I jump at 8 AM on Wednesday, July 13. Since we have 28 they show us jumping on side by side pits. Bubba
http://www.wma2011.com/2011%20WMA%20Event%20Schedule_1.pdf
Monday, June 6, 2011
Striking Distance? Maybe!
I'll skip a rotation before and after NSG so basically I will have a week off with NSG in the center of that break. I'll come back with 20 days left to Worlds. Should be enough to get back on track. I know this sounds dumb, but the objective is to continue to improve up and through Worlds. To improve means I can't have a real break between the two. Holding the same level of preparedness is actually a step backward. So I will be cautious in my plan to assure that I continue to move forward through NSG. Being ready for outdoor nationals in Cleveland a little over two weeks later is yet another challenge but not nearly as much so as this first one.
In all cases it is about capitalizing on the opportunities as they present themselves. Today's music is from Eminem who describes that in the song, Lose Yourself". Have a great day and thanks for your support. Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLSkcXDHuMY
Sunday, June 5, 2011
BOOM!! Two Take Offs 30 Years Apart
San Marcos River Vault 2008 - BOOM!!
Southwest Texas State 1978 - BOOM!!
Another good workout today in the gym. Had breakfast with my dad first so I felt a little sluggish at the start but settled in nicely. Final two weeks has begun as far as perfecting the lead up game plan to NSG. BTW - STILL don't know what time we jump but everyone in the world is bugging them daily. You've got 12,000 athletes in 18 sports coming to town and they don't know when they compete? NOT happy and they are lighting up message boards, email and phones! C'MON MAN!! Entries closed two months ago!! I entered national outdoors in Cleveland yesterday and thought there was a mistake as the fee was $60 when it is usually $30. I got an answer back that it was for drug testing. My response? We were only charged $6.25 each for drug testing at the world championships so why should nationals cost $30?
Speaking of which, I have not heard back from Italy on my Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). If you can't get one with testosterone under 20 when the average for my age is 552 then the system is beyond screwed up. That said I don't expect it to be approved. WADA hasn't moved past the fact that we are not elite athletes and most of us are on some kind of physician prescribed medication that could trigger a positive test for something; anything. In my case if I used a drug to get me off the bottom so I'm at least not always hurt, then I could test positive even though my level is below that of an 8 year old. Why? Because it detects a "foreign" substance. If they just checked for levels they would tell me to see a doctor because I'm too low. Again, I'm not optimistic of approval.
My main physician is on the warpath and says we should just go forward and fight it as a PR battle against the system. Not a bad idea (not a good idea either) as I really don't plan on jumping in anything real big until, 2013 Worlds in Brazil right after I turn 60. If I lost an appeal my two years would be up before that meet. If I won it would create a new set of rules for senior athletes based on levels only. For example, some blood pressure and cholesterol medications will trigger a positve test. It's just stupid to test fossils like 20 year olds. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Testosterone was meant for the elderly with low levels and I am the lowest he has ever measured by over 200 points. I guess I'm a special sort of weakling. Right now I just pretend it's a no and continue on with my business.
Today's driving force song that powered me through the SUCKING part of my work out was "Boom" by POD (Payable on Death), a great hard rocking Christian band. When I hit the box on my take off the only think I think is BOOM!! BIG explosion of force in that one split second. It's also the voice in my head screaming at the workout that is trying to take me down, "Is that all you've got? I'll take your best shot. BOOM, here comes the voice from the south". Gotta be defiant baby!! Go big or go home!! Note to self - going big starts at home, when you want to quit, BAD, and you don't. I have no talent compared to the really good vaulters, but I do have that defiance. Or maybe I'm just stubborn ... or stupid. Enjoy, and thanks for being here. Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhJfdWxpI2Q
Saturday, June 4, 2011
SPEECHLESS!! It Will Pass!
