A Day in the Life of a Masters Pole Vaulter

Zigged When I Should Have Zagged?

2012-02-14T20:23:00.000-08:00

This is my life today; mixed signals!!

I went out to the high school today to watch the vault practice and meet Julie, the vault coach. Julie is the wife of the head coach, Craig Dunn, but more importantly, a 12' high school vaulter at a time when there were very few of those. I liked her and her style right away. A former vaulter also helps out but he was not out today. My job is to fit in and help them where asked, but don't mess with what is already working. I'm very comfortable in that position. I'll earn my keep when I take the kids three days a week from the end of summer to Christmas.

SO, I remembered a valuable lesson today; DO YOUR WORKOUT FIRST!! All I had was four easy bleacher ramp runs and by the time I was going to do them I had to leave, my legs were dead from standing, and MANY other kids were over doing the same thing. I'm out all day tomorrow but will jostle myself around enough on Thursday so I will feel good for Saturday, but would have liked to have done that little workout today. Thanks for being here!! Bubba

Chickenfoot - Turning Left - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1nTRdC_wI&feature=related

Thunderstruck!!

2012-02-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

I deal with this daily in business. Paralysis by analysis. I drink the water while they waste time.

Huge winds today after a rainy start. In fact the winds sounded like thunder the way they were rumbling. Today I had a long stretch before I went up to the Los Angeles area for business. That was my plan today. Tomorrow I will get a few more hill/ramps in and maybe a little leg lifting. I'll see how I feel after stretching. I'll report back how life feels tomorrow. Thank you for being here! Bubba

AC/DC - Thunderstruck - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RukUetw0hAM&ob=av2e

Moving Right Along!

2012-02-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

Dana Hills High School - the two pits are on the other end at an angle to get the tailwind.

I decided that even though I'm sore from yesterday's step up in intensity that I would do the same today. The result was another good and quality day. After lifting I hit Dana Hills High School for 6 hill/ramps. I'll do the same again on Tuesday and then coast into Saturday's meet.

This morning I accidentally found out that the California Senior Games will be having their vault on March 11, at Stanford University. Failure to jump there would mean I could not compete in the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland. I was looking for a meet and saw an email from my buddy Kirk Bentz with a list of upcoming meets. Had I not been looking for a meet I would have missed the deadline. Apparently my next meet is June 2, so I'm glad I found this. Have a great day and thanks for your support!

New Van Halen - She's a Woman -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9wKgYjTK10&feature=related

Thanks Dean Starkey!!

2012-02-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

Me & Dean with our World Championship Medals from 1997; me from South Africa & he at Athens

Today, after missing two days of training I felt agitated and lethargic to the point it took me over an hour to talk myself into going out to start my double lifting session. I had both a garage and a gym lift session today so I was NOT into it at all. I know, I know, "just show up and get through it and you will feel better". For some reason today I felt like I would be a failure if I took that approach. Enter Dean Starkey, retired 19' 5" (5.92m) USA vaulter.

I've known Dean very well for many years and like any successful athlete or person, he has very little patience with himself if he doesn't feel like he is giving his best. My very favorite memory of Dean's unique approach is that if he got rejected or stood up by a pole, he would not only gut it up and move up a pole, but he would actually skip the next biggest pole and go to the one above that. MANLY!!

So today when I was feeling like a loser trying to talk myself into training, I remembered this and channelled Dean by going out and starting 50 lbs. (22kg) heavier on all of my big lifts and 25 lbs. on the secondary lifts. I always say you can kill a fly with a flyswatter or with a sledgehammer and today I chose the sledgehammer. Thanks Deano!! Bubba

Here's Dean jumping big in Athens in 1997 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe_3_HiBMtU

My Life - Out of Control?!?!

2012-02-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well, not this much but it feels this way!

As you know I came back to California because of business opportunity. To say that things have "panned out as hoped" is a terrific understatement. This week, the large Beverly Hills based, national physician organization has drafted me from exclusive contractor for physical therapy services, to be their "Director" for all ancillary services on their behalf. I still keep my PT services contract, but, oh by the way, will you help us on the national side of the rest of the revenue generators? After all, we have already built a national company so who better to help them? That's a trick question right? OF COURSE I will do this and I am honored to be asked!!

SO, I missed another workout today. Don't worry, it's Hammer Time as I will do a double in the morning. Thanks for your support and sorry to let you down. Back to reality tomorrow. Bubba

Hoobastank - "Out of Control" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E17HnEMloDc&feature=fvst

Another Day Lost?

2012-02-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Not really. I took today off so I could have a Friday, Saturday, Sunday rotation followed by a Tuesday/Thursday to get ready for my next meet. I'm feeling pretty good so I'm trying to stay that way rather than beat myself down before my last meet for a bit. Stay tuned. Thank you!! Bubba

The New Off Day is the Old Off Day

2012-02-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Wednesdays have always been my regional travel day so it has also been my off day from training. Because I'm not vaulting in practice right now I've juggled some days and have been able to lift Wednesday morning before I take off. Not so this week as today I'm behind already and will have no time to work out. Lesson learned - get back to my regular days and if I can go a day early on some things then great. If not, I'll still be able to be on the right rotation.

I found out yesterday that I cannot be at the track with the high school kids until I get my fingerprint clearance back, get my photo ID, which I can't get until I get clearance, etc. I should have it back sometime between today and Friday. In any case, I was going to jump Friday and that now seems unlikely. So back to statement #1 - Wednesday is my off day and I will get back on my regular schedule. Thanks and have a great day! Bubba

The Battle Continues

2012-02-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

I delayed my training cycle by one day to come out the place I wanted to for the end of the week, and wouldn't you know it, I felt lazy, lethargic and disinterested in making my body perform. My core endurance felt weak yet my strength was OK. This is not the reflection of a weak body but a weak mind, my "Resident Evil". Got passed it and kicked it's butt. Thank you for getting past this crippling flaw today. Bubba

Metallica - "Sad But True" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8MO7fkZc5o&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TLcpo8jVVbhyk

Day Off!!

2012-02-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

I'm off today anyway but what I'm really trying to decide is if I will jump Friday at the high school. Today was their first day of practice but I haven't gotten my clearance from the school district to work with the kids yet. Hoping to hear something in the next day or so.

Tomorrow is a gym lift/bars and running day but we have 100% chance of rain. I'll have to play that by ear. If I jump Friday I don't mind skipping running tomorrow. Stay tuned! Thanks for your support! Bubba

Here Comes the Pain - Time to Play the Game!

2012-02-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

DANGIT!! There are few things more painful than lifting legs the day after a meet. I feel like I have been shot at and missed and sh*%t at and hit. BUT, that's what makes the body recover as well as step up and respond. I HATE it but I ALWAYS feel better after it. I dread it so much that it takes me about an hour to get myself up enough to go do it, and then I very slowly and cautiously build into the session. Today was no different and I'm so glad I got in a high quality lift and stretch.

As a follow up to yesterday I did not have a good technical day. My warm up jumps were very nice and smooth but unfortunately the standards don't go back that far, so I spent the day feeling like I was about to go under the crossbar before I even started my swing. THAT will screw up your timing in a hurry. Every jump was a save and never was there any control. Time to switch gears.

After I lifted I took the two 14' 1" (4.30m) poles out of my meet bag and put in two bigger 14' 7"s (4.45m) poles. The two 14' 1"s will now be the top of my practice series. I will start my meets from 10 steps on the smallest 14' 7" and try to go two poles per run and see how that goes.

The problem with jumping at a low level is that you do things technically that get you in trouble when you use REAL poles. My left shoulder is trashed today because I wasn't actively pressing my hands before the pole hit the box. I'm not used to that much force because I have only jumped on small poles. This also explains why I'm needing an extra stride to move poles that used to be very manageable from a stride closer. Jumping on bigger poles from closer will correct this timing in one day.

This may sound like a formula or invitation to injury but it's really very safe. I was taught many years ago that when you use bigger poles you should back off your run about 5% and try to hit all of your positions 10% better. I will still start at 4 steps, 6 steps and then 8 steps in practice, but I will quickly start trying to move bigger poles from each run before I move back. Like a meet, I give myself three attempts before I have to change runs, poles or both.

I'm hoping I can jump at DHHS next Friday but if not I will wait on the meet on 2/18. In any case, I like my overall plan and I'm glad I survived today's torture chamber. Have a great day and thank you so much for caring enough to follow me here. Bubba

Drowning Pool's, "The Game (Here Comes the Pain)" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MfUHAtEkGU

Great Day For a Great Cause!!

2012-02-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

Vaulters and fans today at UC San Diego. Please click to enlarge.

A few years ago Leon Roach III, a young UC San Diego vaulter, died when his head struck the ground after a rope vault. Today there was a great turn out to celebrate his life and spirit. The last time I saw his dad was 1970, in the back yard of Olympic bronze medalist, Dave Clark, in a small town in North Texas. We were both there to take lessons for the day, just a few of us. Later he lived with Bob Richards Jr., the son of the Olympic pole vault and decathlon champion in Garden Grove, California. My brother saw him then. Today was a joy to hang out with him and the other vautlters on an absolutely picture perfect day.

With close to 40 vaulters it was a zoo but expertly run by the officials. I started at 11' 6" (3.51m) after about a 90 minute wait. Unlike Reno my poles were way too small and I had to save a bunch of jumps rather than feel like I had control. No idea how I made opening as the pole just turned to mush and I hit it on the way up but it stayed. At 12' (3.66m) the same thing happened but even worse on my biggest 14' 1" (4.30m) pole and I got a miss. Made it on jump #2 on my smallest 14' 7" (4.45m) pole and then moved up poles again. Made 12' 6" (3.81m) pretty easy but had to turn too early to avoid hitting it on the way up AGAIN - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfneaLbcd0&feature=youtu.be At 13' (3.96m) It was all about finesse as the pole was a little too small but I didn't think I could get on the next one. Had three great jumps but couldn't wiggle around enough to leave it up.

I think I'm at that point where I need to start on my normal meet poles, the 14' 7"s (4.45m). Last year I could jump on some of these from a stride closer but somehow I'm jumping higher where I am on these poles. For example, the pole I jumped 12' 6" on today used to be my 11' 6" pole. The pole I made 13' on in Reno, that was too small today, was the pole I used for 12'. If I can quickly close this gap by using the same poles from one stride closer I can add 6" (15cm) to my height and be set up to get on bigger poles from back another stride.

Today I didn't feel spectacular but my 12 step run was back about a foot (30cm) meaning I'm actually running a little faster. I'm FAR from where I want and need to be but the results are certainly pleasing. Now, back to work. Thanks for following and supporting me! Bubba

Watching & Waiting!

2012-02-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I have a meet at UCSD (University of California at San Diego). It's a vault only meet in memory of a vaulter who died a few years ago. I didn't know the boy but I know his dad, who I haven't seen in over 30 years. I will see him tomorrow. Girls jump at 10 I think and the guys jump at 1. It's only about an hour drive and the weather is supposed to be nice. We will see how it goes.

I had an easy stretch, sprint drills, skip, stride day and got my poles packed up. I added two poles to the bag just in case I need them. I have three left in the garage that I don't think I'm ready for. In fact, I may find out I'm not ready for the two I added but at least I will have them if needed.

I don't have any expectations for some reason. Training is going well but I've only jumped one day since Reno two weeks ago. I'm fine for that for now. I wish I knew more what to expect but I don't. I will just have to wait and see how it goes. Have a great evening and thanks for your support! Bubba

Chickenfoot's, "Sexy Little Thing" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeqpRvFaCtI&feature=related

Silver Lining

2012-02-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to come to some control of my work, travel and training schedule. Like anyone else my schedule changes all of the time but it's much easier for me if I have a structure for it to vary from. I'm starting to feel like I'm planning for organized success rather than adapting to random chaos.

Stretching this morning felt good but a little tight, not too bad at all. Tomorrow I will move around a little more and get my poles ready. I will add to more poles to my pole bag so I don't end up like Reno, running out of poles.

I found out there is no meet the next weekend, 2/11, but two on 2/18, which is perfect for me. I prefer to jump in meets no closer than every other week so this lines up nicely.

All in all I feel pretty good about things, hence the "Silver Lining" theme. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

A great rocking band, "Living Colour" with "Open Letter to a Landlord" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V5VkMqM07s&ob=av2e

Let There Be Rock!!

2012-02-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

Let There Be Rock - This is my little practice/travel amp for my guitar, which I have set up to play my mp3 - LOUD!! Runs on batteries for vault sessions or plugs into the wall in the garage.

I decided not to run yesterday as my right Achilles was a little sore. I haven't quite figured out why but I will. After two Achilles surgeries I'm pretty quick at diagnosis and correction. Today I woke up with no pain and had another great garage workout along with stride/skip/stretch. I feel a little heavy but I still have a few days before the meet so I should be fine. The good news is that my body felt fairly refreshed, like it's on the rebound, even though I lifted hard legs yesterday. I'll take that any day on a Wednesday leading into a meet.

Last night I did my CPR/First Aid class for the Dana Hills High School Volunteer PV deal. Tomorrow I do criminal check/fingerprinting and then I'm done. I have meets the next three weekends and then that comes to an abrupt halt as kids start to have meets. By that time I should be settled into a great training routine. It will feel weird to have an outdoor mark this early in the year but that is a good problem. Have a great evening and thank you so much for your support! Bubba

ACDC - Let There Be Rock - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98I85ceICRM

Recalculating!!

2012-01-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

I'm still a little beat up but I did my regular training today hoping I will have enough time to feel good by Saturday. I'm optimistic that things will be fine but worse case I use it as a practice. Since I'm jumping in a meet the next weekend too with a shorter rotation of rest, I need to be a little more cautious. So I'm OK for today, but guessing how I will feel in 2-3 days is a crap shoot. So as always, I will be recalculating. Have a great day and I will report on whichever body shows up tonight, tomorrow and the next few days. Bubba

Rage Against the Machine - "Renegades of Funk" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqWP1rsAMrw

Life Goes On

2012-01-30T16:58:00.000-08:00

WELL, since I will jump in the meet in San Diego on Saturday because I have no place to jump before then, my workout schedule deals me a day off today. I will start my next rotation tomorrow by doing Tuesday's running and all of Wednesday's marathon training components. Wednesday AM I will get up and do Friday's workout and then cruise into the weekend. I'm guessing I will also do some combination of this same thing next week but starting a day later. I think there is a meet at Marina HS in Huntington Beach that weekend.

