Good hard lifting and bars day. Though I didn't report it, yesterday was also a very good training day.
I had a guy ask me yesterday when I thought I would be able to jump. The truth is I can jump today but six jumps later my healing clock starts over. I had this same problem when I strained my tricep. Rest two weeks, jump in a meet or practice, rest three weeks, jump again and start the healing over. So I guess the good news is that YES I can jump. The bad news is that it won't get well until I don't at all for 4-6 weeks. That said I can do every single bit of my training without limitation except for vaulting so I might as well use the time to get in better shape.
Off to a movie with Nancy. Have a great Memorial Day and to those service men and women, including my brother Bill - THANK YOU!! Bubba
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Officially Starting Over
Calculating my time left before any meaningful meets tells me that it's not worth trying to put up a mark for this year's outdoor season. Contrary to what it may seem, I'm OK with that. I know what it takes to get my body to the next level so I can quit having these injuries and that's what I have been doing, working for the future. Fortunately my legs have been fine so I have run and run and run and will continue to run and run and run. In case you didn't know, running is a big factor in how high you jump. But my injuries to my upper body are flat from not being strong enough or conditioned well enough to take the impact of big poles. So I'm working on it. The fact that my legs haven't been the issue means those results are showing.
For June I'll stick to what I'm doing. In July I will make half of my running with a heavy pole. In August I'll start jumping from only 2 steps. "Beginner to Bubka" author and friend, Alan Launder thinks every year you should push for a 2, 4 and 6 step PR in the early going of each year. Physically I will get better but the idea is to also have a ton of lower level jumps to refine technique for better efficiency.
Let's be clear; if I haven't jumped 14' (4.27m) the World Championships in Sacramento next year are a waste of time. Too many really good guys turn 55 on top of the good ones who are already here. Though our present M55 American Record is 13' 6 1/2" (4.13m), I fully expect that not to be good enough to get a medal at Worlds next year. This means I've got to step my game up, hence my injuries. I WILL find the balance between aggressive training and safety but right now I will keep on pushing because I'm not missing anything anyway since my season is over.
Re-thinking my weight. When I came back in 2005 after two Achilles surgeries I was very concerned about my weight. I wasn't too heavy but I was horribly out of shape. Now that I'm in shape, muscle mass is an issue, or is it? In 2005 I tried to jump between 162-165 and I was weak and lightheaded. A few years later I let my weight come up to a point where I felt strong so that meant I was around 170 for meets. With all of the lifting I do to protect my body and improve my conditioning, I'm thinking I may settle in around 175 this year.
What does this mean? When I was in my prime I jumped between 168-171. In 1997 I jumped 14' 7 1/4" (4.45m) at 178. I have jumped 14' (4.27m) at 186 in 1998. I have to find the balance between feeling powerful yet fast and agile. Too much weight means a sluggish jump and more wear and tear on the body. So I'm guessing 175 but I think it will probably end up about 173. In any case I'll go with what feels best. Most of the time I train 3-4 pounds heavier than I compete so I'm sure I will have to take a look at that too. All I know is right now it is too big of a struggle to be healthy to stay at 170 on an daily basis.
It already feels like and off season and I HATE that. But the good news is that I can go and watch MANY meets over the next few months that remind me why I'm training. As previously stated, I was going to go through a seven month training grind anyway, I've just started it early because of these little injuries.
Have a great Sunday and thanks for your support. I will assure that my effort will be full speed in every session no matter what time of year. BTW - my gut feeling is that weighing 175 will make it easier for me to roll the big 14' 7" poles (4.45m). Bubba
For June I'll stick to what I'm doing. In July I will make half of my running with a heavy pole. In August I'll start jumping from only 2 steps. "Beginner to Bubka" author and friend, Alan Launder thinks every year you should push for a 2, 4 and 6 step PR in the early going of each year. Physically I will get better but the idea is to also have a ton of lower level jumps to refine technique for better efficiency.
Let's be clear; if I haven't jumped 14' (4.27m) the World Championships in Sacramento next year are a waste of time. Too many really good guys turn 55 on top of the good ones who are already here. Though our present M55 American Record is 13' 6 1/2" (4.13m), I fully expect that not to be good enough to get a medal at Worlds next year. This means I've got to step my game up, hence my injuries. I WILL find the balance between aggressive training and safety but right now I will keep on pushing because I'm not missing anything anyway since my season is over.
