookie mistake by his own admission. Of the women, I only know of Alyssa Hawley and Faye Stenning among the top pre-race contenders who actually made the throw. If anyone has stats for that I'd love to see them.
Here's the thing: the spear throw is not an obstacle like the others. It is a learned skill that needs to be performed under pressure, like a 6-foot putt or a free throw. In fact, you could as easily substitute either of those challenges, but it just wouldn't look very Spartan…
Why is it that skilled basketball players routinely make 80-90% of their free throws, while Spartan racers struggle so much with them? Part of it is clearly because of the fact that there is only 1 throw in each race with a huge penalty for missing, so each miss looms much larger. However, that doesn't explain the fact that world champion elite racers like Amelia Boone and Lindsay Webster struggle to make any throw at all. It also doesn't explain how such a seasoned professional as Robert Killian could make such a rookie mistake.
There are 2 steps to success in spear throws, just like there are 2 steps to success in making free throws.
Step 1: Proper Technique
The spear is a deceptively tricky implement to throw, as those trying it for the first time tend to discover. If you don't grip it near the center of balance and pull along the length of the spear, then it will tumble and not stick, even if you hit the target. This is not an article about spear throw technique: there are dozens of videos on Youtube for that.
Assuming that most if not all elite and competitive racers take the time to learn and practice the proper technique, why do they still keep messing up so much? I mean, the basketball players have a much, much smaller target to hit than the ginormous strawmen at Spartan races. Also, the level of distraction faced by college and professional hoopsters borders on the hilarious.
I'm pretty sure there are awards given out each season to the college and NBA teams whose fans have the best free throw distractions…
For me, this one with the players' ex-wife takes the win.
So how the hell do these players hit anything at all with a screaming crowd of 10s of thousands and their peripheral vision filled with what can only be called distractapalooza gone wild? That would be Step 2. It's something I have mentioned to a couple of racers, and am 100% sure would dramatically increase racer success at the spear throw. There are volumes of solid scientific studies to back it up. Pro golfer and basketball players are just some of the athletes who use it all the time to great effect.
Step 2 is to have a pre-shot Routine.
A simple google search will pull up thousands of articles and books and videos about pre-shot routines, mostly from the world of golf. The actual sport or movement or skill doesn't matter at all. Here is an excerpt from women's basketball that illustrates the concept and its effectiveness.
“The top free-throw shooters focus on their preshot routine.
It is impossible to focus on two thoughts simultaneously… For example, you cannot focus on the score of the game and your preshot routine at the same time.
By focusing on your preshot routine, you normalize the free-throw shot. You lessen the sense of pressure you feel and take your mind off of that fear of missing.
By focusing on your preshot routine, your free-throw becomes the same shot you take in practice.
Well, one of the best free-throw shooters in professional basketball is Elena Delle Donne of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
Delle Donne has made 207 of her 218 free-throw attempts, 95% in the first 31 games of the 2015 season. Delle Donne is a 94% career free-throw shooter and is as clutch as it gets in the sport of basketball.
Delle Donne focuses on a very specific preshot routine that she consistently runs through her head prior to each foul shot.
Delle Donne spots the dot that marks the middle of the foul line, places her right foot in line with the center point, bounces the ball three times, places her index finger on the ball’s air pinhole, bends her knees slightly, positions her shooting hand, shoots the ball and repeats a cue phrase as she releases the ball.
DELLE DONNE: “I actually just tell myself, ‘It’s going in,’ every single time.”
A preshot routine is more crucial when Delle Donne shoots foul shots in away games against the Connecticut Sun.
In Connecticut, there is no marking to indicate the center of the foul line. Delle Donne’s pre-shot routine is disrupted resulting in a 87.5 free-throw percentage in three games at Connecticut this season.
DELLE DONNE: “It really bugs me. It shows how mental foul shooting is.”
http://www.peaksports.com/sports-psychology-blog/preshot-routines-improve-performance/
Spend some time. Get a Routine. Do it over and over. Turn your brain off and nail that effing strawman when it counts.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and official policies of Mud Run Guide LLC, or their staff. The comments posted on this Website are solely the opinions of the posters.
Good article and I think this add to the thoughts many have expressed about the spear throw. I am a fan of the spear, and I have NOT made a spear throw yet. The reason I like it is because it is a challenge that is tough to ‘athletic’ your way through.
Last week I was listening to Richard Diaz interview Hunter when he made the comment that he (Hunter) did not think he was much of an obstacle course racer as much as he just used athleticism to get through courses. I think many elites effectively muscle their way through the courses. Most of them are good, I mean really good runners. Just look at how Killian failed 2 obstacles and still made the podium, it was because he is a superior runner.
Next, the spear throw is a challenge. And, in my opinion, OCR/Spartan races are supposed to be metaphors for life, just like any sport. And life throws all sorts of crazy challenges at you and you just need to be able to adapt and rise to those occasions. So whether it is the spear or the memorization challenge it is an obstacle. The obstacles are meant to challenge everyone, and eventually surface the best all around.
Ryan Atkins is not the best runner, nor the strongest, but he is the best all around and approaches the game with strategy. Hobie is doing the same thing. That is why they are the top of the list. We should all try to mimic their strategies and approach the races as an all around challenge, not just a physical one.
BTW, thanks for using and NC State photo 😉 Go Wolfpack!