Looking Ahead!!

Another very good run and lower lift day has me looking ahead.  I still think I will only take my three 12'4"/3.75m poles to Pasadena on June 7 so I can't get into any big trouble.  Ideally I would like to jump the first two heights from my 2 left/4 step/22' run.  I'll have to be doing a few things right to move that pole well from there but I really think I'll be ready.  If my arm survives that I should be able to open up more at our meet at home on the 28th for our Masters PV Symposium and then all the way back to normal for the Grand Haven Beach Vault on July 11. 

It feels god to start feeling good.  Gotta keep it rolling.  Tomorrow I will get to test my arm a but more on my lifts.  Yesterday it was quite prominent but it seems to be coming around quickly.  Thanks for your support.  Bubba

Living Colour - "Cult of Personality" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0

It's Hard to Say!!

I rarely have injuries, mainly "dings".  I'm sorry that I have become the master of dings.  Normally those are small annoyances that are gone in 3-14 days and seem to come and go from nowhere.  This weird little arm thing is like that.  But add to that my two hamstring issues and it has not been a productive year vaulting thus far.  That said I feel deep inside me it's going to end up being a great year as my speed, strength and technique have really come around.  It's just getting my body used to the new and improved tools.

Today I was able to isolate where the arm/shoulder issue is in my lifting so I can monitor the progress.  I'm not always so lucky.  Sometimes I have a ding that I can't seem to make hurt during a lift or stretch, yet t keeps me from jumping.  At least this one I have a fighting chance and it does seem to be better today, though far from ready for full activity.  In any case I am cautiously optimistic.  Have a great Sunday!  Bubba

Ozzy - "Crazy Train Live" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVThw0EE_Jo

The Good & the Bad!!

Well of course a day or so after I find this weird little lat/tricep/posterior deltoid ding, I have probably the best running and leg lifting session I've had since before Reno.  Rains on one side of my road and pours rain on the other side.  That said, I'll take healthy legs over any other little dings.  I'll use this time to get faster again.

Because I can't jump or do bars I will spend the next 10 days alternating between upper and lower lifting.  Sleds on the lower day and a big stretch on the upper day.  My concern is that I don't want to risk flaring this up on the June 7 meet, as it should be about well by then.  The problem is I need at least a minimal mark in order to qualify for the National Senior Games next year.  Right now I'm leaning toward only taking my smallest pole.

I'm optimistic that I'm going to have a good year.  I just have to be patient and follow the plan and not get in a hurry.  Have a great evening and thanks for being here.  Bubba

Van Halen - "Atomic Punk" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-DYM7JvMA

1st Day Back - DING!

Went out to jump and felt surprisingly good from the stuff I did on the ship.  Couldn't quite move my smallest pole from 2 lefts/22' so after two attempts I went to 3/33'.  A little rust technically but then got three very good jumps in a row.  On #5 I felt a little pain under the left rear deltoid from where I was doing those straight arm front levers a the gym.  On #2 I felt it more so I stopped.  I cleared 9'6"/2.90-11'/3.35m very easily on my smallest pole. 

SO, that's it.  I stop until I jump in my meet on June 7, where I will only take my three 12'4/3.75m poles.  I just need a qualifying mark for next Year's National Senior Games so I'll cruise easy. I'm really committed to working slowly back through all of my poles so at this point I have no ide when I will get back to the 14'1/4.30m poles.  I was hoping for Grand Haven but who knows at this point.  Have a great day and thanks for hanging in with this misery!  Bubba

Ted Nugent - "Stranglehold - Live" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eISPP6zuNE

Coming Home!!

Not quite yet!

 

In less than 12 hours I will get picked up to head to the airport for the loooong journey home from Istanbul, Turkey.  Not real fond of a four hour layover in Munich but it is what it is.

For the past two weeks I've done the best I can to get some type of relative movement in each day.  Much of my daily running has been up and down hallways in the hotel or ship.  Both my running and lifting have been abbreviated but focused.

Basically I run 5X50m every day with ankle weights, and alternated lifting 10,8,6,4,2 with little rest on my sets and exercises.  Lower one day, upper the next and repeat.  Long story short, these were some of the toughest mental challenges because you just flat don't feel like doing it.  But as Rush sings in this song, "You Don't Get Something for Nothing" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096LhjGNNCk 

Enjoy your day and thanks for your support.  Happy Mothers Day to you and yours!  Bubba

Hanging In There!!

Just a short update on my progress.  I am running, stretching and lifting every day as planned and feeling better. Unfortunately on the ship we have a satellite connection for the Internet which is very slow and spotty.  Add to it that the more people who try to get on the slower it gets, or you get bumped.  But I'm here doing as we planned.  Thanks for your support.  Bubba

Vacation?!

I'm on a cruise vacation but got my first hard leg lift in today.  Tomorrow I will hit my running, upper lifts and stretching.

Below is what I posted on Facebook today about the upcoming masters vault symposium I am hosting on June 28.  Please "Friend" me on Facebook under "Bubba Sparks".  If you're not familiar with this process, I have over 2,000 "friends" from around the world, 99% pole vaulers.  Because of this I have constant updates and postings of the video of top vaulters around the world.  In fact, we saw the world record within five minutes of the actual jump.  No  more waiting and hoping TV will show something.  Join Facebook and get the inside view of vaulting.  Have a great day!  Bubba
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NEED TO START GETTING A HEAD COUNT - As the Masters Pole Vault Symposium & Competition is less than two months away, I need to start getting an idea of how many we have committed to coming so we can plan food and other activities. The event is Saturday, June 28 in Dana Point, California. There is no cost for the event or the meal activities in this first year. In fact if you come the first year... you will never have to pay. On Friday evening we will have a meet/greet from 6-9 PM at my home. How many will you be bringing? The event itself is for masters vaulters and coaches, but of course others may attend. How many will be there besides you? Saturday evening we are having a BBQ/Dinner from 6-10. How many will be attending? Sunday morning we will have a continental style breakfast for those who wish to get together to talk about 2015. How many will be there? Please email me your responses to polevaulter@msn.com so we can start making a list. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you. BTW - LOTS of hotels in different price ranges in our area. Just Google Dana Point California Hotels. Our area is popular for it's beaches, shopping and whale watching so there are plenty of things families can do.