I leave for Florida tomorrow until Saturday and will resume my training on Sunday, giving me an eight day phase break. I'm healthy and unhurt after Reno so I want to refresh and then recharge before indoor nationals on March 5, in Albuquerque.
Penny for your thoughts? Too much to tell!! I talked to Kris today and we went over some stuff and finalized the plan. Mainly we agreed that our last plan worked and just made a few modifications. We're really pleased with the response of my poles but think the goal is that we need to bump up some training to try and get to them from one stride closer with a slightly higher grip. Not far off from that but we think it is half technical and half strength/speed. Albuquerque has a fast runway so I should be ready by then.
If you go to my Facebook page you can scroll down and see the 4.10m (13' 5 1/4") jump. Click on the New Project [HG] button for a larger and cleaner view. You can hit the pause button to see the different phases. I asked that the standards be pulled up to 70cm but they left them on 80cm, so had that bar fallen I would have gotten another attempt. I hit it harder than I remember but I also cleared it by farther than I remember. If I can get on that pole from one stride closer then I can jump 14' (4.27m) on that pole and still have one left that is bigger.
http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1285715399869&sk=messages#!/profile.php?id=815472367
We laid out the plan for after nationals as well so my thoughts add up to far more than a penny, and so does my passion for this to work. Pretty excited. Thanks so much for your very kind emails, Facebook posts, calls, etc. It really means a lot to me. All the best! Bubba
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Reno Report- 1 Video @ Bottom
This will also be my report to my coach, Kris Allison as well so there will be a few more details. Got to Reno early Thursday and did what I always do, spent a lot of time in bed. I try to stay clear of all of the activities and catch up on email, work and mindless TV rather than obsess on a big meet. I kind of go into hiding until it's time to jump.
As mentioned yesterday I had no idea what to expect. I felt good, but having not vaulted in a month, nor run a step without a sled or on the StairMaster, I could only guess. My idea was to jack up all other training in order to improve my power and conditioning. I felt like it worked well but you never know until you get out there.
Warm up went well as I'm pretty quick, usually three jumps from 10 steps and then sit. I try to do just enough to wake my body up but stop short of actually feeling warmed up. I know a few vaulters who jump a lot in warm up and don't have the energy or mental focus left to jump sharply when it counts. Plus I didn't want to risk being hurt. I like to be the first one on the runway in warm ups and be off in 20 minutes. Using this approach I almost always feel much better as far as leg quickness goes when the meet jumps start.
Reno has very large fields so to start the bar goes up in 8" (20 cm) increments, then 6" (15 cm) and then 4" (10 cm) as fewer people are left. I started at 3.55m or about 11' 7 3/4", which I made on my first. By this time we were at 6" increments.
Next we went to 3.70m (12' 1 1/2"). I bailed out in the middle of my jump because the officials were yelling at me to stop as I approached the box. Turns out they had not raised the bar yet so I had to wait for that and then go again.
Next was 3.85m (12' 7 1/2") which I made on my 2nd jump from 12 steps. Now we're at 4m (13' 1 1/2"), where I have seemed to have perfected being on the wrong pole for the past four meets. Not today as I made it clean on my 3rd attempt.
At this point I have won and I'm jumping alone so I go to 4.10m (13' 5 1/4"). First pole is too small so I move up a pole (14.4) and back to 14 steps and make it on my 2nd attempt on that pole. That pole too felt small from that run so I moved up to my biggest pole (14.2).
At 4.20m (13' 9 1/4") I took one jump and had a good jump but was a little out. At that point the officials realized that I was trying an American Record so I was stopped while they made some announcements and then sent other officials over to measure the bar. I lost a little momentum with the wait, yet came up too under at take off on the next jump and then didn't take my 3rd. My rationale was that I was very fatigued after 13 jumps on seven poles from three different run lengths. So if I didn't get in deep enough on #2, then why would I risk injury on the 3rd attempt while running slower and protected?
So Kris - surprises - I moved my standards from 80cm to 70cm for my last at 13' 1 1/2" and they were perfect. I wasn't going to have another meet where I had a ton of height and came down on the bar.
Because that pole felt small, I moved up a pole and the standards back to 80cm for the first at 13' 9 1/4" and it was too small. When I moved back to 14 steps and up to the 14.4, I went back to 80cm but for the next attempts I was at 65cm.
So I tried to stick to our rules, not be stupid, and just advance to a clean slate for the next height. I jumped on three poles I have never left the ground on and would have gotten 2nd had I not made an indoor PR of 13' 1 1/2". So this time I was fortunate enough to do it when it was needed. Jumping higher than I did to win the World Masters Games was also a nice bonus for January.
Off for eight days and then back to the grind for indoor nationals on March 5. Looking forward to the break and then the training. Thanks for being here and for all of your very kind emails and FB messages!! Bubba
This is 12' 7 1/2" according to the person who sent it. Kind of gives you the idea it would be a good night.
As mentioned yesterday I had no idea what to expect. I felt good, but having not vaulted in a month, nor run a step without a sled or on the StairMaster, I could only guess. My idea was to jack up all other training in order to improve my power and conditioning. I felt like it worked well but you never know until you get out there.
