Dear Pete,
What you are experiencing is not uncommon and I can certainly
understand your being anxious. I was especially interested in
your comment "I think that I sometimes mentally make my
elbow sore." If this is true, then I suggest you begin a
program of visualization whereby you visualize yourself throwing
the javelin over and over again, and part of the visualization
exercise is that you experience no soreness afterwards. As I'm
sure you're aware, the brain cannot differentiate between what
you create in your minds eye and that which you actually experience.
Also, I recommend your using a special peice of music that has
an inspirational meaning to you and visualize to that music.
Then, when you actually begin to throw the javelin again, take
the music track along with you to the outdoor track and listen
to it just before you begin practice. Eventually, when you get
ready to throw the javelin, you will hear the music automatically
in your head and it will help you in recreating the scene showing
you being successful, without being sore.
Another approach you might consider is that of meditation,
using a mantra. I won't go into the details at this time but
it involves extensive training (20-minutes in the morning before
breakfast, and 20-minutes before supper) so that you program
your mind similar to Pavlov's dog. Use of the mantra will block
out pain.
Let me know if you'd like to know more about this. Good luck.
Marv Fremerman