To clarify - I will jump in meets but I won't travel or break training. The way it works around here is there are a ton of All Comer meets now and again in the summer. But once the high school and college meets start we are out of luck. So lucky me, at least I have some meet opportunities until I can get my regular practice rotation back.

The good news is that if only jump once a week I can really trash my body on my training because I only have to feel good one day and I will always have a coupe of rest/stretch days before that. SO, life goes on. Have a great evening and thanks for being here. Bubba

I leave you with Offspring's, "The Kids Aren't Alright", a great training song. Ironic title because the singer has a PhD in microbiology, so I guess he and his bandmates have done alright. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrZ4sMRYimw

Lessons From Dean "The Machine"

2012-01-29T19:52:00.000-08:00

This is how high an 8' vault looks to me today. Beat up and trashed from training in a very good way. "Hopping" into bed will require an effort!

My long time, "up for any psycho activity" training partner, Dean Gregory taught me a lot of stuff. A certified genius, he read six newspapers each day but he specialized in common sense and determination. He wasn't a big guy but he didn't back down from anything. YES, he's still alive and I'm sure reading this having no idea why I'm talking about him or where this is going. He's been a big supporter and great friend for 30 years so he'll be fine.

Lesson #1 - A bunch of us in the neighborhood decided we were going to go hike a mountain over behind the Rose Bowl. I had done it once before several years before so I had a rough idea where we were going. As we started off jogging and scrambling, etc., we noticed that Dean was walking like an old man with a very slow stride length about the length of his foot. It wasn't long before we were out of sight and occasionally came back to make sure Dean knew the route. About halfway up we were physically wasted and looking for shade and Dean slowly marches by. He beat us to the top by an hour and was napping when we arrived. We were spent, dehydrated, etc. He calmly started his trek down.

Later we would mountain bike ride across Catalina Island for a few days at a time. Having learned my lesson, Dean and I WALKED on our pedals with the attitude that any forward progress was good. At the top of a hill we should be fresh enough to accelerate. Over the long run this is by FAR the best way to go about training too. BTW - Our bikes were much heavier than everyone elses' because instead of powdered food and plastic utensils, we would freeze steaks, lobster, take bottles of wine, etc.

Over the years I have learned a lot from Dean about a lot of things, but the go slow and never stop or take a break is the most valuable. So many of us start and stop with different training blasts that I just have a gut feeling that Dean's way is the only way I can really get where I want to go. So thanks Dean. Low level forever until that feels too easy then slowly raise the level. Never raise more than 10% and never raise both intensity and duration at the same time. Don't be in a hurry because I have 20 months. But 20 months goes fast so DON'T MISS!!

Yesterday I was a little bummed about the situation at Saddleback College but Simon will talk to the coach again. I'm fine at Dana Hills and I won't worry about jumping this Tuesday. Why? I think I will drive down to UC San Diego and vault in a cool little meet in memory of a friend's son who died a couple of years ago - https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/125223.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5800 I will just make it a practice and stay after my other training earlier this week.

A few days ago "Unknown" made a comment on this blog encouraging me toward my outlandish goals. He said he was jumping 10' 6" and had a goal of 12'. The first thing I thought when I read that was, "thank you". The second thing I thought was "GOOD FOR YOU!!" The truth is that I have seen a lot of 10' 6" jumpers and far better than half of them absolutely CAN jump 12'. In fact they are more likely to jump 12' then I am to make 14'. But whatever your goals; GO GET THEM. Long, slow and steady! Right Deano?!

Thanks for being here. Bubba
The Kinks, "Superman" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzgIl9Qt7Bg I can see every vault of Jan Johnson's Sky Systems 2 when I hear this song. It's burned in my memory.

MORE Changes!!

2012-01-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

Great workout this morning. Took my time and got through everything I needed to and I liked the way it all felt and flowed. I'm all set for regular training and then STOP ...

Simon Arkell emailed me and said they are running all vaulters off who do not compete for Saddleback College. Last year Simon was the California Junior College Coach of the Year and now he may be opting out. If you can't help all vaulters then what's the use?

Needless to say we are working on our back up plan. I think between two local high schools we will be set. Dana Hills High School, near my house now has both pits out. I should officially be a volunteer for them by the end of next week so that works for me. Hopefully we can also go to Mission Viejo High School. There are always options but no one is happy when a school shuts you out. When I left UC Irvine after 14 years to move to Texas they ran all outside vaulters out too. Oh well. Their loss. We get insurance through USA Track & Field to protect the schools so there is really no reason.

I'm bummed but not too bad. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Prong's, "Snap Your Neck" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl-5TrGakWY

Less Than Zero!! Facing My Demons!

2012-01-27T12:26:00.000-08:00

When I start a new program I make the assumption that both physically and technically I am at the bottom and starting over. So not just at zero, but LESS than zero because I want to start with a clean slate, not just come back with what I have always done.

As your body is thrashed from training you don't have the energy to jump on big poles or long runs. Because of this you get far more jumps in because you stay at a low level. The problem there is that because you aren't tired AND can get many jumps, you are faced with many jumps to confront your technical demons. Now most of those are mental. You simply have to get used to getting in positions that aren't that comfortable because they are not familiar. So you have all of these jumps by which to torment yourself. That was today.

I started on 4 steps on my smallest pole and made 11' (3.35m). At 11' 6" (3.51m) I went up a pole but stayed at 4 steps. In three attempts I could not find the timing to complete a jump so I stayed on that pole and moved back a stride to 6 steps. I cleared it 2 out of 3 times. The KEY is that I was on the 4m/13'1/15.9. Normally at 6 steps I would go to the 14.7 because that would assure a clearance. That's not the "game" here. The game is how high can I jump with better technique on small poles?

Next session I should be able to turn up on the 15.9 from 4 steps, and soon after, even bigger poles. This is the stepping stone method. A pole you can use from 6 steps you can now use from 4 and so on, just by trying it for three jumps in the previous practice. So by the end of February, jumping twice a week and getting used to my training, I hope to jump 12'/3.66m (ties my PR) on a big pole from 4 steps.

Again, this is process. I can't move up poles just to clear the bar as I have to progress through all of my smaller poles and get the most out of each as I go. I may move up and not be able to get in so I have to move back a stride if I can't turn up in three attempts. Just like a meet, you have only three attempts before you have to change poles, runs or both. Repeat 20-30 times and my body will learn that I expect something different from it. BTW - Bungee? NEVER! I'll use one when they allow them in meets.

My rationale is that I just jumped 13' in Reno after not running further that 6 steps in practice and not trying higher than 12'. So isn't this the BEST way to assure I move up systematically for the long haul? I think so. Today I gripped 11' 10" (3.60m) from 4 steps. If I can get that to 12' 3" (3.74m) then I'm setting myself up to grip higher when my run eventually moves back.

Having not done one single thing since Reno my stride length was short and choppy. No stretching, running or strength work will do that. I'm OK with that today but next time I should be able to cover more ground and move the 15.9. Much more to say but I'll do it another day. Thanks so much for being here! Bubba

Here is "Zero" by the Smashing Pumpkins, another great training song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfLIqMavq3Q

Trying to Get Out! Dominance / Submission

2012-01-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'm foolish enough to believe I have a some big jumps trapped inside my body. I know it's a struggle with my mind and body of dominance and submission. You know, you feel all powerful and then you bump your knee and drop to the floor feeling like a weakling about to puke? Build it up and get knocked down - repeat 1,000+ times and you may find success.

You train and gain strength and power at the same time you tear your vault down to nothing and rebuild it. That's the only answer I have as to why I delude myself and why will this time will be different. I know that John Altendorf is the only 60+ year old man to ever jump 13' (3.97m - actually 4.04 indoors & 4.05m outdoors) and I plan on being the only 60 year old to jump 14' (4.27m). YES that's DAMN CRAZY since I haven't jumped that since I was 46. Yep, 14 years older ought to be about right for that type of a breakthrough. DUMBASS!!

But I have to believe it with all of my being and break everything down and build it again if I am even to join John's exclusive club at 13'. There is a reason only he has ever done it in history. Do I really think I can jump 14'? Yes - look at my 13' 6" jump in Reno last year. I cleared it by a foot and I can run further, hold higher and use bigger poles today than I could then. I just jumped 13' last week in Reno without running further than 6 steps or 33' (10m), or attempting higher than 12' (3.66m) in practice. Low level technical stuff carries over to bigger success on bigger poles.

All of this said it will require a very special and consistent long term approach. Hence, I start training tomorrow for October 2013. Wish me luck. Oh yeah, you will be here with me. Thanks so much for that! Bubba

Dominance / Submission by Blue Oyster Cult
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiF8uSulVc0

Stuff!!

2012-01-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

I'm going to vault on Friday morning because I'm basically tired on waiting for Saturday. My body feels good so I'll do a little shake out tomorrow and get a light stretch in. I was disappointed in how bad my technique looked at Reno but that was mainly because I was off balance from being under. At the same time it gives me lots to work on. I'm sure I will stay on small poles from 4 and 6 steps for all of February and try some heights I don't think I can make on those smaller poles. Try to learn how to hit and hold better positions for longer while inching my grip up. Need to hold 4-6" (10-15 cm) higher next year. That type of vaulting won't take as much energy in my legs so I can train my body really hard. I'm pretty sure what I want to do but after I finish this big work project tomorrow I will map it out and post it. Have a great evening and thanks for being here! Bubba

Evolution

2012-01-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

I just found out the the World Masters Championships in Brazil have been moved from late July/early August to late October. I jumped in Australia at the World Masters Games on October 13, 2009. Both southern hemisphere locations means warmer weather. It also means that my ramp up will be a few months longer. It also means I can go to Italy for the World Masters Games in August. Good, good, good.

LOTS of work to do and more time to do it. My evolution from a child to a vaulter begins on Saturday when I will have my first vault training session for next year. Here's to this "Sweet Child of Mine" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4&ob=av3n Thanks for being here. Bubba

Closer to Home!!

2012-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

My pit at Reno - Lucky #7

I was going to start training today but decided the program can skip a rotation while I make sure that nothing is hurt. I felt some pain on the outside of my left knee that I got shot before the National Senior Games, but I'm sure it's just from not jumping at a high level. Even though it flared up it did not run out of control nor was I considering stopping. That's amazing considering I had 10 meet vaults, three warm up jumps and a run through before my first bar went up - 14 jumps. Here is how it looked;

Warm Up - 1 2 3

Run Through - 1

11' 6" - X

12' 0" - OX

12' 6" - OOX

13' 0" - X

13' 5" - OOO

Today my theme is "Closer to Home" because I am returning to my training roots, in a new place, that feels like home. Though I grew up in Texas, I was obsessed as a kid with surfing, surf music and the entire California scene. I had never been there but felt like I belonged there. I went for a three day visit in October of 1978, came home on Sunday and moved there the following Wednesday and stayed 24 years. I left for 10 and now I'm back for life. People used to say, "I hear people from California are weird". My response many years later was, "I don't know. I'll let you know when I meet one". Of course I know many native Californians but most are from other places and like me, enjoy the weather, scenery and people.

The message? I'm home - GET TO BACK TO WORK!! And I will. Thanks for your support. Grand Funk Railroad - Closer to Home Live From Shea Stadium 1971 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyF5J7au1jE

Video From Last Night in Reno

2012-01-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

Of course I see tons of stuff I don't like but they are all things I can work on. I'm just glad to have performed above my expected level and did not get hurt. Thanks so much for your support. On these videos you can click to pause and then use your cursor to move through frame by frame.

AGAIN - HUGE props to my coach, Kris Allison for his brilliant adjustments. At two critical points I would have guessed wrong and blown it. When he told me to skip a pole for my last jump at 12' 6" I thought he was nuts. I mean a .9 flex jump from the same run at the end of a meet? But I did as I was told and it worked perfectly. Thanks Kris!!

Have a great evening and thank you sincerely for your support and friendship!! Bubba

This s the 12' 6" jump
http://www.bubbapv.com/12-6-Reno.mov

The 13' jump. Sorry about the lack of trim function. Don't know why that didn't work.
http://www.bubbapv.com/13-Reno-2012-Desktop.mov

SURPRISE!!

2012-01-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

Much to my surprise I jumped 13' tonight on a first attempt and got 2nd on a miss at 12' 6" to a younger guy. I had 10 meet jumps on five poles. I should have taken bigger poles but at least I'm not hurt. The hero award goes to my awesome coach, Kris Allison for making me skip a pole before my last attempt at 12' 6". I boomed it and would not have made it on the smaller one. Had one really good jump at 13' 5". I've never made 13' on the pole I used for it tonight, much less 13' 5". Very pleased with the result. Have a great evening and thanks for your support. Bubba

Feeling Alright!!

2012-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Nice little stride/stretch/skip today. I feel pretty fresh so that is good. I did have a wild hair a few minutes ago that said, "why don't you just start on your smallest 14' 7" (4.45m) pole and see how it goes". Tempting, but I doubt I will be that stupid. Fortunately I jumped in a meet in the Fall where I went from my biggest 14' 1" (4.30m) to my smallest 14' 7" and made 12' 8" (3.76m) on my first jump. That is a more likely path. Have a great day and thanks for your support! Bubba
Thank you Joe Cocker!! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTcmahEjiY

Time Issues

2012-01-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Here in Reno. BIG fire on the outside of town is the BIG news. Highway 395 was closed in one area so I texted Bobby Talley and the Saddleback vaulters who are driving up with all of our poles. Bobby said they were about 180 miles south so rain and/or snow may knock out most of it by then.

So much for the masters jumping Friday night. My ID says I jump Saturday at 3:15. Since all pits have a bout 40 vaulters and run late I will most likely be jumping around 7. THAT SUCKS!!! Oh well. I'll go over early to watch some other kids and see how far behind my pit is. ZERO chance it will be on time.

Today I feel a little rundown and dehydrated from the altitude but I'm better tonight. I guess the bright side is that I have an extra day of rest. Some of us may rent a car and drive over the 50 miles to Lake Tahoe tomorrow since we are "Off". We will see as they have a winter storm warning. Probably not the best idea if the snow is at lake level. Going to be a very low key two days. I'll get a stride/stretch in tomorrow and should be good to go.

Have a great evening. Bubba

"No Time" by the Guess Who - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqeSUAlI5uI

Glowing Expectations? NOT!!