Re-thinking my weight. When I came back in 2005 after two Achilles surgeries I was very concerned about my weight. I wasn't too heavy but I was horribly out of shape. Now that I'm in shape, muscle mass is an issue, or is it? In 2005 I tried to jump between 162-165 and I was weak and lightheaded. A few years later I let my weight come up to a point where I felt strong so that meant I was around 170 for meets. With all of the lifting I do to protect my body and improve my conditioning, I'm thinking I may settle in around 175 this year.
What does this mean? When I was in my prime I jumped between 168-171. In 1997 I jumped 14' 7 1/4" (4.45m) at 178. I have jumped 14' (4.27m) at 186 in 1998. I have to find the balance between feeling powerful yet fast and agile. Too much weight means a sluggish jump and more wear and tear on the body. So I'm guessing 175 but I think it will probably end up about 173. In any case I'll go with what feels best. Most of the time I train 3-4 pounds heavier than I compete so I'm sure I will have to take a look at that too. All I know is right now it is too big of a struggle to be healthy to stay at 170 on an daily basis.
It already feels like and off season and I HATE that. But the good news is that I can go and watch MANY meets over the next few months that remind me why I'm training. As previously stated, I was going to go through a seven month training grind anyway, I've just started it early because of these little injuries.
Have a great Sunday and thanks for your support. I will assure that my effort will be full speed in every session no matter what time of year. BTW - my gut feeling is that weighing 175 will make it easier for me to roll the big 14' 7" poles (4.45m). Bubba
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Small World / Feel Like Crap
Let's start with the fact that I feel like crap. Whenever I rest things heal short so I actually feel much worse than I do when I'm training. Even worse my weight is up from the prep for my procedures and the water they have me retaining. Feeling beat up and FAT is not my idea of a break but tomorrow I will be back to full speed.
I'm not jumping until Gettysburg on June 10 and that may be limited. My forearm feels worse and I have done nothing so that bothers me of course. I need to come back from our Alaska cruise on 8/1 completely healthy and in top shape. It won't bother me not to jump in Gettysburg as I am mainly going as a show of support for my buddy Steve Gorman who lost his brother a couple of years ago. This event is in his honor as a fellow masters vaulter. Two of the top masters vaulters in the world, Gary Hunter and Joe Johnston will join us there.
Small world - the lady hooking up my IV line in my hand said my veins were easy to hit and that I have "runner's veins". I told her I was a pole vaulter and train at The Woodlands High School. She told me her son ran track there and had gotten a scholarship to one of the top US track schools, Arkansas. Turns out her son is Drew Butler who is one of our school's top runners in history - and that is saying A LOT considering our history. Needless to say we talked track whenever she had a break.
It's getting hot so I will try and get out a little earlier. Last night at 8 PM it was 95 and still 80 when we got up this morning. That's OK as I get used to it reasonably fast. Starting early is the key in the beginning. Have a great day! Bubba
PS - tomorrow - rethinking my weight.
I'm not jumping until Gettysburg on June 10 and that may be limited. My forearm feels worse and I have done nothing so that bothers me of course. I need to come back from our Alaska cruise on 8/1 completely healthy and in top shape. It won't bother me not to jump in Gettysburg as I am mainly going as a show of support for my buddy Steve Gorman who lost his brother a couple of years ago. This event is in his honor as a fellow masters vaulter. Two of the top masters vaulters in the world, Gary Hunter and Joe Johnston will join us there.
Small world - the lady hooking up my IV line in my hand said my veins were easy to hit and that I have "runner's veins". I told her I was a pole vaulter and train at The Woodlands High School. She told me her son ran track there and had gotten a scholarship to one of the top US track schools, Arkansas. Turns out her son is Drew Butler who is one of our school's top runners in history - and that is saying A LOT considering our history. Needless to say we talked track whenever she had a break.
It's getting hot so I will try and get out a little earlier. Last night at 8 PM it was 95 and still 80 when we got up this morning. That's OK as I get used to it reasonably fast. Starting early is the key in the beginning. Have a great day! Bubba
PS - tomorrow - rethinking my weight.
Friday, May 28, 2010
I'm Alive
Got out about 9:00 and everything was as expected, some ulcers in the stomach and other related areas. Got a prescription and will get biopsy results when I see the doc in two weeks. The colonoscopy was clear as was expected. So, I'll start the medication and add the new iron supplements and get back to work. Nice peace of mind but not any different from what we expected. Thanks for the support everyone! Time to get back to work!! Bubba
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Smart Decision
I've decided to skip this Thursday/Friday rotation of training and resume on Sunday. I could do it but my forearm needs a rest, as do my feet from all of the extra work they have gotten from doing demonstrations for young vaulters at practice. The forearm has remained sore though not worse or injured and that bothers me. Seems like for it to get well, at some point it will have to feel better. All of this extra activity seems to have stalled it.
