We. Are...Scotland!!!! *chest pounding*

I participated in my first Highland Games event this past weekend.  And, oh boy!  It was hella fun!  I think I have truly found my sports "people".  As a person with a body not built for speed and struggling with accepting that fact for years, it is quite nice to realize there are other activities out there for body types such as mine.  I have always been the powerhouse in the events I participated in.  In the majority of the triathlons I competed in, I usually finished near last in my groups.  Good thing most were staggered starts, hahaha!

I recall back in 2008 at the Outer Banks Oly Tri, there was a sewage dump in the water, so they canceled the swim (my strongest leg) and made it a duathlon.  Running is my weakest leg.  I finished WAY dead last in that triathlon.  They were starting to take stuff down by the time I crossed the finish line.  I also attended by myself.  So, I simply packed up my stuff and drove back home.  My blood sugar was in the 50s.  But I will be damned if I am a DNF/DNQ!  I crossed that line and accomplished something that was hellaciously hard (major cross winds on the bridges we biked across, ugh, and my gears broke).

So, now I need to read up on the Scottish American Athletic Association (SAAA-national) rules, watch a whole bunch of youtube videos on techniques, and join up on the Northern Rockies Chapter of SAAA. Wooo!

Here are the descriptions of each event in the games (thanks to NASGA):

Open Stone Put Similar to the shot put, except a stone is used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds. It is called "open" style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. The throwing area is a box 4'­6" wide and 7'­6" long. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.

Braemar Stone Put This stone put uses a heavier stone usually between 22 and 28 pounds and it must be put from a standing position. The same throwing area and fouls for the open stone apply.


56lb. Weight for Distance The weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The overall length cannot exceed 18". The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4'­6" x 9'. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
28lb. Weight for Distance Same as the 56lb. Weight for Distance except a 28lb. weight is used.

22lb. Hammer Throw The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50". The athlete stands behind the trig with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position.
16lb. Hammer Throw Same as the 22lb. Hammer Throw except a 16lb. hammer is used.

 

Caber Toss The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The smaller end is rounded off so it will be easy to cup in the thrower's hands. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the caber and then stops and pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over and faces away from the thrower. The caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 position on a clock face. A judge behind the thrower calls how close to the 12:00 position the small end of the caber lands, 12:00 being a perfect toss. If the caber is not turned, a side judge calls the degrees of the angle the caber makes with the ground. Sometimes a Challenge Caber is also used which is larger than the Games Caber.

 

Sheaf Toss The sheaf is a 16lb. or 20lb. burlap or plastic bag stuffed with either chopped rope, straw, or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitch fork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, the he is out of the competition.


56lb. Weight for Height The weight for height is the same as used for distance except it is shorter. The weight is tossed over a cross bar with one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, the he is out of the competition.

Now I need to research tartans and kilts.  I found a few tartans I like, but I also want to make sure they are meaningful in some way.  Not just pretty colors.  But something that applies to me.  I found a few that I like.  Looks like it'll cost me about $100 for a sport kilt cheaply made.  I better start saving ASAP!

There's just something...comforting? to be at an event surrounded by people wearing kilts, lifting and throwing heavy implements in inclement weather, grunting and swearing and being badass in general.  Yup.  Definitely my people.  I hope it works out that I can continue participating and work my way up to an actual event to compete in, yay!!!