2012-01-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

I leave very early tomorrow morning to fly to Reno. My expectations are minimal. Last year I had been jumping really well early but got stuck every time I moved up to my 14' 7" (4.45m) poles. A month before Reno me and Kris decided to take 5.5" (13cm) off of my poles. Since the poles were made on 15' 1" (4.60m) sailpieces I now had a true 14' 7" that I could roll. So I was jumping good but not high. Tons of height on 12' 6" (3.81m) but couldn't roll the next pole to make 13' (3.97m). So I trimmed those poles too and BOOM, 13' 6" in Reno, which held up to be the 3rd highest jump in the world last year for my group. Then jumped 13' easy at National Indoors. Those were the days, or were they? I fully expect more later this year and next year. FYI - the world record for age 58 is 13' 1 1/2" (4m) and the American Record is 13' 1" (3.99m) so I'm after that later.

This year for Reno I'm not quite as fit, mainly because of the move and groin strain, but I have had a lot of really good technical practices. In fact, from my shorter runs I am almost on as big of poles as I have ever been from these runs. The problem is my body may rebel if I go too fast too early. I'll have to warm up at a very low level, sit around an hour or so waiting to start jumping, and then ease into my first height or two before I start challenging bigger poles and longer runs. Timing these together without getting hurt is the key. I feel fairly confident I can manage that, at least until the end.

Bottom line is that I hope to jump 12' (3.66m). That may sound strange since I make that easily every day but when you are coming off of an injury and have sat around for awhile, there is no telling how the body will respond on round two. Typically I feel better in the meet than in warm up but that means at least for this meet I have to be super careful. IF I made 12' 6" ish I would be pleased and if I jumped 13' I would be shocked and ecstatic. Not that I don't think I can but again, it's reading my body.

We will see what we shall see. Thank you so much for your support. In the spirit of the magic needed to pull off a decent jump with my current fitness and jumping experience, here is the theme from super illusionist, Criss Angel's Mindfreak - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqilEB6Ojfc Bubba

Fine Tuning

2012-01-17T09:51:00.000-08:00

Another long stretch day in the garage and a chance to work through final exercise combinations and order so I can fine tune my new training life. It's all becoming very clear now and I'm very excited about that. So many parts of it are better suited for my goals than I have ever had before. It's funny how when you allow yourself to get past the initial confusion and disappointment of radical change, that you see a much better solution than you imagined.

Even the smallest details are proving to be a refreshing upgrade. The gym is crowded and has some limitations but the high P-Bars allow me to swing back further than ever. Because the grips are a little wider my hips can get through my hands too. I've noticed a dramatic difference in the range of motion and force of my swing when I vault.

No I don't have my little grass hill and sled, but I always complained that I had to use a sled because the hill wasn't step enough. Not only do I have a superior hill/ramp at the stadium of Dana Hills High School, but I have some very steep bleachers to mix in between. These bleachers make me explosively drive off of every step while the hill/ramp allows me to build a quicker and more powerful run rhythm.

DHHS is about to put another box in so their pit can be out year round. It is 10 minutes from my house. I'll jump my short run day there and my longer day with Simon. I will have keys and full access and they also have a ton of poles. They are due a new pit in three years and they already have the money in the bank. The head coach, Craig Dunn, was a distance runner at DHHS who tried vaulting his senior year and made 10' 6" his first day and finished at 13' 6". STUD!! He has a passion for the vault and wants to see his kids have the best chance to succeed. I'm all for helping out and appreciate that they would allow me out there.

As stupid as it sounds, the smaller Smith Machine has smoother and a more free action that my old Gold's Gym machine which I loved. Even more surprising is that the bench that came with it has the seat part slightly raised and angled toward the head of the bench so when I stretch it puts more gravity over my body making it easier to get a deep stretch without forcing.

All of this again reinforces that the mind is like a parachute and works best when open. I HATED the lack of a familiar routine and now I have a brand new one that is better than any one I have ever had. I just had to quit being stubborn and look for it. I've dumped some exercises and changed some others and I am recharged to get started. Sometimes the way it has been done is not the way it should be done and I have learned that lesson again. It makes me ashamed that I was so closed to what clearly was a great new opportunity. I just had to let it in and I have. Now let's have some fun. Reno and then off to "next year".

Thanks so much for being here and your support. I'll see many of you in Reno but for the rest, stay after it. Whether you think you will have a good day or not, you are probably right. Bubba

Bon Jovi, "It's My Life" was playing during my stretching and reminded me that IT IS my life; make the best of every moment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE&ob=av2e

Yes - It Rains in Southern California

2012-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Me & two time Olympian for Australia, Simon Arkell, watching the kids at Saddleback College. I've known Simon since the early 90's. He is tied for the left handed World Record at 19' 1/4" (5.80m). YES, he rides that bike most of the practice. Click to enlarge.

Yesterday when I was doing my bleacher/hill/ramps I had some big drops falling so I was concerned about the bleachers getting wet and me slipping. I ain't that coordinated so I really have to be careful. Fortunately the "bigger rains" held off but we are entering the rainy season they call "winter". The high today will only reach 63 after a low of 49. I mention this because the garage workouts don't need to be heated with a space heater and maybe I won't even need a fan. We will see. I first moved to Southern California in 1978, and every time it rains I think of this song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyC7WnvLT4

The biggest thing different about this week is the time devoted to stretching and just getting and keeping loose. Though I have kept in touch with these activities I normally spend about 30-40 minutes a day on this. On lift days I do stretches between sets and on non-lift days it is just a straight 30 minutes or so. Part of being within "striking distance" is remaining loose so I can cover more ground with less effort. BTW - that's why I hammered the bleacher hills yesterday; ONE week away from sleds, hills or bleachers and I find myself working too hard to cover ground on the runway even though I feel good. I felt that way Saturday. That is an invitation to a hamstring ding.

Along those same lines, when we use DJ's "List" (http://www.bubbapv.com/Pages/dj.htm) we put a rubber strip across the runway at the mid mark. This makes you accelerate to the box. If you run too fast too early, or run the middle 3rd of the run too fast, you won't be able to get to the box. When we have a meet we clearly don't use the rubber strip. Get this - TWO practices without the strip and your run will move back in meaning that you are carrying less speed into the box. I get this same result by running sleds and hills - COVER GROUND by running forward without excessive or wasted up and down motions. Food for thought.

Speaking of thinking, surprisingly I'm not over thinking Reno. I know exactly what pole I will start on, from what run and at what height. Though I could use a bigger pole in warm up I will not unless my start pole becomes mush - a 70% chance. I just know it's going to be fun. I dodged the injury devil on my way here. THAT is cause for a sigh of relief. Now let me try to get out of the meet unhurt. Have a great day and thanks for your support! Bubba

Motley Crue again today, with "Shout at the Devil". Another weird thing I do when I get through a hard prep phase before a big meet without getting hurt, I SHOUT at the (injury) devil and say - "You didn't get me this time!!!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d57WGkhi-M&feature=related

Blue Water Swimming!!

2012-01-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

Pole vaulting is about becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, and then searching out the next uncomfortable. There is a long series of them waiting for you on the road to success.

I learned and was taught early in my business career that innovative minds look for "blue water" opportunities; those concepts that exist outside of the bloody red water of the carnage of competition. Nine years ago I came up with such an idea in healthcare that is quickly becoming an industry standard and we still have no imitators. Why? We protect our intellectual property with privacy agreements and all money has to flow through us first.

In training I have been bobbing up and down in the red water and spitting out blood as I learn how to train in this new environment. Today as I was running the light bulb went on and the entire new plan laid itself out for me. I was at Dana Hills High School at the top of my first bleacher run and I looked over to the left and saw about a 40-50m ramp/hill about three times as steep as the little hill I ran with a sled at The Woodlands. PERFECT - Run up the 30 steps (15 lefts), walk the rest of the length of the bleachers on top, and down the ramp, then run back up the ramp - 22 lefts or 44 steps. This combination could not be more perfect for my needs. BY FAR the best ever running combination for my day after vaulting running. Of course on vault days I do 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, but now my "speed endurance" day is set.

My lifting pieces came together too. I now know exactly what I will do on what days between my garage and the gym lift days. I'm very excited to have these pieces set as I go into Reno. I can tell you right now that I will spend hours on my computer setting up next years spreadsheet to begin tracking. If you remember, "Next Year" starts the day after Reno as I begin a long preparation for the 2013 World Championships in Brazil. I will trun 60 about three weeks before them. I'm so excited to have this training clear in my mind. I'm a schedule person and I need structure. I can take any conditions or curve balls thrown at me on meet day but my training needs to be very regimented and now I have it.

Thank you all for your support. Today I heard a great Motley Crue song that reminds me so much of what it takes to be a good pole vaulter. It has a line that says, "If you wanna live large you've gotta be ready to crash and burn". And with that, I will put one more bigger pole in my bag for Reno - "Wild Side"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nm1BJPe-pg&feature=related

A Bright Spot!!

2012-01-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

I almost did everything I told myself to do and not do today. The exception was I moved back to 8 steps for the first time in practice this year because I didn't feel I could get enough pole speed from 6 on my biggest 13' 1" (4m) pole. Made 12' (3.66m) easy three times and stopped. Not really.

I did make 12' three times easy but I went in and got my first 14' 1" (4.30m) pole and came out and started over with my 2, 4, & 6 step take offs. Shockingly I could get into the pit on it comfortably from 6 steps only gripping down about 6" (15 cm) from where I would start with a crossbar. So I used a bigger pole and a longer run because it felt safe.

I didn't want to risk getting hurt but I needed to know what pole and run I would start on in Reno. The first 14' 1" from 8 steps (43'). It was a bit of a risk but I know that my biggest 13' 1" is a little bit bigger than my first 14' 1" so I took the calculated gamble. Nice day, I'm not hurt, and I'm as good as I will be for Reno. Not where I was last year but technically a little more controlled even if the poles are smaller and the runs are shorter. Time to have some fun. WHEW!!! Thanks for being here! Bubba

In Living Colour - "The Cult of Personality" - lead singer Cory Glover was in "Platoon" with Charlie Sheen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0&ob=av3e AND Vernon Reed is an incredible guitar player.

Snakebit!?

2012-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

"Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't really after you". Who? Where? The injury bug! YEP, waiting on you tomorrow. OK a bit dramatic but then again, I am easily amused.

Message to anyone vaulting in Reno. Tomorrow is my last vault session before Reno. I will vault next Friday night at 5:30. We used to jump Saturday but several years ago we made it clear that if they wanted officials at the Saturday pits we need to be finished with our jumping. Great move!! We also have kids to coach on Saturday. But I digress.

The ambitious mind tells us that tomorrow would be the perfect day to try and get on that next pole or run. A very scary percentage of those who try this will be injured and left to limping around at Reno all weekend. DON'T DO IT! This is as much a reminder to me as it is a warning to you. Been there, done that, as have countless other vaulters. Ain't so much fun to be in Reno and not able to vault. You/I have been warned. That is all!! Thanks for being here. Bubba

Reno - 1 Week - Fire it up with Motley Crue's, "Kickstart My Heart" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4aob4zlhIk

Let There Be Rest!!

2012-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and did not feel like training. Now if I wouldn't be in Reno a week from right now I would have gone out and pounded it out like I always do. Upon further review, I'm a little beat up but not majorly so. I'm not injured, or really flat, I just feel like I'm at that point where I can slip into further beat down mode or my body will be kind and make a positive charge forward.

As hard as it was to do I did not workout. I think the main reason is that I would like to have a decent final vault session on Saturday morning as well as let the recovery start. Dangit I hate being practical but sometimes it's needed. I'll hit my normal hard Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and then should be good to go.

At this age my body feels like the Tin Man on the Wizard of Oz; old and creaky until I get moving around a little. Exercise is my oil but today I needed rest. It's really hard to explain. Yesterday I was trashed and today, even though I still feel bad, I feel like I'm coming back around. Odd, but I didn't want to screw up that hint of physical progress. If you listen to your body when it speaks softly then it won't have to YELL at you. Have a great night!! Bubba

Old school AC/DC, "Let There Be Rock" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98I85ceICRM

When Below Average is Good Enough

2012-01-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

The great athlete Bo Jackson once spoke to a group of elderly people in Alabama and told them that he was no different than them in that their perceived level of exertion puts their body in the same state of trauma. Yes he may be able to get there sooner and stay there longer but all ages know what this feels like. His message was that some days 100% effort will only produce 70% or your normal or expected results. Some days are easier than others.

Today I felt like total dog crap but I was able to jump. I was so afraid I was done for Reno because of this groin issue but as I got going it was totally nonexistent. In all I took 16 take offs with 7 at a bar. I couldn't get on the regular poles I have been able to but I have been training harder. Dead legs will make that happen. I was smart enough to stop with some decent jumps under my belt. I knew to hit my "norm" would require me to try and run harder and that's just not smart. Besides, I'm THRILLED I could jump at all.

NOTE - I jumped with Dan Cassidy today and he too had a short day because he is recovering from a light calf strain. DAN, has some real potential because he loves the sport, he is a good student, but mainly because he stops when he FEELS something instead of when he INJURES something. HUGE difference. He chooses to stop rather than being forced to. Hat's off to Dan.

SO, what next. I beat the HELL out of myself of course. This means I will feel bad again when I jump Saturday but I will have a long break and should feel great by Reno. The things we trick our bodies into letting them to do. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Megadeth - Peace Sells - A favorite grind away song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa_Cz7_bPuI&feature=fvwrel

Confusion / Peace

2012-01-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Because of my schedule and body I'm trying to figure out my game plan for tomorrow. My groin is sore from the quick running the other day. It didn't bother me this morning during stride / skip / stretch but that doesn't mean that it won't flare up when I vault. It's possible that I am already out for Reno and don't yet know it. I worry about this. See my thought process graphic above. I think the bottom line is that I need to go out tomorrow and try to vault at a low level. Now it becomes "when"?

In my real life I partner physicians wishing to offer physical therapy services, with a network of private practice PTs that I build for them. Why? Most every time a physician opens his own PT it fails, while at the same time kills private practice PTs by removing his business from the market. It's truly a win/win. Over the past nine years me and my partner have done over 700 contracts in 49 states. I'm in California again because of a number of deals but primarily for a group of 265 physicians in Beverly Hills. I have the exclusive contract to provide their PT services. Tomorrow is their "kickoff" meeting. I don't yet know if I am to be there tomorrow night or meet with the organizers during the day. So hopefully soon I will have that answer and know when I can vault.

Why does this matter? I was hoping to run from 8 steps tomorrow and make that my last hard vault day before Reno. Now between my leg and this meeting, I don't know if I will / can jump at all. Again, please refer to graphic above for the gobbledygook going on in my head.