Scott Rand, MD
As a pole vaulter we get the strangest injuries and dings. I mean WEIRD little things and every single time without fail Dr. Rand has immediately and correctly identified the issue and told me exactly what the process was to get back on the field. An athlete himself, he understands our need to quickly and safely return to action. Of course this particular issue is of supreme importance to me because of the timing and how quickly I was debilitated. But another time he had a hunch and did a blood test and found I was anemic. Fearing internal bleeding (cancer) I was quickly in for a colonoscopy and upper GI where it was found that acid reflux was in fact causing ongoing light bleeding. I wasn't in for that but he just had a feeling there was more than meets the eye. Of course I will thank him in person but I wanted to salute him here today. More than 70% of our game is staying on the field and without my PCP, Dr. Butch Martin and Dr. Rand, I would be lost. Thank you sirs!! BubbaRight when I was wrapping up today Van Halen's "Dreams" came on my MP3 and reminded me why I was out there in the first place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLKtjATZt0
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Great Divide - Alone Again
I've always told my elite athletes that it's lonely at the top. You are the first ones to begin to practice, and since you are championship material, your most significant meets come when others are done for the year. When I was in my garage last October thinking about Sacramento in the summer, it seemed so far away but gave me great purpose. It feels different now that I'm closer; but I'm still alone.
I prefer to train a lone. It makes me mentally stronger. The good news is that you are alone in your thoughts. And the bad news is that you are alone in your thoughts. The grind in 100+ degrees is very real and your will can vary. That said, I get more out of making myself do the work then being accountable to someone else just to make sure I show up.
Today BCC's "Great Divide" got me through with some deep and honest thoughts about my training and my life. Enjoy! Bubba
PS - I like this video because you get a glimpse at the process. As an athlete most people only see us at competitions. Especially me since I train alone. But there is so much more that goes into that performance. And because you're only as good as your last one, I need more focus.
NSG Entrants
Kirk Michael Bentz CALIFORNIA 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Charlie C Bing TEXAS 55-59 Male Pole VaultROBERT W CRITES TEXAS 55-59 Male Pole Vault
DONALD W CURRY TEXAS 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Michael Lewis Sayers NEW YORK 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Gary Lee Scheffe TEXAS 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Gerrod Smith NEW YORK 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Mike E Soule MINNESOTA 55-59 Male Pole Vault
DOUGLAS SPARKS TEXAS 55-59 Male Pole Vault
SCOTT M WEBSTER TENNESSEE 55-59 Male Pole Vault
Thursday, June 2, 2011
More Developments
Still no schedule for NSG which is just plain STUPID. How do you expect 12,000 athletes in 18 sports to come to town and not know what time of day they compete? Especially with Worlds only three weeks later? This happens more often than not, but since entries have been closed for over two months how is it possible?
Cleveland?! YES!! Our national outdoor meet is there at the end of July so I've been hoping to make that trip. All flights have had stops and the cost was nearly $500. I've always heard that Tuesday is the day to look but I've been having good luck on Thursdays. So after lunch today I about fell over when I saw a nonstop for $207. I quickly booked that and the meet hotel, which happened to be only $104 per night.
Last night I got a call from Bruce Caldwell of Essx, my pole manufacturer and friend for 35 years. He says, "I'm working on some new carbon designs and want to get a new pole to you for your big meets coming up". WOW - that's the kind of call I like to get. At Reno I jumped 4.10m (13' 6") on m 14.3 but my 14.0 was too big so he is going to try to hit one in between. He also wants to ship me some poles for other athletes coming to NSG.
That's it for today. Tonight I'll take a good look and my final calender and figure out the details of what sessions are left. I have kind of played it out in my mind but need to compare for the exact plan. Have a great day and thanks for being here! Bubba
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Feeling Fat!!
Well two days of no training and I start feeling fat and worthless. I knew I was getting my knee shot yesterday so I did that workout Sunday giving me a double. Today is my Off/Travel day so that adds to it. I know that you make 100% of your progress during rest but it sucks when you WANT to be moving. I especially need the short break after the injection. That said I'm back to my normal routine tomorrow and glad of it.
"Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba has been running through my head a million times over the past week so I thought I would post it today. I like the opening chorus because it sounds all too familiar, "I get knocked down, I get up again, they're never going to keep me down". And they won't, but it ain't that easy getting back up every time either. Thanks for all of your support and have a great evening. Bubba
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
