Playout: PRIMALity Decathlon (First 5 Events)

We had an informal decathlete event yesterday very loosely based on the Olympic event but with a playful and primal flavour.  

"It's great to spectate and live our lives through other's achievements, but it's even better to participate and achieve your own expectations." - Me

Events:

100m Sprint

110m (Bench Jump) Hurdles

100m Fireman Carry

Wall Vault

Weightlifting (overhead press - no equipment required)

I read a newspaper article about how little effort a 100m sprint takes in comparision to an endurance run.  Well I think most of us who ran an ALL OUT sprint yesterday will tell you that the recovery time of 5-10 minutes afterwards was more than intense enough to deal with.

London 2012: Weightlifting Women's 48kg Category

Strong!

It's a pleasure to be able to attend the Olympic games especially when I live in the host city.  The atmosphere is amazing.

Here is a picture from the woman's 48kg (106lb) weightlifting category I attended yesterday. Most of the women are less than 1.5m (4'10") and about half my weight.  However they can lift almost twice their weight overhead with the snatch lift and almost 2.5 times in the clean and jerk.  Now that is inspirational, what a power and strength to size ratio!

The Snatch lift.  Incredible technique - some of them make those lifts look so easy.  China attempting PB of 91kg to go for gold.  That's almost snatching my bodyweight overhead!  A ‎115kg clean and jerk clinches victory for China.

Fit at 50 - Merlene Ottey

Merlene Ottey

Yesterday, Merlene Ottey made history being the oldest athlete to compete in the European Athletic Championships at 50 years old.  She now runs for Slovenia, rather than her native Jamaica - participating with athletes in their prime, less than half her age!

Her chosen role was running the final leg (anchor) of the 4x100m sprint relay.  An even more remarkable achievement given it is 30 years since she competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics winning a bronze medal. 

She has clocked a 100m time of 11.50 seconds this year (a second slower than her personal best), looks fantastic at 50 and also wants to compete at the 2012 Olympics in London.  Although she is unlikely to be vying for medals in 2012 - I for one will be cheering her on.

"There are no limitations to age.  I'll always run.  It's the challenge that keeps me going" - Ottey

What an inspiration!