And now, for something totally needed and different, PEACE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn_4n7SuKjE Thanks for being here! Bubba

More Change!!

2012-01-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

I catch myself sometimes being impatient. Part of this is not being settled in on what I will do in my garage vs. the gym. The other part is not starting early enough to be able to take my time. I went out to the garage at 6:30 this morning so I could slowly work through things. I got in my first long stretch in also and it felt great. This doesn't mean I'm settled in. It just means I know why I was impatient. It also explains why I have lapsed here and there on recording my weights lifted.

My body is somewhat beat up but feels to be recovering so that's a good sign. Recovering from training time tells me where I am. When I'm in peak form I can pretty much obliterate my body and still feel pretty good the next day. That said, I can only take 2-3 weeks of that type of training consistently before I need a one rotation break. I'll be glad when I get there. Hope it happens before Reno but we will see. Thanks so much for being here! Bubba

Here is my guitar teacher, Rusty Cooley doing a video lesson. Some great vaulters are not good vault coaches. Rusty is a fantastic teacher and consistently ranked among the top 10 :Shredders" in the world - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLfw4jp5UhU&feature=g-vrec&context=G29f0177RVAAAAAAAAAw

Simply Irresistible!! - 12 Days Until Reno!!

2012-01-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Of course I never start with music but today is the day because it played a big factor in my training. I was torn between using Robert Palmer's, "Simply Irresistible" or Don McLean's, "The Day the Music Died". The first song was playing when MY "music died" today right before my running workout. I had charged my mp3 player and when I unplugged it I forgot to turn it off so it has been playing non-stop until the battery was dead. It held up during the gym but crashed right before my running began. OUCH!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNFp7zStBvY

I'm in this weird and painful phase that I strangely like. I vault one day so my legs are trashed. The the next day I lift HARD legs (borderline puking) and THEN I immediately go do my running. The dead legs, being asked to run with a natural rhythm, do not respond well DURING the workout, but I feel much quicker in the legs my first day back out to jump. It's kind of a simple way to jump up my conditioning pace. Beat them when they are already trashed. This will sound strange but I also have actually jumped right after lifting hard legs.

The background - I had a decathlete from Germany at UC Irvine who was a dangerous vaulter so I wouldn't let him vault. Instead, reasoning that he had to warm up every day anyway, I gave him a series of pole and plant / take off drills to do. After two months I let him vault from 4 steps until he could make 12'. Starting this process he gripped 16' and made 13' 9". At the end of his first year with me he gripped 14' 9" and vaulted 16' 9".

Chapter two - with this in mind, I gave my top two collegiate vaulters a 1:45 minute warm up on their vault day. BEFORE they vaulted they did running, sleds, hurdles, bars, drills, etc. Needless to say they were dead legged when they got to vault so they were able to focus more on technique since they had no chance to jump on big poles. The result as the girl went from 12' 7" to 14' 5' in SIX MONTHS and the guy improved by 1' 3". Works for them, why wouldn't it work for me? Besides, I'm too tired to use a big enough pole to get hurt.

Back to running. Clearly I am not used to it. I ran 6 X 100m with a fairly quick pace and nice stride length. I was not as out of breath and it felt manageable. But when I went to do my 6 X 50m, both groins were sore from the quick movements required to run a fast and rhythmical pace. EXACTLY what I wanted. Go after the weakness in a controllable environment.

I'm hoping this jump starts my speed endurance and stride length quickness so I don't have to fear longer runs at Reno. I'll try to run from 8 steps on Wednesday and that will be my start place at Reno. If I can get to 10 steps and on to my 14' 7" (4.45m) poles then I should be in business. The only caution is warm up. If I can get through warm up and the sitting around with no issues, I should be OK to go a little bigger. But not without this time of running and this training configuration. Have a great day and thanks for your support! Bubba

Time Machine

2012-01-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

Another dangerous change of plans. I noticed it was much cooler out this morning but decided to take my pole bag that I will take to Reno with me = bigger poles. My first pole in the bag is my 2nd biggest 13' 1" (4m) pole, a 13.8. Considering that the last two practices I have jumped on my 13.5 from 6 steps, the 13.8 is a push to start on, but I felt I needed to try. Reno is coming and that can't be the first time I hit a pole that feels stiff.

I felt quick but unstable in the legs from lack of training and stretching this week. This creates a bigger risk considering my plan and the cool temperatures. I figure the worst case I could move back to 8 steps. I did a ton of short little take offs from 2 and 4 steps to be sure my timing was good. I also took four take offs with no bar from 6 steps to make sure I was on. When I put the bar up it was apparent to me if I didn't hit my hands well I would not get in enough to turn up to attempt the bar. Jump #1 that's exactly what happened. I didn't roll the pole. Jump #2 I boomed 11' (3.35m) by a lot. Jump #3 I easily cleared 12' (3.66m) and stopped right there. Mission accomplished.

Sure I would have liked to have taken more jumps but I felt at that point that moving to 8 steps and going to my 14' 1" was too much for how I was feeling and the cool climate. Dodged a bullet and had a good day. Many would question that 2 completed jumps is not a good day but they were very good jumps and my technique was dead on. A few years ago during a rehab period, soon to become Olympic and World Champion, Steve Hooker said that some of his best practices were 2-6 jumps. He knew he was limited by injuries so his focus was much better as he knew he could not waste jumps. That's me today; hit the CRAP out of the pole, hit my positions and quit before I'm hurt. Thank you body!!

I'm not stuck in the past. I joined and am active on Facebook so I can track up and comers and watch them develop. My best "find" was Germany's Desiree Singh who I started watching a few years ago. Last summer she won the World Youth Championships. I'm also not stuck in the past on my music as you can see from my daily music selections. I'm sure many of you don't classify some of it is music but when you have three sets, three lifts, three hills, etc. left in your day, my music choices drive me to the finish. With all of that said, here is Grand Funk Railroad's, "Time Machine". Enjoy! Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCt4bTNIpTQ&feature=share

Whatever It Takes

2012-01-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

Well I'm going out for a long but low level vault session in the morning. Because of business travel I haven't done much this week but at least I didn't come back heavy. Two weeks from today I jump at Reno. Totally unaware of what to expect there. I could jump well but I'm not in vault shape enough to jump real high. We will see what happens. I'll go as big as I can within the range of not getting hurt. I'll feel like I will know a little more tomorrow. Thanks for your support! Bubba

Sublime's, "Santeria" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEYN5w4T_aM&ob=av2e

Mom, New Years Resolutions, Tim Tebow, etc.

2012-01-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn Tebowing. Rumor has it she wants a date with him.

A friend asked me yesterday about my New Years Resolutions. I responded that I do them throughout the year. At a young age I would share my plans and goals with my mom and tell her when I would implement them. Her response was always the same, "Well that sounds like a good plan. Why don't you start right now? Why would you wait?" And so I don't.

This is the same mom who chastised me when I was a young and whiny wuss. For example, I have a great friend, David Shephard, who always jumped higher than me in high school and college. He was MUCH taller and faster than me. So one morning my mom reads the paper and she sees that David had vaulted 15' 6" at a big high school meet. I said, "Well he grips 15' 6"". To which my mom says, "It doesn't say that in the paper. It just says he jumped higher than you. Why don't you grip 15' 6"?" When I responded that I didn't have the speed or talent she said, "So David should be punished for that?" Harsh but I needed that lesson at that point.

David was one of my best friends and the nicest guy in the world. You couldn't NOT love him but why did he have to be so much better? That's just the way life is. Like Clint Eastwood said as Dirty Harry, "A man's got to know his limitations." GREAT mom to take the unpopular yet truthful approach. May she rest in peace.

I'm not a fan of Herbert Cain at all but, like my mom, he will tell you how it is whether you like it or not. He once said, "If you want to be, and you aren't educated or rich you only have yourself to blame because people who started with far less than you have accomplished this". FACT!

So that brings me to Tim Tebow. A year ago I was very anti Tim Tebow because he thought as a rookie he could march into a professional football team's locker room and change their culture. When he first asked for a group prayer they told him to "Shut the F up and sit down". To me at the time that's what he deserved.

But being proud to have an open mind, I have become a big fan of Tim Tebow. The mind is like a parachute and works best when open. Not Tim Tebow, the quarterback, person, Christian, etc. But Tim Tebow the determined spirit and force to be dealt with who has remained humble through all of this criticism. My two favorite quotes about his constant reference for his love of Jesus was, "You don't just tell your wife you love her the day you get married, or you mom on her birthday". I'm a Christian and I would never burden someone else with my beliefs but I think his reasoning is well founded. In his book he says he uses the platform as a way to say thank you to the Lord. He understands that the size of the platform will shrink over time but he will still use it now and forever. Again, that's not me but I respect the reasoning. The other thing he said was "I'm quite sure that God could care less about football, me playing football or who wins. But he does care about how I conduct myself whatever I do."

So what does this have to do with pole vaulting? To be successful you must have undying spirit and conviction that you can get better, no matter what anyone else thinks. My mom taught me a great lesson early when I realized that I just wasn't as talented as many of the other vaulters. If I really wanted it I would have to work longer and harder than the rest. As we know, at the highest levels of anything in life EVERYONE works hard and smart so you had better be strengthening that muscle between the ears.

For three years my mom fought death and declining health. Three times we were called to her bedside for last rites only for her to come back. She wouldn't even give up facing death, and neither will I. Back to the grind baby! Tomorrow is another brick in the wall! Thanks for being here! Bubba

Today's get off your ass and do something message to myself is Drowning Pool's, "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" Join me?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO_QntXc-c4

Almost Home

2012-01-04T15:50:00.001-08:00

I''m in between phone calls and meetings right now. Can't wait to get home and get back to "work". Have a great day!! Bubba

Flying High!! Not So Much Today!

2012-01-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

My plans for today pretty much failed by choice. I went to the gym and did one set of high bar swing ups and one set on the P-Bar Bubkas. I felt my shoulder a little bit on the high bar and my elbow on the P-Bars so I bailed. It could be because I vaulted on a big pole relative to my run length on Saturday and did these same bar drills yesterday. Off to the track to do stadiums.

Everything is wide open but my body felt like crap from the vaulting Saturday, and hard leg lifts + 8 X 100m yesterday, so I stopped. I came home and had a business call and then went out the garage to get a feel for my new gym stuff. It went well but the set up and feel for each exercise took longer than I expected so it was more of an orientation than a workout. That too is probably for the best since my shoulder was flared a little on my last free weight lift day. The shoulder rarely flares so that's not such a big deal as long as I watch it.

I feel good about where I am and where I'm going. That's a good thing since I am off on a business trip for the next three days. I'll do some strides and stretching on Wednesday and get a good vault session in either Friday or Saturday.

Other stuff - I've noticed that I'm getting tan, in California, in the winter. In Texas I vault at 7 AM and the rest of the time try to stay out of the heat and sun. Here it's comfortable and warm. Love Texas but forgot how the weather is here. Low 40s in the AM and 50 by 9 AM. Cools down again in the evening. Put it this way, few houses near the beach have air conditioning because it's not needed. Feels strange but I will take it.

Reno is both the beginning and end of my season - I knew it was a risk coming out here during the Christmas break but in the long and short run for business the timing was urgent. After Reno I will immediately begin training for the 2013 World Championships in Brazil. I will turn 60 just a few weeks from that and will be the youngest guy in my group. I won the World Masters Games (Olympics) in Sydney, Australia in 2009, but I would like to also win the World Athletics Championships. "Athletics" is what the rest of the world calls track and field.

So what's the big deal that I need to stop this year and get going? At our age, "reversibility" is so great. That means with rest you lose what you gain very fast. Even training regularly it's hard to move forward as age tries to take us backward. To move up a level or two physically will require long term uninterrupted training. If I keep taking a short break every time I have a meet or need to have a big vault session then I stunt my own progress.

Right off the bat I will be lifting and doing bars four days, jumping two days, sprinting two days and running speed endurance two days. All of this will begin at a low level and then progress slowly and with great caution and control. I'm guessing I won't get off of 13' 1" (4m) poles for 2-3 months easily. I need to get better technically as I physically inch forward. Sounds crazy but I'm really pumped about this!!

Have a great evening and thank for your support. Bubba
Alice Cooper's, "Poison" was my favorite today - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq4j1LtCdww&ob=av2e

Overthinking is Sometimes Good!!

2012-01-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

When I left the gym to go to the track I started thinking. Well actually overthinking. It appeared the gate to let me on the field at Dana Hills High School was locked so that meant I could only do bleachers. The problem is that I didn't "feel" like doing only bleachers was the best choice for where I am right now. I couldn't put my finger on it but it just didn't feel right. But what choice did I have? The gate was locked to the track. After my first double step I was out of breath and felt whipped. I'm just nowhere near running shape from all of this moving, eating and no sled. That said, because of my previous conditioning I can get it back really fast; like two weeks. I have 2.75 weeks to Reno. I think I can get get a lot closer than I was today. BTW - my weight on Christmas night was 185.5 and this morning and Saturday morning it was back to 169. LOTS of iced tea, fruits, lean meats, no potatoes, bread, etc.

As I caught my breath and started to walk down the steps I noticed that the far gate was open so I could get down on the football field. I love their field because it is artificial (no mud), padded and marked by yards. I ran my first 100 easy at about 25% and immediately had my concerns confirmed. I seemed to lack a little bit of open stride length as I have only vaulted from 33'. I ran 8 X 100 and these and they felt increasingly better as I went. I feel this will help me a lot in a hurry because it has always worked in the past. The bottom line is that I need to condition my legs to run fast and that also happens pretty quick for me.

Nice conversation here but I also need to maintain my power on the runway. Because of that tomorrow I will go back to the track and ONLY run bleachers. I like the way they make me fully extend each step and feel that will also help my groin.

Now that we have that cleared up, on Tuesday I leave town until Thursday afternoon for business. I will take my shoes and get some easy strides in as well as hit some big time consistent and extensive stretching in.

Here is my new gym set up. You can click to enlarge. I need a Smith Machine to control the path of my squats, bench and incline as the total free weights irritate my shoulder and back. This is the one that fits my garage whereas the bigger one did not. I got this one from Sports Authority for $299 - 15% because it was the floor model. It came with the bench. AMAZING deal!! I bought the basic 305 pound Olympic weight set to get the plates and the bar for cleans. After a week or so of using this and the gym I will have a final program. More on that and other topics next time. Have a great evening and thanks for being here! Bubba

Deep Purple's, "Highway Star" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZSnAkQc4c

Great Day!? Seemed That Way?!

