Beat Up!!

That's me; the defiant WIMP!!

 

Of course I didn't expect anything different but I'm beat up pretty good from the meet.  Back to work tomorrow after a full two day break.  Can't wait.  Also had to order three new poles since I'm on the equivalent of my next to biggest one last Saturday and it was too small.  Time to ramp up again and get ready for Reno.  Have a wonderful evening!!  Bubba

Living Colour - "Cult of Personality" - GREAT guitarist Vernon Reid, and the singer, Cory Glover, was in the movie "Platoon" with Charlie Sheen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0

Good First Meet!!

Me clearing 12'/3.66m at Belton, Texas

LONG day Friday getting to the meet and transporting poles.  When I went to do my strides and stretching that evening my lower back felt creaky and unstable.  Not very settling to say the least.  Took a hot bath and got to bed early and hoped for the best.

Got up the next morning and had breakfast still not quite knowing what to expect.  Because of this I decided I would start my warm up on my smallest of five 13'7"/4.15m poles, a 165/17.5.  To my complete shock I did not feel my back at all.

My wildest dreams for this meet were to at least get to pole #4 because it is the flex equivalent of my first 14'1"/4.30m pole I hope to try in Reno.  I also hoped to at least get a couple of good jumps at 12'/3.66m.  As it turned out I used all five poles which all proved to be too small, cleared 12' easily and had a really good jump at 12'6"/3.81m.  I am totally trashed physically but am not hurt.  My technique was dead on and a result of the bars, running and lifting changes I put in place.

After talking to Kris Allison  decided to start at only 10'6"/3.21m because there were so many lower level jumpers going that f I waited much higher it would be two hours between warm up and my starting height.  Also I nhd Brazil at 10'6" and we weren't sure how my poles would feel.  So here's what happened;
10'6 from four lefts or 43' on the 17.5.  Made 11'/3.36m on the 17.1 from the same run.  Made 11'6"/3.51m on the 16.6 from five lefts or 53'.  Made 12' easily on the 16.2 though the pole felt too small.  At 12'6"/3.81m I moved to the 15.7 and didn't quite move it so I went back a stride to 63'.  My last jump was a good one but that pole was too small from there.

Hard to find anything wrong with my first outing.  At Reno the intention is only to jump on my 14'1"s.  Thanks so much for being here and for your support.  Hoping for bigger things soon.  Bubba

Van Halen - "Jump" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq0lYB3iSM

Merry Christmas!!

The view from my patio this morning with Catalina Island in the background.  Supposed to be 73 today! Not bad for winter!!

 

Short lift and long stretch today.  Afterward started going through some poles I used a couple of years ago.  I was a little surprised the grips are a bit lower than I presently have mine taped but I think that's because I'm lighter.

One more lift tomorrow then off to Texas.  Thinking I need to start on my 2nd pole since I have never used it and I have two markings on it for a soft side.  I'll warm up on it and find out which one is right and go from there.  I hade mentioned before than when I jumped in Ft. Collins, Colorado this summer I had poles 1, 3 and 5 but not 2 and 4 so starting on #2 will make my next pole familiar.  We will see what happens.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and happy holidays to the rest.  Thanks so much for being here.  I'm gaining momentum and some controlled muscle mass but I'm not there yet.  Can't wait to get back to starting practices at 12'.  Have a wonderful day!  Bubba

Motley Crue - "Kickstart My Heart" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5em6PisRyk

Sidetracked!!

It's been an odd 3-4 days as I found out the reason for my sickness and pain was a large kidney stone, which I finally passed this morning.  Severe stomach and back pain with fever and nausea. It would seems to pass and come back around.  Because of this I've hit every other day of training but in the grand scheme of things only missed one running day.  I feel much better.  Hope you have a great evening.  Bubba

Robin Trower - "Too Rolling Stoned" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBoq8aoWB4E

Back to Work!!

I feel quite a bit better today but still not well.  That said I had a good gym, bars and stretch session this morning.  I need to run tomorrow.  We will see how it goes but I'm excited to get to Texas and try to move through some poles.  Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for being here!  Bubba

3 Doors Down - "Kryptonite" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPU8OAjjS4k

Under the Weather

Yesterday I woke up with some stomach pain that quickly became bloating, constipation, feverish, nausea, etc.  Not a fun day.  Today I feel better but when I got up to try and run at 5:30 I felt pretty weak and lightheaded, so I will wait until tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day and thanks for your support!  Bubba

Oingo Boingo - "Weird Science" - from the movie of the same name - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-upHSP9KU

Good Stuff!!

Of course after a three day travel break I'm met by rain on my first running day.  I went ahead and did my hard leg lifting and bars this morning and again, I'm pleasantly surprised with my continued strength games.  As mentioned, I'm not there yet but I'm getting there.

I found out I jump at noon in Belton.  Since my back is better but not great, it's highly possible I will warm up, move through some poles, clear some bars, and stop before the meet starts. I don't want to screw up Reno but I MUST know how some of these poles feel and how it feels to move from pole to pole.

Hope you have a great day!  Thank you for being here!  Bubba

Kris Dahl - "Love Me" with guitar lesson to follow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2d0LevWxjs

Progress!!

