13 Sep 07 100 minutes Decathlon (part 1)

This is my first post about the 100 minutes Decathlon. I am writing about this special event because on the next 27th of September we are organizing it, here in my town: Besana in Brianza and I am going to compete.

I have to say that I am a great fan of this kind of events, because I think they can make Combined Events and, Athletics in general, more understandable to non technical people. A lot of people, infacts is used to watch football matches (especially in Italy ) that last 90′ minutes plus 15′ break… well, 100 minutes decathlon is exactly what they are used to: 85′ of athletics action and 15 minutes break!

In this post I would like just to recount my first (and only) experience in this event. It took place in Pavia in 2004 and it was amazing for me; I competed together with Luca Ceglie and Marzio Viti.

Here are my results:

100\\\' Decathlon: Pavia 2004

n°	event	result	points
1	100	11.23	810
2	LJ	6.93	797
3	SP	14.98	788
4	HJ	1.80	627
5	400	58.08	481
6	110HS	15.16	830
7	DT	40.71	669
8	PV	4.50	770
9	JT	59.66	733
10	1500	5.16.20	470
11	TOT	6975

Since then I wished to repeat that good experience, but always had some other reason to prepare or to compete for :-(. So this is the the time I was waiting for long! This time we will be 6 athletes (unfortunately i don’t know yet exactly who), so there will be 2 heats, each one for 3 athletes. I’ll write a single post just to explain some technical matters; for now I’m just doing some predictional evaluation.

The most important thing to say is that I will compete in the Talence Decastar just 4 days before (22nd and 23rd), and I am not supposed to be as rested as I should be!! I just hope to have a lot of fun in this 100′ Decathlon, in order not to feel too much tired. Anyway, I would like to use a very different approach for my 400 meters; last time I run in 58”08, that is almost 10 seconds slower that my PB!! It was because I did not know how I would have felt for the ’second day’. This time, I’ll try to get a lot of points more in 400, and hope not to loose so much in the last 5 events. Considering my actual good condition in middle distances runnin, 52” could be the right time.

Anyway, we have still to see how I am coming out from that Decastar and then maybe do some more realistic considerations! My coach would say: “Non facciamo i conti senza l’oste”!!!

11 Sep 07 A decathlete among 1500 meters runners…

Well, firts of all: I don’t know if everybody think that it is a good idea; it is definitely to me.

Last Saturday I made a 1500 meters competition… yes, with the real 1500 meters runners, not among other decathletes!

In my opinion it was such a training experience and I’m sure I’ll repeat it; I run in 4′48”53, that is 79 cents more then my PB (I’m not a good 1500 runner.. ).

The best feeling is the way I can approach the distance without the physical and mental stress of a Decathlon ending race. Yes, it is simpler to run in this way, but the positive effect is that next time I’ll know that 1500 meters are not such a monster, as decathletes (especially in Italy) often think.

I can imagine that someone might think that I’m writing obvious things, but I would like to report my personal experience about it, and say that I’m definitely going on with this approach, hoping to defeat the monster and start running 1500 as a distance

…to be continued …

07 Sep 07 Going to Talence

YES! It’s done. I finally know that I’ll compete in Talence for the famous Decastar Meeting. It has been such a hard work, and I had to contact some people, but it was worth to.

Yesterday the Organization Team sent me the invitation email and finally I can schedule my training and my competitions before this appointment.

This long story began on the 26th of July, when, winning the Italian national Champioships, and getting better in my season shape, I was looking forward to have another meeting to do as good as I could, and to train for.

The first man I contacted was Gianni Lombardi, Desenzano Meeting Organizer, who wrote to the ADEM and asked for me. OK, it was maybe too early, 40 days before the World Champioships they could not know if there would be any place for me. I went on training hard, without knowing whether it was for a Decathlon competition or just for a more tiring summer

Second was my friend (french decathlete) Rudy Bourguignon who gave me the ADEM email address. So I sent my personal request and waited for a good answer..

When Osaka World Champioships were over, and the French team came back to Europe, it was time to call mr. Jean Yves Cochand, the French Combined Events Boss . He was absolutely nice! We spoke about the World Champioships and he kindly offered to ask the organizers.

After 2 days, here the answer! And it was a positive one. So thanks Gianni, Rudy and Jean Yves (hey JY, don’t forget the beer you promised me ;-))

Now it up to me. Let’s hope to have a nice competition and maybe to set my PB!!