2011-12-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

I have a question mark because I'm cautiously optimistic yet really know nothing. Today I jumped 12' (3.66m) easily twice from my 6 step run - 33'/10m on my biggest 13' 1" (4m) pole. On any other day that would be very good. I felt my groin a little but not as much as on Monday. I won't jump again until next Saturday where I will just attempt to repeat what I did today but try 12' 6" (3.81m) a few times. If I get past next Saturday I think I will be well. Or will I?

On the surface I couldn't be more pleased but I know I'm on that line of getting better or being set back. I felt "safer" today and expect to next Saturday as well. That's why I won't bump the level and go to 14' 1" poles next weekend.

SO, currently the plan for Reno is to take a big 13' 1" pole to warm up on, move through my first 14' 1" pole and get to my big one by 12' ish, then get to my three 14' 7"s (4.45m) for the higher heights. I'm hoping that will be a gentle enough ramp up not to knock me out after warm up. If you remember, at Kris' in November I felt good in warm up but my leg started flaring during the break. Hoping to go easy enough at Reno that I can push it in the meet. To do that I think I need to start on small poles, at a low height (11' 6" / 3.51m) and work my way through. I guess if I can get past the warm up and restart without pain, I can open it up some on real poles.

OF COURSE I will not know any of this until Reno. Since I jump Friday night, three weeks from now I will be done. Hence all of the question marks. It's critical that I don't push my jumping in practice if I want to be good at Reno. I think I will stay on the 13' 1"s the entire way until I leave. Have a great day and Happy New Year. Have fun and be safe!! Bubba

Today I salute my buddy Dean "The Machine" Gregory with Chickenfoot's, "Turning Left". Hard to beat this "supergroup led by Sammy Hagar and guitar virtuoso, Joe Satriani. Michael Anthony is a good bass player but I never realized what a good drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1nTRdC_wI&feature=g-vrec&context=G2bb8836RVAAAAAAAAAQ

Change of Plans

2011-12-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to vault this morning but Bobby wasn't feeling well and I don't have my key from him yet. The girls are jumping tomorrow at 9 AM but my Smith Machine is supposed to be delivered and assembled between 9 - 11. Somehow I need to get at least one vault day in even if it means waiting until Monday.

As you can see, as of now I have no idea what the plan is as I am depending on others to fill me in. Once I get to the next practice and get my key this won't happen. That said, is this another way to protect me from me? I felt my groin a little at the very end on Monday so maybe this is a cryptic delay to make sure I'm the next step ahead and nearing the end of rehab. Whatever!! I'll go with the flow and keep that train rolling. Have a great day and thanks for your support. Bubba

Aerosmith's "Train Kept A Rolling" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJRNQ9QW-yM This is from 1974 with Little Richard making the intro. Japanese subtitles.

Patience & Luck

2011-12-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

I feel a little better today so I hope that means I will be able to jump a little tomorrow. AND, not to be greedy (well yes - greedy), but if I can jump tomorrow I will try again Monday before I head out of town on business for three days. Why? Three weeks from today I am sitting in Reno. It's kind of important to know IF I can jump and what level that may be at. My gut feeling is that I will get past these two low level vault days and be able to go fairly aggressive at Reno. We will see.

Today on a hunch I went to Sports Authority to see if the opening in front of the Smith Machine was wide enough to park my car into. Right next to the set up I wanted was one with all of the same features but about 4" shorter. Yes, this means it fits in the original spot I wanted to put the other one. Bought it and it will be delivered next week. I will still go to the gym to lift legs and bars but my "Day 2" will now be at home as it was a couple of years ago. That day in the gym is just too crowded, cramped for space and a constant wait to lift.

Tonight I have my new jump mate Dan Cassidy coming over. Looking forward to it. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Tough Day!!

2011-12-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

And I thought I had a tough day!

We have a joke among us that you know you are progressing well in rehab when a) you can train hard enough to get out of breath, b) you can train hard enough to hurt something else. The same applies to getting back in shape. The gym SUCKED today because I did. Last week was OK because I was ramping back up. Now I'm back to where I'm supposed to be and I'm slammed by just how hard that is. I felt light headed and sick to my stomach; all classic signs of lack of conditioning. Don't worry, I'll fix it, but mama told me there would be days like this. I don't mind feeling this way if I'm knocking on the door to the next level, but HATE it when I'm just getting back to where I was. C'MON MAN!! Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Got through training today with Bouncing Souls, "Night on Earth" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEg3iv4FFPs

Adaptability - My World

2011-12-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

I used to say that no matter where you put me in the world that I could not only survive but that I would find a way to thrive. In 2001 I got to do just that and it sucked the life out of me. Yes I accomplished it but it was much harder than I thought it would be and most of the change was senseless just to prove I could. To who? I sure don't know. I was a dumbass!! I guess that conditioned me to be a little more careful in some areas so I've become a bit of a weakling.

Example - just a week ago I was bitching about the gym. A few days ago I decided it is my only option because the weight equipment won't clear my garage door and I'm not parking a Mercedes convertible on the driveway so my weights fit in the garage. I lectured myself about being a wuss and reminded me that many places we go to vault have less than optimal facilities or conditions yet we must adapt. With this mindset I went to the gym and asked a simple question, "What is most important for me to get done here today?" LEGS!! So I started there and worked through and had a great workout.

Next I go to the track an Dana Hills High School. A great artificial turf with no mud and a little padding. Not only do they have steep bleachers but they have two ramped up walkways with different angles that I can work into a hill run. There are 60 single steps on the bleachers and 30 double spaced steps. I'm not strong enough or conditioned to run those doubles well yet. THAT thrills me because I know when I can I will be ready to jump high.

My point today is that I preach adaptability and being open to change and learning because I truly believe I am. Yet I whined like a brat that all of my training components were different. Once I embraced the goodness of my situation I found that everything I will do here will require me to be a better athlete. I LOVE THAT!

SO, today's song is Ten Years After, "I'd Love to Change the World", even if it's just my world. I made a big step toward that today. Thanks for being here! Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzrUqAtUcpU

A Ray of Hope?!

2011-12-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

Today I went out to Saddleback College to meet my longtime friend Simon Arkell. Simon was on the Australian Olympic Team in 1992 and 1996 with a best vault of 19' 1/4" (5.80m). There were about eight kids out including Tory Pena, who went to UCLA and competes for Ireland in Worlds and the next Olympic Games. Also a high school senior girl who has jumped 12' 10" (3.91m), a guy out of school trying to get to 18' (5.50m), etc.

I started while they were warming up, just HOPING not to hurt myself. From 4 steps I made 9', 10' an 11' on first jumps so I'm way ahead of my last day. Went to 6 steps for 12' and blew through three poles including my largest 13' 1" (4m) pole. Good jumps but the poles were mush. I felt my leg a tiny bit and stopped. If I can get through Friday unhurt I will feel like I'm going to be OK. For now I am cautiously optimistic.

I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me but I got sunburned today, December 26. Tough winter that feels like summer. Even though it was 43 this morning it will be 76 today. Not bad. Speaking of summer, here is an idiot defying the power of the waves at The Wedge in Balboa where I used to bodysurf. Have a great day! Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB6GkCFGqZ0&feature=g-vrec&context=G2740e81RVAAAAAAAAAA

Here's what it should look like - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbTLt3AHSEc&feature=related

Santa?

2011-12-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

OK, I haven't even had Christmas dinner yet and I feel as fat as Santa. I won't fight it today but will be glad to get back to reality training and eating tomorrow. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Bubba

Making Adjustments

2011-12-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I will work around what I have at the gym. This requires me to go back to basics and probably delete many of the secondary or support exercises. As much as I want the home gym it won't fit in my garage where I have room; on the side but under the garage door. I'm not parking my car outside, and I don't want it set up outside, so no options are left. I'm OK with this as it has probably happened for a reason. Today's lift was a nice step in that direction. I'll figure it out over the next few sessions. That said, no lat pull or decline press?! ONE leg extension and two funky curl machines? I do secondary exercises for muscular endurance as well to strengthen the weak links. Could be I get a small gym set for home and do my big lifts at the gym.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that after one week here I feel very fortunate to be living in Southern California. It will be 75 degrees today and this is the view I have as I drive over the bluff at Dana Point into town each day. Business (the reason I'm here) is great and I feel that even though my start at training has been slow, I will adapt and love the program I end up with. Most importantly I feel fortunate to have all of you in my life, whether directly or indirectly. Merry Christmas and/or happy holidays. Thanks so much for your support. Bubba

David Bowie - Changes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQ0Ryy01yE&ob=av2n

Crossroads Again

2011-12-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

I went to the gym earlier today to see if it was any better and it is not. Too many people standing and sitting on or around the equipment or only one / none piece/s of popular equipment. I went to buy a great home gym Smith Machine/Power Rack combo and it was too tall for my garage. May get it any way and put it on the back deck.

Went to Dana Hills high school and ran 6 X 100m on their artificial turf field. They have nice bleachers and a long ramp I could run up like a hill. I have a contact for their coach so I'll see what the access will be like when school starts.

I'm meeting Simon Arkell to try and vault on Monday morning at 9. Hope they have a good running situation. He said he would get me a key so I could keep my poles there.

SO, optimistic but still some loose ends. I'm ramping back up to training so it's not like I'm missing anything. I am lifting and running as I learn my way around my options. Thanks for being here. I'll be glad when I get settled into a real routine. Have a great evening! Bubba

From Police to Fire

2011-12-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

For 45 years I have trained with my lifelong friend, Don Curry. Don retired last year as a lieutenant in the Houston Police Department. Today I met a great guy, Dan Cassidy, a career fireman. The plan is to juggle schedules and vault together. He will be 56 on Saturday and has the same passion we all share.

I met Dan today at Tesoro High School near Mission Viejo. Beautiful place built in 2001, the year I left Southern California. We had Santa Ana winds so that was a big headwind. It really didn't matter to me since I brought the pole bag with my bigger poles. Shows you how long it's been since I've jumped. Bad wind, wrong pole bag? Is that a message? I think so. I did a few easy swing ups on my smallest pole and called it a day. I had some flares but nothing different than my first day back last time so I'm not concerned.

Gotta run but here's a song that's been in my head by Rush, "Something for Nothing". Have a great day and thanks for being here! Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yioWJhUJA

Sunsets & Rainbows

2011-12-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

Just as every sunset and snowflake are different, so is every rainbow. Driving over Cajon Pass near San Diego, Don shot this rainbow just as we came out of a snowstorm. He said he hopes this is a sign of good things to come. Today he asked me how an important business meeting went. When I told him it went fantastic and that the big deal is 100% go he reminded me of the rainbow photo. Thanks for the good wishes Don! Don is the best friend I have ever had. We have vaulted together for 45 years. I won't really miss him because I know he will come visit and I still will go to Texas. I couldn't imagine that any other way.

The truth is that I am happy by nature though I live a somewhat tortured existence. I'm very upbeat and optimistic but I'm always pushing the pace to get better, do better or be better. Of course rarely do those things match up but that doesn't stop my desire. Some people tell me I always look too serious. It's funny because I like this edge. It drives me. Every time I have backed off and let things go at their own pace they have failed or been delayed. Strange huh?

In short I am very happy and feel very blessed. Thank you all for being here and your interest and support! Bubba

"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU

Return to the Sky Thursday!!

2011-12-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” Leonardo Di Vinci

Since before I returned back to Southern California, I have been in contact with people and places that I may vault. Holidays being what they are, the opportunities are limited. Enter masters vaulter, Dan Cassidy, who has been kind enough to allow me to jump with his kids at a local high school on Thursday. I will of course take it super easy but I can't wait to get out there and fart around a little. I'll only jump from 4 steps or maybe 6 and if I make 11' (3.35m) I will be thrilled. The ONLY goal is not to get hurt yet shake out the cobwebs.

Work is hectic as I knew it would be. Getting back into training is hard when you're getting into a new routine. I don't like this transition period but it's needed. As I have always said, "Impatience means that you have no confidence in your plan. So take your time and do it right". Amen!

Next Wednesday I am getting together with former Hungarian National Champ, Pete Kovacs and his wife and child for lunch. I first met Pete when he came to one of our physical therapy clinics with a hamstring injury. Since he was 6' 4" in high school and had a hammy ding, I thought WOW!! Turned out that in a race against a pregnant lady he would come in 3rd - SLOW!! He spent the next four years with me at UC Irvine and proved that hard work and dedication do in fact trump God given talent. His mental toughness was also outstanding as he won the Hungarian national meet in the rain as an unranked vaulter. One of my favorite people in the world.

The weather has been great and each sunset is different. Today I got my first tank of gas and drove home from my meetings in Beverly Hills. I have said I won't feel like I live here again until I drive home from work and get gas. Simple tests of reality. Vaulting, training and working on a regular schedule will be like heaven. Can't wait.

Hope you have a great day and thank you for following my journey! Bubba
Today's selection is "My Kind of Girl" by Chickenfoot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-cZcYwnEXw&feature=fvst

Lucky Day - Going Home!!

2011-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that I am already settling in to my new life of work and play in Southern California. I'm here for business and the lifestyle but my training keeps me sane and driven. I'm excited to get to vault soon, but today my focus is orientation. Fortunately I'm in a period where I have a little leeway with the holidays.

I see that I now have 777 posts on this blog so this must be my lucky day. My first Monday back in California found me in the gym figuring out what equipment was were, etc. Of course even though it is 24 Hour Fitness things aren't identical. Actually the high P-bar I use to swing up on is better because it is a little higher and sticks out further so I can extend past vertical. It's more crowded but that may just be because school is out and I was late. Like everything here there is an ocean view which is pretty cool. It felt weird eating BBQ at a place with a huge view too. Oh well.

