The Battle Continues

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!!

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!

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!!

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!

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

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!!

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