Work Ethic, Favorites, Underdogs & Other Nonsense

I went to dinner with my dad and my brother Wednesday for dad's 80th birthday.  At the end of dinner I would tell him that I am moving back to California.  I mentioned this to my older sister and her response was surprising yet true, "That's OK.  He lives next door to Bill and he has always been his favorite anyway".  I was a little taken back at first and then kind of laughed and said, "you're right".  In fact, Time magazine just had a big article about parents having favorites.  Bill is dad's and I have always been fine with that?  Why?

I was never treated poorly.  In fact I have always been treated great but Bill was treated better.  He was far more gifted athletically, he liked to work on cars with my dad, etc.  I on the other hand got up at 4 AM when my dad got ready to go to work and lifted weights with my little 20 lb. (10 kg) set.  In high school me and a few friends would go out at 4 AM and run the six mile (10 km) dirt road that was about to become US 290.  Sometimes Bill went but usually not.  When my dad coached little league he told us that we would have to be far better than the other kids in order to get to play so he could not be accused of favoritism.  Therefore Bill always played and I rarely did.

Somehow all of this never bothered me because I knew Bill WAS better.  I worked really hard and still was not that good and I was OK with that.  Bill had a good work ethic himself but not like mine.  At least not then.  Today he celebrates 20 years in the military where he joined at 30 and became an Airborne Ranger and has received two bronze stars for service in the Middle East.  Again, I could never do that either, but I admire him and am very proud of him.

I don't have a real point here because the only three people who matter are very happy and comfortable in our relationships with dad and each other.  I love and respect them both.  I rationalize that it's tough being the favorite because so much is expected.  My junior year of college I shocked the world and won nationals after coming in ranked 10th.  The next year I had the 6th best jump going in and wasn't picked to medal yet I won again.  That said, strangely I don't think underdog has any advantage either.

Most of my life I have done and been very successful at things others said I shouldn't or couldn't do.  I was the underdog.  That lack of faith never drove me to succeed as I pretty much just ignored it and went on about my business.  I've never needed to "show someone" because I could care less if they approved. What drove me is that I commit to things that I think are the best way for me to go.  And usually after a lot of hard work and no shortage of frustrating setbacks, I achieve the goal and then some.

In review, until the truly talented work as hard as their talent levels, underachievers who consistently work harder will continue to pass them.  The thought or motivation of training or competing as a favorite or as an underdog is nonsense.  Practice how you compete and compete how you practice.  Train as if the world is watching every rep.  If this makes you happy you are already successful.  Now go have fun at the competition.  Thanks for being here.  Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVsRLhet2k

Another Good Lift Day - Move Explained

Lots going on right now as we prepare to move, but I still got a great lift in this morning.  I knew I needed to get it done and promised myself I would take my time and do it the best I could.  Went very well and I felt very good about the effort.

Moving - I'm in, and have been for the past 24 years, the healthcare business specializing in relationships between physicians and physical therapists.  I used to own a chain of PT clinics in Southern California but sold my half in 2001 and moved back to Texas in part to help care for my aging parents.  Ten years later all is good here and opportunities to expand my business in California, where I had a very large physician client base, have exploded due to some changing laws that affect their present business relationships.  I have been very successful in these transitions in other states so it is only a natural that I go back to help here now.  I think that is probably as simple as I can explain the "why NOW" and the sense of urgency to get back to California.  I've already been there three times and another scheduled, so it would be cheaper to live there rather than travel back and forth. 

Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for all of the kind words and support!  Bubba

Travel Day - Breaking News

Today is my local / regional travel day.  By the end of today I hope to learn when I am returning to Southern California - to live; by November 1, or Spring of 2012.  Having lived in Newport Beach, California for 24 years I always knew at some point that I would return.  My mom has passed and my dad turns 80 today but lives across the street from my brother.  The time to "go home" is near for a number of reasons including the weather and business opportunities.  I have loved my time here and will be back in Texas for business/other one week a month but my base will change to SoCal very soon now.  I will train with Greg Charles at UC Irvine, where I coached vaulters for 14 years, and at Saddleback College with two time Olympian from Australia, Simon Arkell.  I will compete for SoCal Track Club and will live in Dana Point, just south of Laguna Beach (see top photo).  Thanks for your support!  Bubba

California Dreamin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3GbF9Bx6E

Decent Vault Day - Love Me!

Today I decided to start on one pole bigger from my two step run - 15.9 rather than 16.3.  The pole was perfect for two jumps and then I moved on to six steps.  From that point forward all of my poles were just a touch too small.  Nothing worse than "finessing" because you don't want to blow through the pole.  Well it would be worse to move up a pole and struggle on the run and get hurt.  I felt I could have used the bigger poles but it wasn't worth the risk after two really hard lift days. 

I got 11 jumps in which is awesome and was pretty good on my technique.  Unfortunately my jump requires me to have lots of pressure on my hands so when a pole is too little I lose some control.  The good news is that I will be back on my 14' 1" (4.30m) poles on Saturday and by the feel of today, they will be too small also.  THAT is good news.

Looking for a guitar lesson online I found a great artist/teacher, Kris Dahl.  Here is one of his songs, which follows with how to play it - "Love Me".  May not be your cup of tea but power rock is what gets me through the toughest days of training.  Enjoy and thanks for being here.  Bubba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2d0LevWxjs

About Time

Today I knew I needed to start early and just take my time and get through my longest lifting and bar session of the week.  Too often I get in a time crunch and rush through stuff near the end.  I really enjoyed this approach and will make sure I start earlier in the future.

Today I heard NXS' "Devil Inside" on my mp3.  I remember in 1987 they came to my neighborhood at the beach in Balboa, California and shot this video at the Balboa Saloon.  They waited until midnight when the place closed down and worked there until near dawn.  Pretty cool having the group roaming around town all night.  Very nice laid back guys.  Anyway, here is that video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPDh0F67YsA

Have a great day!  Bubba

Back to Lifting - YES!!

It's always funny to me how I have to really get myself ready to go back to the gym after a break.  You would think I'm going to a death match.  Then when I get there I immediately feel how much I missed it and enjoy the process.  GREAT lift and bar day.  Even better, I get to jump on Tuesday!  Yahoooooooooo!!

I've got the Texas vs. Louisiana meet on 10/22 so I'm trying to plan my poles for that.  My gut says to start on my 14' 1"s (4.30m) poles and then move to my 14' 7"s when needed.  Normally I would only take the 14' 7"s.  I'm pleased with the technical progress and control I'm getting on my vault so I'm not going to just rush to big poles to jump high.  I would rather work through and "earn" the bigger poles as I go.

Have a great Sunday and a sincere thank you for your interest and support!  Bubba

I Don't Get It, But WHATEVER!!

I mentioned that I did some stride/skip stuff over the past few days but nothing else for the week, including no stretching, so I was very careful this morning.  I went out FAT at 175.5 yet made five heights in six total jumps, with only one miss and very good control of my technique.  Go figure. I felt I could have taken several more jumps but decided that would be pushing my luck.  I jumped 10' (3.05m), 10' 6" (3.20m) and 11' (3.35m) all on first jumps from four steps.  I made 11' 6" (3.51m) on my 2nd attempt from six steps (33'/10m) and 12' on my 1st.  M baseline is 12' from 33' so I called it a day and finished my sleds. 

Tomorrow will be my big gym day, and Monday my big garage lift day, but for today I am happy yet mystified that I could jump at that level.  Of course we all know that we feel better after a break and quickly slide backwards if we don't get back to training.  Happily and healthy I will do so.  Thank you for your support and have a great Saturday!!  Bubba

PS - Here is a great video of a dog that you will probably find as cool as I did -

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=xdj67XknFrM#t=5