I was born and raised in Texas but I was destined for California as a young kid. I loved the Beach Boys, surfing, beachwear, the beach scene, etc. I drew surfboards and surfers on waves on my notebook in 7th grade, etc. All of the the really good and cool vaulters seemed to come from there as well. After a particularly hot summer in Texas in 1978 I visited on Thursday - Sunday in October, went home Monday and got my stuff and moved out on Wednesday. I love Texas but returning to California, where I lived for 24 years, seems like I'm going home. For that I offer Alvin Lee and Ten Years After from Woodstock in 1969 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ26GB6BFjY

1969 was a big year in the world for me as a young vaulter. Besides sneaking in to see Woodstock I got my first 13' (3.97m) vault. Little did I know at that time that on January 2, 2010, at 57 years old that I would vault 13' 1" (3.99m) to give me at least one 13' vault in SIX decades. Yep, got at least one in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10's. I'm grateful and somewhat amazed. Here is the video of that first 2010 vault in Belton, Texas - http://www.bubbapv.com/Images/Movs/13-1.MOV

Though I can't be there in person for the next Belton meet, I will be there in spirit. Founder and meet promoter Jack Chapman sent me my number. Notice at the bottom that it has a quote I gave him that I always tell my kids. ALL participants will have this on their number. I can't think of a nicer honor. Great guy and great event - http://www.texaselitepolevault.com/ Thank you sir!! Sorry but I don't know how to turn the photo as it looks normal when viewed separately.

I'm extremely excited for this new adventure. Thank you for being here with me!! Bubba

And So It Begins!

2011-12-18T17:48:00.000-08:00

Don thought it was cool I had a view from the bath and shower. No neighbors directly below. Click to enlarge.

I'm pretty settled in now so that means I'm back to training and watching my diet. So tough on these long drives and moving. My body feels beat up even though I have rested from training. I'm heavy because of no exercise for nearly two weeks and not caring about what I eat. All good and/or bad things must end so here we go. Tomorrow I will go back to the gym. It is also a 24 Hour Fitness so I'm thinking it will be very similar to what I'm used to. Vaulting? Simon is out of town until 1/3 and I am out from 1/3 - 1/5, so the first day I could jump is Saturday 1/7. I'm fine with that. It will probably take that long to feel like an athlete again. Stay tuned as I am back on track here. Have a great evening! Bubba

I'm HERE!!!

2011-12-16T20:04:00.000-08:00

Things went pretty well and as expected. LOTS of driving and very little sleep. Don kicked butt and the dogs were great. Could not have gone smoother. Got out to Sonora after the move out - 7.5 hours. Yesterday we got to Yuma - 16 hours including two meals and dog stops. Today wee made the final four hours. Dropped the car trailer off so we can have the truck unloaded in the AM. I take Don to the airport at 4:30 AM. I'm supposed to get Internet tomorrow also. More soon. Have a great night! Bubba

PS - Oh yeah - the truck wasn't big enough so another future trip is needed. So I guess THAT could have gone smoother. Oil well

Stress Free? Partly? Maybe?

2011-12-13T17:36:00.000-08:00

This morning I saw my sportsmed surgeon, Dr. Scott Rand, fully expecting a stress fracture on the outside of my right foot. It just feels like bones are separating in an unnatural way followed by pain. I tried to pass if off as a tendinitis caused by turning my foot outside to push off when my left knee was flared before the National Senior Games this summer. He agreed it could be that but wanted a series of X-Rays to rule out a stress fracture. Of course I told him it doesn't hurt to run and vault so I could rest it after Reno on January 20. His response, "if you have a stress fracture you will have a new screw in it before then". Result? NO STRESS FRACTURE!! SO, BIG ASS CORTISONE INJECTION that hurt so bad!! For those of you who have not had these injections, the more it hurts the better the result. So YEAH!!

Tomorrow I pick up Don at 6 AM and the loaders arrive at 7 to fill the truck. Hopefully we are on the road by noon or 1 PM and will drive about 8 hours. The plan / hope for Thursday is to get up at 4 AM and make it to Yuma, Arizona in about 12-13 hours. That means we wake up Friday and leave at 6 and should be to the new house by 10 AM. I'm telling you this now because I really doubt we will hit all of these targets. How far off I don't know but considering I have done this move by myself driving straight through for 25 hours, I think this should be less taxing.

Have a great day and thank you for following this journey. Bubba
Free - "Alright Now" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htuxb-m4-ng

Moving SOON!

2011-12-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

Me with Don Curry at the awards ceremony at the National Senior Games in 2007.

Don won the gold and I was 2nd with the silver.

I pick up the truck tomorrow, get the poles from the school, have the movers load the truck on Wednesday morning, attach the car trailer and hit the road by 1 PM. My lifelong friend and training partner, Don Curry has been kind enough to drive the truck where I can drive the SUV with three dogs. Who got the better deal? Always appreciate Don. We have shared so much in our lives and he is the only one I could count on to visit me when I lived in California before.

Two weeks and two days after my meet at Kris' and I still feel that spot on my leg. That bugs me but I won't even jog for another week so I'm sure it will be good to go. Hopefully I'll get the tendon on the outside of my foot shot with cortisone tomorrow so that requires a break anyway. Worse case it is a stress fracture that I will deal with after Reno. It doesn't hurt to run or lift so how bad can it be? If I slide my foot to the outside or roll to the outside it hurts; otherwise not? Seems to be related to a combination of sideways rotation and over pronation. I'll see what Dr. Rand says. I'm prepared for anything. Just get me past Reno healthy.

I'll try to keep posting form the road but have patience. Thanks for being here! Bubba

Feeling Like a Slug

2011-12-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's not as bad as I thought it would be but it sucks not to train. Trying to stay busy on packing and work, but it's still not fun. Hope you are having a great day! Bubba

Tough Day

2011-12-10T05:54:00.000-08:00

This is how it feels to WANT to train and know you need to adhere to the strict phase break of zero training. I almost broke it this morning by going up to run just before Don vaults. But it's cold and Don can't go until a time that I am not available so that huge temptation is gone. Hate it but need it. Have a great day! Bubba

As a reminder of Southern California; Jeff Beck & Jan Hammer - Freeway Jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqlDdU_jGY

Searching for Balance

2011-12-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

Life in and of itself is a juggling act. Training at a high level is a bigger one. Do too much and you're hurt. Do too little and you go backward. The older you get the finer the line and the more important the balance.

Today I had to drive three hours to a lunch meeting and then drive back. I knew I wouldn't train. This is exactly why I didn't train yesterday; to get two days of NOTHING!!! I'll do some running tomorrow, take Sunday off and hit the gym Monday. Tuesday I get my foot X-Rayed and shot with cortisone. Wednesday I leave for California, arrive Friday and move in on Saturday. Not a lot of training going on but I think I need this full break to jump start my overall healing. So as much as I hate it, this is what I need. Thanks so much for being here. Bubba

Johnny Cash classic, "I Walk the Line" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CctaP71iNuQ&ob=av3n

Day Off?

2011-12-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

My schedule conspired against my ability to choose to take a day off in such a way, I had to book a phone call at a time where I couldn't go to the gym. That call was to my sportsmed superstar, Scott Rand, MD to see if I need an injection for this hot spot on the outside of my foot or whether it is a stress fracture. You notice I have never mentioned that here though it has bothered me off and on for a couple of years. I think when we get older we keep more stuff to ourselves. At this point I need to know where I stand on this foot - pun intended. It doesn't hurt to do so many things (like vault) but how it hurts on other things worries me. Have a great day! Bubba

Deep Purple's, "Burn" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCnebZnysmI

Free Falling - Been in That Jungle Before

2011-12-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

One wrong step?

While I was in California things kept stacking up for me to get done before I leave town on our move / drive a week from today. As those things added up I saw only a few places I could workout. Strangely, that's OK with me. Here's the story that says it is OK to do NOTHING for 10 days, if I choose that.

In 2009 at nationals in Oshkosh, I got a light groin strain almost exactly like I have now. It was a tiny ding so I kept screwing around with it. The result? Four weeks later at the National Senior Games at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California I was forced to watch. HATE THAT!! I didn't dress, take my poles, NOTHING!! Forced vacation because I was stupid. I MADE myself do NOTHING on that 10 trip. Why? Eight weeks from my return I would be vaulting in Sydney, Australia in the World Masters Games. Like Stanford, the trip was paid for and I was going. Unlike Palo Alto I was not going to risk watching. I knew that ONE wrong step and I was back to square one or worse. I learned that lesson and won the biggest meet of my life.

SO, I'll take this time off and let my leg heal. After Stanford and that 10 rest I made really fast progress. I need to make myself do the same. Why? Besides the obvious, being sick of not jumping because of my own stupidity, in eight weeks I have the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno. I have no intention of watching there. Lessons learned. Have a great evening and thanks for being here. Bubba

Jungle Boogie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl7Bk364UdY

California Dreamin'

2011-12-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

Every time it rains there is snow in the local mountains where skiing is 1.5 hours away.

Tonight is my last night in California in a hotel as a visitor as a week from tomorrow I will be living here. I've really enjoyed my time back in Texas but I am so sick of traveling back and forth to California it will be nice to be in one place. Not to mention that the weather is more consistent for training.

One thing many don't know is the diversity of nearby attractions. From my home in Dana Point I am half way between Los Angeles and San Diego - 1:15 hours away. I'm 1.5 hours from the desert in Palm Springs, the mountains, Catalina Island, Hollywood, etc. I'm 30 minutes from a large outdoor amphitheatre with great acts like we get in The Woodlands. I'm 45 minutes from Disneyland and Anaheim stadium where they actually play major league baseball instead of the minor league team the Astros have. Of course we don't have a football team but that just means we get to see the best games. Sure there is the crowds, traffic, cost of living, etc. But I lived here with it just fine for 24 years. Something about walking out into your living room and seeing the Pacific Ocean that melts all of that other stuff away.

I will definitely miss my family and friends in Texas but from a work and business opportunity perspective, I need to be back in California. As always, I plan t make the best of it. Have a great day and thanks for your support! California Dreamin' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3GbF9Bx6E Bubba

New Brand of Humor

2011-12-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

I was coming back from a lunch meeting today in Beverly Hills and I said to one of the two people I was with, "that guy who just went into your office looks just like Russell Brand". The wife and office manager said, "that IS Russell Brand". He does his thing and I do mine so I come out to catch the elevator and Russell is waiting by it alone. Suspiciously next to him is the mailman's cart full of mail. I say in my best British accent, "I know you're not the mailman". He says, "oh yes; today I am playing the role of the mailman". We both laugh and rode the elevator down together, just the two of us. Kind of cool. Have a great day! Bubba

Can't Win Them All?

2011-12-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

Two Winners - American Recordholder Jeff Hartwig & Starstruck Boy

This was going to be a different type of post today and I will get to it after this paragraph. I went to the gym early this morning so it wouldn't be crowded and I would have plenty of time. That all worked well but two sets into it I felt so beat up and run down that I went home. As you know I don't do that often but sometimes the best choice is to quit. I've had a very solid three weeks on training so to feel horrible today did not need to be met with me being stubborn. It just felt like the right thing to do. I know that we make 100% of our progress during rest and my body is clearly stating that it needs rest. Can't win them all!

My original story was about "what is winning"? On a hot August day in 2005 I was sitting on a bus riding with other masters athletes to a luau in Honolulu. We had just finished our national meet. I had been out for three years with two Achilles surgeries and other life oddities. I had miraculously gotten 3rd to win the bronze medal and I was THRILLED. Next to me on the bus was a girl who was a distance runner. She said she was ready to celebrate because she had a breakthrough performance. In her six years of going to national meets she had finally won her first ribbon. Ribbons are given at outdoor nationals to those who finish 4th - 6th places. So neither of us "won" or did we? I think we did!

We tend to take somethings for granted. My first national masters meet was in Boston in 1997 and I won. I didn't win again until 2009. Also in 1997 I got my first world championship medal, a bronze, in South Africa. I did not get another one until 2009 when I won the World Masters Games in Australia. I didn't think I would win every year but "C'MON MAN"!!!

Recently I have been in touch with a guy returning to vaulting who feel that 12' should be pretty easy. He has already "won" because he is back with a passion! For him 12' may very well be easily attained. For me, starting back in 1989 I felt I would jump 14' within a week. It finally happened in 1997.

Pole vaulters are a strange bunch of people. Not only do we help each other in meets and practice and become great friends, we really don't care if anyone watches us, or even if there are meets. Like surfers, as long as we can jump we're happy. I think that means we CAN win them all. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Lessons Learned

2011-12-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

My friend and late great orthopedic surgeon, Glenn Almquist, used to say if your training is hurting you but your event is not, then you need to rethink how valuable that training component might be. He followed with, "If your event is hurting you then you need to reassess your training. You need to step it up, attack your weak areas, or both."

My buddy and former Baltimore Colts receiver, Brian DeRoo told me if you're hurt you need to hammer that area so it doesn't happen again. So when I had recurring back and hamstring problems he put me on straight legged deadlifts, lunges, hang cleans, etc.

Both are great advice and exactly what I am doing right now. Hitting my weak areas harder than they have ever been hit. In the case of my leg I feel like I might have actually woke it up and possibly made it a bit worse this week in practice. But today's running was considerably better so I'm probably dead on with my approach.

Of course there is a limit to any "theory". A crazy walk on vaulter we had at UC Irvine (Matt) was at the track cautiously kicking the metal bars of the bleachers with his shins. UCI is a high academic school so I had to know what he was doing. "I'm getting into kickboxing and I'm trying to toughen up my shins". Uh, NO!! That won't work.

I'm beat up now from training, which is perfect since I'm out of town early next week for business. But I really like the adjustments that I have made by adding exercises and cleaning up my running program. I probably could have done some low level jumping today so that's a great sign. It's even a better sign that I was smart enough not to do it. Lessons learned! In any case, I'll stay after it, Dead or Alive - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho&ob=av2e Have a great day and thanks for being here! Bubba

Another Contemplation Day

2011-12-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

Suddenly I'm getting stronger and my weights lifted are going up. No explanation other than consistency of effort. Pleased to have been home long enough to gain that momentum. Off to California M-W and then move there the following Wednesday. I REALLY have to get the most out of my training or lose ground.

I saw that Mike Sherman was fired as the Texas A&M football coach. That wasn't surprising but the underlying story was this;

they lost 6 games this year
they were ahead in all 6
they were ahead by double digits in 5 of the 6

Total lack of focus, attention to detail and commitment are the only "excuses". THAT is on the coach. I have always liked him as a coach but he's too much of a "float down the river with few waves" type of guy as he has aged / matured. It just reminds me I can never grow up. I will continue as "The Trooper" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbT2lHtYtEQ Have a great day! Bubba

Stand Tall

2011-12-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

I was listening to John Cougar Mellencamp's, "You Have to Stand for Something (or fall for anything)" during training and I realized that in my present limited physical condition (AGAIN) that I had to stand tall to the challenge of self motivation. Sometimes that can be VERY hard. I guess it is OK to occasionally feel like a wimp as long as I don't truly believe it or act like it. The result was a tough but enjoyable kick butt gym session. I'm thankful and grateful I did this today. Here's to tomorrow good Lord willing. All the best! Bubba

More Running - OR ELSE!!!