My feet are a different story. Nothing major there but when you jump back into running, especially hills/sleds, you can flare up a plantar fascitis (heel pain) or Achilles. I had a very small hint of heel pain last Sunday so I'm going to rest that too. Both are really doing well but since I'm having my procedures at the hospital tomorrow anyway, my training would get broken up. I'd rather go in fresh and recover faster.
If you couldn't get the link to work properly yesterday, here is a CNN link on 87 year old Adolph Hoffman which also includes my coach, Kris Allison. Enjoy!! Bubba
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/05/25/dnt.87.year.old.athlete.kens?hpt=T2
My feet are a different story. Nothing major there but when you jump back into running, especially hills/sleds, you can flare up a plantar fascitis (heel pain) or Achilles. I had a very small hint of heel pain last Sunday so I'm going to rest that too. Both are really doing well but since I'm having my procedures at the hospital tomorrow anyway, my training would get broken up. I'd rather go in fresh and recover faster.
If you couldn't get the link to work properly yesterday, here is a CNN link on 87 year old Adolph Hoffman which also includes my coach, Kris Allison. Enjoy!! Bubba
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/05/25/dnt.87.year.old.athlete.kens?hpt=T2
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Video Links
Today is my Wednesday travel day but I have a couple of good video links for you. The first one was sent to me by Steve Gorman in Gettysburg. Matt and I will go there to jump in the Dave Gorman (Steve's brother) Memorial meet on July 10 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHwqqRbZLKE
The other is the AMAZING 87 year old Adolf Hoffman, shown in part with my coach, Kris Allison at practice at Kris' place getting ready for the Senior Olympics. This was on the CBS evening news. Pretty cool. Bubba
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6518233n
The other is the AMAZING 87 year old Adolf Hoffman, shown in part with my coach, Kris Allison at practice at Kris' place getting ready for the Senior Olympics. This was on the CBS evening news. Pretty cool. Bubba
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6518233n
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Both Ends To Get a Look
I saw the physician that will do my colonoscopy on Friday and he will also put a tube down my throat to check my stomach. He thinks the colon will be clean but that stomach will have some small ulcerations from years of Motrin and Excedrin PM, the later on an empty stomach at night. He says the good news is that people who take these over the counter products rarely have colon issues. He will clean up and test whatever he sees if anything and then put a plan in place where it doesn't happen again.
This morning I did yet another blood test for Friday morning's procedure. But in my follow up with my PCP he noted that iron capacity is very available so that part will be fixed pretty quickly. The strange thing is that my total testosterone is only 287 and normal for my age is 550. He hopes part of this drop off is the iron issue but we will keep an eye on it. He thinks this could explain the rash of little injuries. I can take a non-steroid medication that will trigger me to make more of my own testosterone but he's hesitant to commit to that until after Friday's procedures. I cannot take testosterone without a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) which we don't see the need to seek at this point. It would be nice to at least be at a "normal" level of 550 like everyone else. Until then I'll just keep training my butt off six days a week.
I'm getting ready to got to lunch with Ryan Hodges. He was vaulter at The Woodlands High School who now goes to the University of Texas. He was a 10' 6" jumper the summer of his sophomore year and ended up making our state meet and jumping 15' 7". GREAT guy!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for the support! Bubba
This morning I did yet another blood test for Friday morning's procedure. But in my follow up with my PCP he noted that iron capacity is very available so that part will be fixed pretty quickly. The strange thing is that my total testosterone is only 287 and normal for my age is 550. He hopes part of this drop off is the iron issue but we will keep an eye on it. He thinks this could explain the rash of little injuries. I can take a non-steroid medication that will trigger me to make more of my own testosterone but he's hesitant to commit to that until after Friday's procedures. I cannot take testosterone without a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) which we don't see the need to seek at this point. It would be nice to at least be at a "normal" level of 550 like everyone else. Until then I'll just keep training my butt off six days a week.
I'm getting ready to got to lunch with Ryan Hodges. He was vaulter at The Woodlands High School who now goes to the University of Texas. He was a 10' 6" jumper the summer of his sophomore year and ended up making our state meet and jumping 15' 7". GREAT guy!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for the support! Bubba
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