No mans land never felt so good.  I'm getting bigger and stronger again, and sleds again felt very good.  My back continues to improve so I might be headed in the right direction.  That said I'm halfway between where I was and where I need to be.  I know sometime in the next month or two I will start to turn the corner and be back at a reasonably high level.  Until then I will have to stay after it and be happy to at least be on the doorstep.  Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for being here!  Bubba

Def Leppard - "Animal" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecFPU--vvf0

Belief!!

Only one letter separates "Belief" from "Relief", but I have found that one leads to the other.  In the middle of both words is "Lie", which is what you must do to yourself to assure you keep  moving forward.  ;-)  If it were really as hopeless as it sometimes seems we would never start a journey, much less continue.

I have always said if you are impatient you have no confidence in your plan.  With that in mind I kept some lifts that I was going to throw out in an effort to protect my lower back. 

I came out of yesterday's running with only minor soreness so to add on some abuse today I thought might be touchy.  Turns out I felt OK.  I "believe" that this plan will lead me to full health, and I have "relief" because of it.  NOW, I run and lift again tomorrow so we will see.  But for now I am at peace.  Two weeks from today I jump in Belton, Texas.  Hoping for the best.  Have a great day!  Bubba

John Mayer - "Belief" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEgUUTkqRRQ

Sleds Almost With No Pain!!

There is reason for optimism.  I ran 10 easy sleds today (2X50, 2X45, 2X40, 2X35 & 2X30) between 40-70% and felt comparatively free of pain.  Of course I just got my injection Monday so it's too early for miracles but it was maybe 80-90% better than it has been.  As I said, I'm not convinced there is zero muscle involvement so I won't vault until my meet two weeks from tomorrow in Belton.  Overall I'm feeling stronger and more ready to think I can jump well again.  Like anything else in life I just have to stay after it.  Have a great day and thanks for being here!  Bubba

Deep Purple - "Stormbringer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8hA5R36IPU

Finally Getting Stronger!!

I reached my bench and lat pull superset baseline today.  When I'm in the ballpark of being fit and strong enough to jump high, my bench is 8X165, 6X185 and 4X205, which I hit fairly easily today for the first time in a  very long while.  My lat pull superset is hands away and wide like a pull up, followed immediately by hands close and palms facing like a chin up.  I did 8X200, 6X220 and 4X240.

I did a better job of my stretching today with the focus on the muscles and not forcing the joints.  I think that will pay off as well.  Dr. Rand also wants me to use a foam roller in addition to just the stretches.  I have a smaller one but need to address that as well.  Have a great day!!  Bubba

April Wine - "Roller" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usWQOPTORn8

Sticky Situation!!

I saw Dr. Rand on Monday and after X-Rays he determined that I needed an injection in my back at the sacroiliac joint (SI Joint).  He said I did not have a muscle running the direction where I am describing my pain, and there is nothing that can cause a catch other than the joint.  Because he injected the joint space it was not that painful.  Once the flare is gone then the muscle feeling issues should leave.

He has advised me to adjust some of my training to more directly involve the muscles and to leave the joints out where I can.  He gave me some really good ideas and suggestions and explained how what I was doing was keeping the flare from going away.  Now with the shot and my new training lessons I should be OK.

My biggest fear was that he would tell me I need six weeks for the muscles to heal but he tests clearly showed that I have no strength deficits.  Basically I'm cleared to do whatever I want as of Friday but  think I will wait until Belton to vault an focus on sleds.  Good news I think!  Thank you for being here!!  Bubba

Van Halen - "Bottoms Up" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOdtkd_6WAg

RAIN!! As Expected!!

I'm sorry it's raining on a meet day but I'm so glad I assumed it would and went about my business yesterday.  Felt pretty good today and got to the gym this morning for some bars and lifting. I also got a chance to pull out me new Essx Recoil poles and discern my pole series for the indoor season.  Very pleased and optimistic.  Have a great afternoon!  Bubba

Steveie Ray Vaughn - "Tightrope" from the Johnny Carson show in 1990 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGLZPvDcWWs

Change of Plans Again!!

I've been watching the weather all week and there is between a 60-90% chance of rain for all of Southern California tomorrow.  I rested this entire week so my back would feel better and it did not.  I found a great massage therapist and scheduled to see her this afternoon.  And all of this means?

SO - I blew off the meet tomorrow because I can't afford to get rained out and miss a week of training.  I went out to jump today, and of course there was a horrible headwind.  I had no choice because I had to be done before my massage appointment.

NOW - I only got two jumps in on my 13'7"/165 before I decided not to fight the wind.  Surprisingly I was able to get in bending the pole from 3 lefts/6 steps, and cleared both bars from 4/8, into the headwind even though every other time I have used it I had to go to 5/10.  So into a headwind that is progress.  Very good clean positions but I don't want to risk injury by fighting the wind.  I will lift tomorrow and go to Houston Monday.  Have a great evening!  Bubba

White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY

MIA - Sick!!

All the good intentions can't overcome the cold that hit me.  That said I went out this morning and did my running and then went to the gym for my lifting and bars.  Other than the constant hacking cough and runny nose, my speed and strength felt good.  I knew with my little All Comers meet at San Diego State next Saturday, I felt I really needed to get out and do something.  No sign of the quad or groin tightness and I was running 90%+.  So I will leave it at that.   Have a great Sunday!!  Bubba

Metallica - "Fuel" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1cjHbXdU0s