2011-11-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

If you have speed and power on the runway you can vault. Every time I go to big meets the fastest guys are the best; that simple. So in my caution with my lingering leg ding, I'm going to just blast the heck out of my running, lifting and bars. I have 8.5 weeks to Reno. At four days per week of running and sprint drills over 50m hill / sleds I WILL get faster and stronger on the runway. I will add big pole plant and take off drills this Saturday on two of the days.

So here's the plan - Train my butt off until I have a full week of training at 90%+ effort without feeling anything in my leg. I don't care if that takes 2, 4, 6 weeks before that happens, I won't vault until then. I just can't keep messing around with this. If my first day to jump is Reno I'm fine with that. The only given is that I will go to Reno healthy and on my regular 14' 7" (4.45m) meet poles.

As much as this sucks, it's just another brick in the wall of adding to my training base. Rule #1 of rehab is to come back a better athlete than when you got hurt. Eight weeks should be enough to set me up for a great year. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Tom Petty's, "Running Down a Dream" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1D3a5eDJIs I WILL be running, and dreaming. Bubba

Oh Well?!

2011-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

I went out to do my running and planned on jumping but I was too tender in the upper area behind my right leg to risk it. When I originally felt a twinge it was where it is today. When I went out to jump next it felt inside like a traditional groin injury. Now the groin part is totally gone but the back of the upper leg is back. WTF?! I'll try again to jump on Saturday but if I can't do it safely I'm prepared to not touch a pole until Reno on January 20. I MUST get this well. It's such a small thing I can easily jump 12' (3.66m) but certainly not 13'' (3.97m)+.

My running system is going better than ever right now so if I add big pole drills to it I think I can actually be better by Reno without jumping. Of course that isn't optimum but I MUST be well for Reno and I'm running out of time for further setbacks.

Now I run 10 X hill/sleds on my vault day - 6 before and 4 after. The next day I do hill / sleds between my sprint drills with ankle weights. I'm getting four very quality running days in which is why I'm blowing through every pole I touch when I can jump. I'm heavier by about 4-5 lbs (2 kg) but I'm not fat so I guess that is from the extra lifting.

Long story short, I have a minimal ding that I need to get well. In the interim I will keep blasting my body as I only have seven weeks until Reno. I can make a ton of progress in seven weeks but it won't matter if I keep irritating something that should already be well. Until then I will just keep Taking Care of Business - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIUf8eYPqA Thanks for your support and have a great day! Bubba

If You Want ....

2011-11-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

The hardest training days to me are those where you get back into the gym after you have backed off for a competition, and you're hit square between the eyes with your two biggest and hardest days. For me that was yesterday and today. As much as I HATE that, I LOVE that! It forces me to re-engage in a process that I know works so well. It is also what separates the great from the best. At the highest levels everyone works hard and smart, so it comes down to consistent mental strength and focus.

Today was one of those days and I thoroughly enjoyed how much it SUCKED!! I'm a little stronger in body, mind and spirit because of it. The song that got me through the worst of today's training was appropriately AC/DC's, "If You Want Blood, You've Got It" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UPw4f1oN7g&ob=av2n. Have a great day! Bubba

Odds & Ends

2011-11-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

I needed to dump the poles this morning so I was in the SUV rather than the car; hence I arrive at the gym with nothing I needed. No music, no wrist straps, no gloves, belt, no brain. That said, I knew the fastest measure of whether I got hurt yesterday, or was it another step forward, would be revealed during squats and lunges. Did those with no big issues as well as a few bar sets. I'll do some easy sprint drills / sleds this afternoon to loosen up but Tuesday's vault session will tell me if I am in fact "well". My guess is that I am very close to being 100%.

Poles - I have three bags of poles so I mix and match which ones I think I need for meets and practices. For this meet I had a tiny, a medium and my biggest 13' 1" (4m) poles in my bag. I also had 3 X 14' 1" (4.30m) poles of which I used one. I also had my smallest 14' 7" (4.45m) just in case. Today I pulled out the 4m poles and added two 14' 7"s for the next meet. It was 46 degrees this morning and windy so I have four bags opened including Don's and I am adjusting poles for future practices and meets as well as putting other poles back in the bags they belong in. I HATE the cold, even though most don't consider 46 to be cold. ;-)

I hope to jump Tuesday / Saturday this week with regular training around that. I go to LA a week from Monday and then have my last Texas meet that Saturday. So today's song is Pantera's, "Cowboys From Hell" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i97OkCXwotE&ob=av2e Another rocking song that keeps me going when my mind and body are trying to make me stop. Have a great Sunday and thanks for the support! Bubba

Success? Kind Of!?

2011-11-26T17:25:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge

Warm up at Kris' meet went good. I decided to start from 4 steps as planned rather than jack my leg awake and that seemed to work. My pit started at 4' (1.2m?) with about 20 jumpers and I started at 9' 6" (2.90m) from 22' to avoid having to wait for the next group starting higher. I felt good during warm up but as I sat around my leg it started getting stiff and sore.

On my run through I felt it and almost stopped. Jumped 9' 6" and 10' (3.05m) as planned from 4 steps. Passed 10' 6" (3.20m) and went back to 6 steps (33') for 11' (3.35m). I felt my leg a little more but decided to try another jump. It's hard to explain because I felt it but I didn't think I was in imminent danger of dinging it so I cautiously creeped forward hoping for the best. So far I have made all jumps on my first attempt.

At 11' 6" (3.51m) I moved to eight steps (43') and up to my biggest 4m pole and made it easy, though feeling my leg a little more. At a crossroads I decided to move up to my first 14' 1" (4.30m) pole for 12' (3.66m) and roll the dice on my leg. Though the pole was way too small I made 12' easy and stopped. For 12' 6" I would have had to go to spikes and up to a bigger pole and I just didn't think it was worth the risk. The good news is that ALL poles felt tiny today so my training is paying off.

The meet was "Age Graded" so I won with an age adjusted jump of 17' 2". I truly think I will be able to lift my legs off tomorrow and jump Tuesday in practice. If I can then I'm well and what I felt today was merely stretching out a muscle that hasn't been used that way in awhile. Coincidentally, the pole I ended on today was the one I hurt it on several weeks ago. Hoping for the best but should have an idea in the gym tomorrow. Thanks for being here and have a great night! Bubba

Issac Hayes sings about "Two Cool Guys", Beavis and Butthead - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioKnSXTI2Yk

Tomorrow's defiance of failure song for workout is White Zombie, "More Human Than Human" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0E0ynyIUsg&ob=av2e

Ho Hum

2011-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Nice easy stretch day. The gym was a zoo again which is fine for what little I had planned. I feel OK but nothing great. I'll shake my legs out a little later at the track when I go to load the poles.

Tomorrow I will pick up Don around 6 AM and head the 3:15 drive to Kris. Don't have my total game plan in place but I'm thinking it over. I MAY take a tiny pole and a couple of mi 4m poles so I don't have to start on the 14' 1" (4.30m) poles after sitting around. I could do a jump at 10' (3.05) from 4 steps on the 4m/16.3, move to 6 steps and the 14.7 for 11' (3.35m), back to 8 for 11' 6" (3.51m) on my first 4.30m and so on. That sounds like a fun plan. Low stress and let's me warm up in the meet. Have a great day! Bubba

Metallica - No Remorse - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPA2rEsIgSU My guitar lesson for the day.

Happy Thanksgiving + False Start

2011-11-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Got to the grocery store for a few final items at 6:45 AM and then to the gym near 8 AM. The gym was a ZOO!! Good thing I did today's lift yesterday because today was a total "False Start". I did my stretching and bars but will do tomorrow's lift tomorrow.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting my mission. Bubba

I noticed a hurricane off the coast of Baja California. When that happens big bodysurfing waves come to the Wedge in Newport Beach. Neat videos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwuJIxNbXVw

Pre-Turkey Day

2011-11-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

Had my normal 1 X 10 lift today that I do the last rotation before a meet. Actually it's not normal because I did Thursday's lift on Wednesday to get an extra day of rest. I'll do Friday's tomorrow morning. Today I didn't do the leg lifts as I need to freshen up a bit. Decent stretch though and tomorrow I will stretch even more. Somewhat beat up but not run down.

I entered Kris' meet and I'm hoping my body will let me step up a half level to get to 8 steps and the 14' 1" (4.30m) poles. I'll start on a couple of big 13' 1"s (4m) in warm up so I don't jack myself right at the start. Four days off of my legs should make a world of difference on my ability to feel sharp as well as heal the final part of the groin ding. That will be five weeks so that should be sufficient. I'm really not worried about it.

This meet is called "Age is Just a Number" which means that it is "age graded" or "handicapped" by age. The formulas are very complicated but basically they take the world and Olympic records and calculate your present performance at your present age and equate it to what you would have jumped in your prime. For example, if I jumped 4.10m (13' 5 1/4") at 58 like I did last year in Reno, the age graded mark is 5.86m or 19' 3". Considering that my lifetime best is 18' 1" (5.51m) I'm presently beating age. That said, if I jumped that Saturday, a young kid would have to jump 19' 4" to beat me. Last year I won at 12' 6" (3.81m) which was 17' 7" (5.36m). Different but fun. Here is a link to a good calculator - http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup06.html

Have a great evening and thanks for being here!! Bubba

Here Comes the Sun- Tuesday Post #2

2011-11-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

FINALLY the sun peeked out and the breeze got a little cooler producing a nice baby tailwind. After my business call I went out to meet Don for a mini vault session. I knew I would feel like dog crap because I have been training so hard but I needed to know if my groin was actually getting better. The goal was to hope to get at least where I got on Saturday before I stopped with a little pain.

WELL, I actually did get a little further and jumped 12' (3.66m) on two poles from 33' (10m) or 6 steps. I DID feel like TOTAL crap but I jogged down and jumped easily on one pole bigger than Saturday. The good news is that I stopped because I was tired and not because I was hurt. SO, "Here Comes the Sun" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tV11acSRk for me to be able to get back on track with vault sessions.

I will go to Kris' Sunday, start on a big 4m pole from 8 steps at 11' 6" (3.51m) and then move on to my 14' 1" (4.30m) poles. Should be fun. Of course I will be cautious but at least I'm getting to jump. Have a great evening. Bubba

Rain!!

2011-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

It has been raining off and on HARD since about 2 AM so I'm waiting to see about vaulting. Just after I downloaded the photo above and got a link to the famous, "Singing in the Rain" video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ the sun came out - and then promptly went away.

Ideally I want to go out and try to jump after my 1 PM business call. I don't care that it's wet or that the box is full of water, I just don't want it raining. If I get out I will post a "Late add" here. If not, this is it for the day so thanks for watching. Bubba

Another Muggy Monday

2011-11-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

It's November 21, and 84 degrees today. I would much rather have heat than cold, but "C'MON MAN!!"

Another good hard day in the gym. I'll be interested to see how I feel at practice tomorrow. Can I vault? No idea. I hope I can do what I did Saturday or maybe even a little more. If I can then I'm just about well. If not ... then I will back off trying to jump and keep blasting away at the training.

Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Sunday - Post #2

2011-11-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

I went and did my hill / sled / sprint drills late this afternoon after a very hard lift this morning. I start with a 50m hill / sled and then alternated for seven different sprint drills for 16 total reps. I only felt my groin at all on one of them and that was pretty slight. I think it's more sore from that inside leg stretch you get when you first do squats again. In any case, I'll try to jump again Tuesday and if I can progress or even duplicate what IO was able to do yesterday I think I will go to Kris' meet on Saturday. Have a great evening! Bubba

The Jury is Out on My Leg

2011-11-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

Can't tell from this morning's lifting if I flared my groin yesterday or not, but I should know pretty quickly when I go to do my running / hill / sleds / sprint drills this afternoon.

Lifting went good. I've found that I need to substitute types of squats and lunges depending on what equipment or racks are available. I got in early this morning to use the Smith machine and some meathead was loitering there. You know the type - yells with every lift, big weights for a 3" range of motion, constantly drinking energy drinks and takes five minutes between lifts. Totally useless type of training. Fortunately there are very few of these at our gym. Mostly nice and normal people. The point is there better be a Plan B when these idiots are camping on equipment.

Felt really good and strong again. I feel like I’m gaining some momentum finally. Got nine weeks to Reno so it’s important to keep grinding away while minimizing the risk of injury. Starting to feel optimistic that I will be ready.

Got a Facebook message from my friend, Paul Snyder in Maine, asking if I want to do a pole vault clinic with him this summer. Paul is a great guy and does a lot for the kids in his area. I love going to Maine too so I’ll see what I can do.
Have a great Sunday and thanks for being here. Bubba

Much Better But Not Quite Well

2011-11-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

I went out to vault this morning and on my very first two step take off I knew I was going to have to watch myself. Nothing grabbed or twinged but I felt like I was working against something that was still healing. At four steps I almost stopped after my first take off but tried again. Made 10' (3.05m), 10' 6" (3.20m) and 11' (3.35m) all on first jumps from 22' (6.4m). Took a big risk and moved to six steps - 33' (10m) and made 12' (3.66m) on the first jump and stopped. I don't think I hurt it again but if not, I got it right to the edge of its weakness. I will find out when I lift and run sleds again tomorrow but I "think" I'm OK.

So I'm pleased unless the last jump turns out to be a ding again. I really doubt it but I will remain cautious. I will not jump at Kris' meet next Saturday for that reason - finally making progress so don't risk it.

Physically I'm in a good place and the type and amount of bars I have been doing has really cleaned up my swing to vertical. I'm very pleased with everything for where I am right now; as long as I still feel healthy tomorrow. If not, then I am, AGAIN, the ultimate DUMBASS!! Have a great day! Bubba

Thank You

2011-11-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

If you don't have dreams then you have nothing to come true!!

After a month I'm settled into my final hard training complete workout plan and I LOVE it. Since I gave away my garage gym to Don I have switched up a lot of things and I'm really pleased that I am settled in for a long grind. As much as I bitch about my schedule and sporadic travel, when I get to California that will settle down and my training will feel like a welcome home present.

