Zigged When I Should Have Zagged?

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!!

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!

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!!

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?!?!

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?

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

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