Temporary Relief!!

Fleeting as this feeling is, I will enjoy it while I can!

 

When I felt that little stretch and sting on my last jump at Pasadena last week, I was really worried that I was probably soon headed for surgery.  What am I supposed to think when I strain my low hamstring behind my knee on January 18, and again on March 2, and now over three months later it's flaring up on a jog in run and vault?  Because I have been feeling it when I make certain moves around the house, I was positive that I would be limping home this morning and setting up and appointment for an MRI with my orthopedic surgeon.  In fact I decided to go out early today rather than wait until this afternoon because I just felt like I needed to know sooner rather than later.

Well, I warmed up with my sleds, started with a very low grip on my smallest pole and jogged in from 33' and made 9'6, 10', 10'6" and 11' with zero issues and stopped.  GRATEFUL!!  Not only was I not hurt but for the first time in many months, I was able to control my vault entirely with hand pressure.  Though I have been vaulting technically well, I've just been swinging as hard as I can.  To jump really high you have to place and keep tension on the pole the entire jump.  Because my grip has been low I haven't been able to find this magic timing.  Today it was there like it had never left.  YAHOOOOO!!!

So concerned was I about this lack of precision timing from hand pressure, I ordered one more smaller 12'4"/3.75m pole from Bruce Caldwell at Essx so I could have a pole I could easily jump on from 2 lefts/4 steps/22'.  This progression is the key to me jumping high and today was a spectacular day for my health and my technique.

At the gym I have been lifting hard every day, alternating lower and upper for 10 days.  Once I do this and take a break, then when I come back and start lifting the same area every 3rd day, I'm immediately stronger.  As expected I felt super strong on all of my lifts today. 

This can all change when I try and repeat this on Sunday, but for right now, I'm going to bask in the glow of a few things finally going right.  Thanks for your support.  PRICELESS!!  Bubba

Chumbawamba - "Tubthumping" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc

Success ... I Think?!

Clearing 11' at the Pasadena Senior Games

 

Yesterday I couldn't quite move the poles from the planned runs I wanted to I was back a stride.  That's not unusual since I've only been able to use them in a stride on one day.  That said, I jumped metric equivalents of about 10', 10'6" and 11' all on first jumps and stopped.  The 10' was on the smallest pole, 12'4"/160/11.9.  The next two were on the 12'4"/165/10.7.

I caught a little bit of a headwind on the 11' jump and probably ran a little hard.  At the top of my extension at take off I felt a kind of slight stretching/mild sting behind my left knee.  Thinking this was probably adhesions breaking free, I stopped.  Probably didn't have to but I had accomplished what I wanted, 11', qualify for National Senior Games next year, and to walk away healthy.

Today is the first time since December 29th that I have come home from a meet to put my poles away and was not hurt.  I have been hurt before but never back to back meets six weeks apart.  Today I felt good; like I could actually jump again.  And for that I'm grateful.  Have a wonderful day!  Bubba

Megedeth - "Holy Wars" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsAZEK1bc0U

Ready?

Last stretch and stride today.  I'm as ready as I'm going to get.  Though this will be a really low level effort just to assure my left shoulder muscle is OK, I still would like to do well. 

I plan to start on a 12'4"-160 from 2 lefts/4 steps/22' for maybe 9'6" and 10'.  To put that in perspective, my pole tip is halfway to the box before I run one of my four total steps.  BUT, if I'm not doing it right from there I'm not ready to move back anyway.

If the body holds up I hope to move to the 12'4"-165 for 10'6" and maybe 11' from 3L/6S/33'.  If that all goes as planned I'll try to go to the 12'4"-170 for 11'6" and with any luck 12'. 

All of this said I have no idea if I can jump on any of these poles at any of these heights from these runs.  If I can't move the first pole from 22' then I will have to move back to 33' and expect to jump 6" lower on that pole before moving on. 

So tomorrow is really a formal practice.  If it goes well and I'm not hurt then I'll move to my 13' series for the Masters PV Symposium/Meet.  After that to the 13'7"s (Grand Haven Beach Vault?) where I started in Belton, and then to the 14'1"s where my hammy dinged me in Reno.

It's not that it is such a long climb back up.  It's more that I want to get the maximum technical benefit from each level before moving on.  Have a great day and thank you for being here!  Bubba

Rare Earth - "Get Ready" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Z8NU5ImK0

Slow Lane!!

I haven't posted much because I'm mainly doing stretch and stride type workouts.  I also wanted to keep the info regarding the Masters PV Symposium near the top. Have a great day!!  Bubba

Foghat - "Slow Ride" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCNcgoyG_0

Good Final Lift!!

Before a big meet I back off way early in the week and stretch and make sure I get plenty of rest.  Again, Saturday is not a big meet, nor will I even take big poles.  What it is, is an opportunity to make sure I am totally healthy to start the summer.  I haven't vaulted in three weeks since I got that weird little arm strain.  Good and hard last lift today so I'm confident I will feel well.  I need to go in and come out 100% healthy so I know I can safely start ramping things up.  Have a great day!  Bubba

Bananarama - "Cruel Summer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ePIZugahFc

Masters Pole Vault Symposium - UPDATE

Masters Pole Vault Symposium - UPDATE - Please - I need a final number for those who will be staying for dinner/BBQ Saturday evening, how many will actually be vaulting, and how many will be at the Saturday morning session at my house.  Because of limited sitting room vaulters/coaches only for Saturday morning unless you want to hang around and help Nancy.  EVEN if you have told me before, please tell me again.  Thanks and see you on June 28, 8:30 at my home - 32611 Sea Island Drive - Dana Point, California 92629.  If you are not coming in the morning, and going directly to the track, we will be at Dana Hills High School by 11:30 with the first division of the meet starting at 12:30.  That address is 33333 Golden Lantern (Turn on Acapulco), Dana Point, California 92629.

Almost Ready!!

Nice final run this morning with no leg lifts.  This is my typical big meet prep, which is odd considering that I'm taking only three tiny poles next Saturday, with the goal to clear bars from 2 lefts/4 steps, 3/6 and 4/8.  But it's important to know where I am in order understand where I go from here.  I'm totally healthy and totally ready ... I think.  Have a great afternoon!  Bubba

Megadeth - "Train of Consequences" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G38VlmOib8