I hate missing days where I post here but sometimes on the road I have bad connections or just flat and no time or energy. I'll try and do better as I go. But to you all, thank you so much for being here for me. It's a great refuge and comfort to know that you are here. I love going to meets and seeing friends and meeting new ones who tell me they read this blog. Couldn't tell it by the 18 followers but I feel you in spirit. At least once a meet, and once a month by email someone tells me that this blog was their motivation to start vaulting again. That brings me great joy and makes me want to be better for you. So thank you!!

A special tribute to you - Joe Cocker in his famous Woodstock performance - "A Little Help From My Friends" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR0T3f7tUw Bubba

Good Strong Day at the Gym

2011-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Feels good to be engaged in squats, lunges and cleans again. It hass been a long time since they flared that hip back issue. I'll remain careful but it's nice to be back to real lifts. I felt good but I could see I needed that inside groin stretch. If jumping goes good on any level Saturday I'll be ready for Kris' meet. If not I will skip it and train through. Two months from Friday is Reno. Gotta keep grinding. Have a great day and thanks for following this blog! Bubba

Hill / Sleds = Megadeth

2011-11-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hill / Sleds? - Not Quite the Same as I Do!

I had great training on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then went on the road. I did better on the eating front but when I went out to run sleds today I felt flat with no range of motion. I guess that is not so surprising but at least I don't feel hurt. Back to the gym tomorrow - can't wait.

Saturday I'll jump from six steps like nothing ever happened and I expect it to be fine. There will be a meet at Kris' on the following Saturday and as of now I plan to jump there from eight steps for fun if nothing else.

I'm starting to feel optimistic that I am catching up with my run stuff. I think I was skipping some of the stretching because I was running out of time in the gym. Now I will just go earlier.

Today I got through hill / sleds into a big headwind with Megadeth's, "Skin of my Teeth" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psotUUPGG_E&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL30CB804230D073E7

Have a great day and thanks for your support! Bubba

HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

Got back in town about 30 minutes ago. SO sick of this travel but that ends for the most part when I get to California. My body feels good and bounced back well from the very hard Saturday and Sunday. Of curse I still have my local travel tomorrow but can't wait to hit the gym again Thursday. Have a great night!! Bubba

Smacked It Good - Got Over 20 million lbs. Lifted!!

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

My plan to cautiously attack and smack my weaknesses went better than expected. Though I was fatigued from yesterday, my groin was a non-factor. I even forced it by doing deep squats and lunges. The issue I felt was a lower ab / internal muscles that snap to alert when you haven't sprinted or had quick turnover in awhile. I felt it some today but easily worked through it. Possibly it could also be caused by over doing my lower abs on bars. I have been doing the same exercises four days a week so I think I will split them up to avoid becoming a problem. I got over 20 illion lbs. lifted since I started on 1/1/2005. "If it is worth doing it is worth recording" - Sergey Bubka.

Lifting today I went right in and did squats and lunges to assess the groin issue. Felt nothing except that little soreness in the lower abs which goes away in a few days after your first sprinting. I also lifted half of tomorrow's lift since I will be traveling. Today rather than do sprint drills with ankle weights in between my 50m hill/sleds I just ran 10 X 50m hill/sleds with a walk back. I'm out of shape and breath. Good to know. I'll ONLY do the 10 X 50m hills / sleds every other day until I get into shape.

Today is the meet outside of Austin that I skipped. Gary went and I'm sure the conditions will be good again. Right now I'm pretty sure that next Saturday I will be able to have a regular vault day and be able to go to the meets on 11/26 and 12/10. When I woke up this morning I was pretty sure I would miss both of these meets. So what has changed? NOTHING! I will keep going directly after my weaknesses and not allow myself to pamper and rest my way out of shape. Have a great Sunday and thanks for being here! Bubba

PS - Our training for progress without injury IS a tightrope. Tribute to SRV - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNuXO60G33w

I'm Baaaaack!! Sort Of!

2011-11-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

I got a new Android phone yesterday which required a Google account which became my "default" without my choice and therefore I could not get in to post on my own blog yesterday. Sounds like a bad country song. Today I was told how to get around this so I'm back!

This morning I was PISSED!! I did my running and felt pretty good but still had a little weakness and deficit in my groin. I'm out of town Monday/Tuesday so I figured if I don't jump until next Saturday then that will be four total weeks since Texas vs. Louisiana when I flared my groin again. Makes perfect sense, right? Yep! NO!!

After all of my running and drills, I grabbed a tiny pole and took a few little jumps with no issue. Grabbed a little bigger one, the one I normally start on, and it was OK but a little stiff because I wasn't trying to run hard. Moved back to six steps did one take off and felt my groin AGAIN!! I don't know if I'm hurt again or not but I'm pissed that this could happen after three weeks of great rehab. The truth is I won't know until I go out next Saturday and try again. If it is hurt I will know right away. If it's not, I will be careful and know I have dodged a bullet.

All of my "groin self tests" for pain show negative but I'm still hurting when I make certain moves. So what do I do now. I BEAT THE HELL OUT OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I friend once told me that if it's important you do it every day and if you have a weak spot you go after it every day. I will go run 10 X 50m hill/sleds tomorrow. If I can only make 1% effort then next time I will hope for 2%, but NO MORE DAMN REST!!!!!!!!!!! There is nothing more worthless or frustrating when you are hurt than rest. Work that thing until it's better, no matter what the level needs to be. I will also run Wednesday when I get back, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday until I am SO SICK of it, and then I will continue to do it. I WILL get better AND be stronger when I return. I don't care if I don't vault until Reno, I will be in tip top shape and ready to jump high. I'm finished coddling my lazy ass!!

Speaking of Reno, I've been waiting to get my plane ticket because I didn't know if I was flying out of Houston or Southern California. The problem was either place was like $328 or $342 so I kept watching. I know that rates have been lower on Thursdays so I decided to take a look out of Orange County/John Wayne airport (as close to my new house as IAH) - $118 and I snatched that mutha up in a second.

Momentum is changing. I've been knocked down and now I getting back up and I'm pissed at my weak ass self. This torture will be a defiant blast. Have a great night and thanks for being here. Bubba

A Very Important Message Liz Davies

2011-11-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

I was approached a few weeks ago by a lady who asked if she could be a guest poster to this blog about the benfits of exercise for cancer. It took me less than 2 seconds to say yes. I'm not a hater but I HATE cancer. It is so prevalent and discriminates against no one. So thank you Liz for your contribution!! Also check it our under my profile on Facebook - Bubba Sparks
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Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients
There are many ways that cancer and its treatment are debilitating. However, scientists are increasingly finding that one simple thing can improve the quality of life for cancer patients: exercise. Doctors are prescribing exercise to their cancer patients, even during the course of treatment. The following is a guide to all the benefits that exercise has to offer cancer patients.

Improved Energy:
Many of the treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation, have a tendency to leave patients feeling lethargic, even exhausted. The disease itself can have the same effect. Scientists have found that frequent exercise leads to the same energy boosting benefits in cancer sufferers that it does in healthy individuals. The guidelines suggest that 150 minutes of activity a week improves the energy level of patients in all phases of their treatment process.

Better Body Image and Body Composition:
Cancer and its treatments can have horrible effects on a person’s body. Some people will gain weight and some people can waste away. Chemotherapy leads to hair loss. These effects can leave people feeling horrible about the way they look. All of these people can benefit from the body strengthening effects of exercise. This is especially important for people with wasting cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancer, that have a detrimental impact on lean muscle mass. Strength training exercises will benefit most cancer patients, shaping their body into something they will feel good about.

Emotional Relief:
The stress, both physical and emotional, of cancer and its treatment is a major reason that cancer patients have high levels of depression. One of the best ways to fight both stress and depression is through physical activity. Cancer patients who regularly participate in an exercise program are much more likely to avoid the major depression that often occurs in cancer victims. There are also many support groups for most types of cancer, including mesothelioma support groups.

Prevention of Reoccurrence:
As well as the benefits it offers during the course of cancer treatment, exercise has also been proven to reduce the chances of reoccurrence of cancer in the future. The benefits are found not only when individuals are done with treatment. Exercise during the course of treatment has been shown to lessen the odds that the cancer will come back.

Recommendations for Exercise:
The American Cancer Society recommends that cancer patients should engage in 150 minutes of physical activity a week. This should be a good balance of both strength training and aerobic activity. Swimming, walking and hiking are all great activities for patients to try. The American Cancer Society offers a certification for physical trainers that want to work with cancer patients. Patients can contact them to find a personal trainer in their area who will know exactly how to tailor a workout regime to a cancer patient’s needs.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She became particularly interested in ways cancer patients can cope with the side-effects of their treatment after her mother became an oncology nurse for lung cancer.

Helful Links
Chemotherapy http://www.chemocare.com/

high levels of depression http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/EmotionalSideEffects/CopingwithCancerinEverydayLife/index
mesothelioma support groups http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/support-groups
The American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/

Nothing to Report

2011-11-08T17:08:00.001-08:00

Working and eating too much. Oh well. Will resume hard training on Tuesday. Thanks for the support! Bubba

Different Type of Workout

2011-11-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

I seem to always leave on business on Monday and that lift cycle is Sunday/Monday so I'm constantly missing 1/2 of my lift rotation. Today I decided to do 1/2 of Sunday's training and 1/2 of Monday's today. I was able to lift heavy since there were less sets, so I think this is my future direction for shortened training due to travel. I'm excited to try and get out and jump a little next Saturday. Have a great day! Bubba

Day of Caution

2011-11-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

I went out to run this morning and was met by my lifelong friend and training partner, Don Curry. Don was going to do some low level jumping for the first time since being sidelined with a foot issue that is now well. After my sleds and sprint drills I was feeling pretty good and came really close to picking up a pole and taking a few easy jumps myself. The problem is that I know that even though I probably would not get hurt it was still not a good idea. I need to be able to jump with rhythm and without a lot of caution. Ironically, being cautious today will keep me from having to do so as much next Saturday when I start vaulting again.

Even though my groin felt even better than Tuesday, my body overall was a little beaten down as it always is before I go out of town. I try to ramp up slowly to the point that I don't think my body could tolerate one more training day and THEN leave a few days.

I'm feeling really good about where I am right now but I have to remain smart and dsiciplined. Tomorrow will be the easiest day to skip. I have breakfast with my dad at 7:45, hit the gym around 9 and then have a business call at 11. If I'm 15 minutes late I can talk myself out of training but since I will miss Monday - Wednesday anyway I really MUST make tomorrow count. Of course I will report back my success or miserable wuss out failure tomorrow. Enjoy your Saturday and thanks for being here. Bubba

Today's kick my ass in gear when I wanted to quit song was, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17HRV8k1YMw&feature=related

New Favorable Meet Schedule

2011-11-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

My coach, Kris Allison sent out not only his schedule, but added the other meets he knew about. His first indoor meet was on 12/3 but now there will one on 11/26 and 12/10!! These are perfect for me and where I am on my groin rehab, travel and moving. The meet in Austin on 11/13 was too early but the 26th will be perfect. Then his next one is now on 12/10 and I leave to move on 12/14. OUTSTANDING!!

Tomorrow I will get another hard running/sled/sprint drills session in but will make no attempt to jump. It will be two weeks since I got my little flare at the Texas vs. Louisiana meet. I feel like I could jump but I'm going to be out of town Monday through Wednesday anyway so why not just train and then rest it and go low level the following Saturday. I think at that point I should be near 100%.

On one hand I can't wait to get settled in California but on the other I want to get the most out of this training grind while I am here as well. Hopefully I jump from eight steps at the 11/26 meet on my 14' 1" (4.30m) poles and then from 10 steps on 12/10 on my normal meet poles, the 14' 7"s (4.45m). Four weeks after I arrive in California is Reno so I had better be beating the heck out of myself now or I will be behind. As you know, you will hear about it here first. Thanks for your support! Bubba

Moving On

2011-11-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

YEP - Many times it feels like this ...

My body is turning the corner so the gym now becomes a challenge rather than merely surviving. I pick my strategic spots to step up and I can feel the momentum building. That showing up every day thing really works. I remember my first strength test when I started back in 2005 I was a quivering mess as I bench pressed 95 lb. (44 kg). Depending on the day I can do 2-4 X 225 lbs. (102 kg). I noticed on my spreadsheet this morning that I am at 19,915,997 lbs. lifted since January 1, 2005. AMAZING that sometime next week or the next I will cross over 20 million pounds lifted.

I keep showing up and don't take an off season because it is too dang hard to start over AND make up what I lost. It's easier to just drop the weights way down and do the work and let the spirit move you when it's time to raise the weights. I also need it daily for my stress management. Whatever gets you out there, get out there. Have a great day and thanks for being here. Bubba

Travel Day - Plans Unfolding

2011-11-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

LATE ADD - Stormbringer by Deep Purple. This was our hardcore workout song where we would say, "Bring on the storm"! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C2K889u_90

My body feels pretty decent. My groin thing is a lot better but probably still too soon to mess with it. It's not really a groin in the traditional sense as it is more underneath but that is the general area. I go to LA next Monday - Wednesday so if I wait until the following Saturday to vault. That will be three full weeks of rest from jumping. That will give me about three weeks of jumping before Kris' meet on 12/3 and six weeks total rehab. Good enough.
My plans are working out good for California. I've made contact with the local high school coach through a friend and he was very nice and inviting. Yes I can have access to their track, bleachers and vault areas. He will get me a key to the stadium when I get to town. I'll be vaulting with two time Olympian and long time friend, Simon Arkell and he too has offered me a key. I typically train alone so I can take my time and jump when I'm ready instead of waiting for a long line of kids. I'm sure there will be a great blend of that in both places. Maybe I'm on the runway 30 minutes before the kids show up. By the time they are on the runaway I'm done.

We're leaving on the drive around lunch on 12/14 and will arrive on the afternoon of 12/16, and move in the morning of 12/17. I will only miss one rotation of training. AMAZING!

Have a great day and thanks for your support! Bubba

Could I Really Be an Athlete Again?

2011-11-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

During today's running I felt like I might actually be becoming an athlete again. I felt pretty fast, strong, etc. I try to just crank away as hard as I can for as long as I can so that when I have to go away for a few days on business that I NEED a break. Next Monday when I go to California, I will NEED a break. But for today, I feel like I might be an athlete again.

Don't confuse "athlete" with pole vaulter. I assure you it will take at least another month before I start to feel like a pole vaulter. I'm hoping to get a decent mark on 12/3 and then come into Reno on 1/20 strong. Until then I'll just keep cranking along. In honor of my latest trend in my workouts, here is Deep Purple's "Burn" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfzv3bf9-OY Enjoy and have a great day! Bubba