Warm up went well as I'm pretty quick, usually three jumps from 10 steps and then sit. I try to do just enough to wake my body up but stop short of actually feeling warmed up. I know a few vaulters who jump a lot in warm up and don't have the energy or mental focus left to jump sharply when it counts. Plus I didn't want to risk being hurt. I like to be the first one on the runway in warm ups and be off in 20 minutes. Using this approach I almost always feel much better as far as leg quickness goes when the meet jumps start.
Reno has very large fields so to start the bar goes up in 8" (20 cm) increments, then 6" (15 cm) and then 4" (10 cm) as fewer people are left. I started at 3.55m or about 11' 7 3/4", which I made on my first. By this time we were at 6" increments.
Next we went to 3.70m (12' 1 1/2"). I bailed out in the middle of my jump because the officials were yelling at me to stop as I approached the box. Turns out they had not raised the bar yet so I had to wait for that and then go again.
Next was 3.85m (12' 7 1/2") which I made on my 2nd jump from 12 steps. Now we're at 4m (13' 1 1/2"), where I have seemed to have perfected being on the wrong pole for the past four meets. Not today as I made it clean on my 3rd attempt.
At this point I have won and I'm jumping alone so I go to 4.10m (13' 5 1/4"). First pole is too small so I move up a pole (14.4) and back to 14 steps and make it on my 2nd attempt on that pole. That pole too felt small from that run so I moved up to my biggest pole (14.2).
At 4.20m (13' 9 1/4") I took one jump and had a good jump but was a little out. At that point the officials realized that I was trying an American Record so I was stopped while they made some announcements and then sent other officials over to measure the bar. I lost a little momentum with the wait, yet came up too under at take off on the next jump and then didn't take my 3rd. My rationale was that I was very fatigued after 13 jumps on seven poles from three different run lengths. So if I didn't get in deep enough on #2, then why would I risk injury on the 3rd attempt while running slower and protected?
So Kris - surprises - I moved my standards from 80cm to 70cm for my last at 13' 1 1/2" and they were perfect. I wasn't going to have another meet where I had a ton of height and came down on the bar.
Because that pole felt small, I moved up a pole and the standards back to 80cm for the first at 13' 9 1/4" and it was too small. When I moved back to 14 steps and up to the 14.4, I went back to 80cm but for the next attempts I was at 65cm.
So I tried to stick to our rules, not be stupid, and just advance to a clean slate for the next height. I jumped on three poles I have never left the ground on and would have gotten 2nd had I not made an indoor PR of 13' 1 1/2". So this time I was fortunate enough to do it when it was needed. Jumping higher than I did to win the World Masters Games was also a nice bonus for January.
Off for eight days and then back to the grind for indoor nationals on March 5. Looking forward to the break and then the training. Thanks for being here and for all of your very kind emails and FB messages!! Bubba
This is 12' 7 1/2" according to the person who sent it. Kind of gives you the idea it would be a good night.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Reno - Won My Pit at 13' 5 1/4" - 4.10m
Had no idea what to expect having trained hard but not touched a pole for a month. Took 13 meet jumps on seven poles from three different runs. More later. Exhausted! Bubba
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
OFF to Reno Tomorrow!
Got an easy stretch in and am packing right now. More to report from the scene. My flight eaves at 6 AM and I get there at 9:15. Can't wait! More soon. Bubba
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Last Training Day
I'm going to wait until this afternoon to go and do my 6 X 50m hill/sleds. It rained all day yesterday and finally today the sun has started to come out. It will be windy and around 50 but that's better than wet and 42. From there I will come home and get a long stretch in.
Tomorrow is my travel day and then Thursday I leave for Reno. I'll keep reporting as I will have my computer. I'll also have my camera so there will be photos as well. Have a great day! Bubba
Tomorrow is my travel day and then Thursday I leave for Reno. I'll keep reporting as I will have my computer. I'll also have my camera so there will be photos as well. Have a great day! Bubba
Monday, January 24, 2011
One Training Day Left
Got my last lift done this morning so that leaves me an easy day of 6 X 50m sled/hills. On my strength test for my bench I got 4 X 225 which is very good for me. I got 2 X 225 before I went to Sydney.
I feel good and am reasonably optimistic I'll be good at Reno. Nothing hurts but that doesn't mean anything. When you're only jumping on big poles and haven't touched one in four weeks anything can happen. Still, my training has been really good so I'm hopeful.
I get home from Reno on Sunday, do my normal Wednesday travel day on Monday, and then go to Florida for the rest of the week. I always try and plan a break the week after a big meet since that seems to be when I get hurt trying to jump. I'll get back from Florida and get a four week ramp up to indoor nationals.
I've kind of noticed that with crappy weather I train as long and hard as I can but once winter hits I only jump at indoor meets. IF I got a rare warm day on a scheduled jump day I could jump but it seems like a good chance to grind it out for 8 weeks to get ready for outdoors. We will see if that works. Hate risking injury by jumping in the cold and wet.
That's it for today but thanks for being here. I really appreciate it! Bubba
I feel good and am reasonably optimistic I'll be good at Reno. Nothing hurts but that doesn't mean anything. When you're only jumping on big poles and haven't touched one in four weeks anything can happen. Still, my training has been really good so I'm hopeful.
I get home from Reno on Sunday, do my normal Wednesday travel day on Monday, and then go to Florida for the rest of the week. I always try and plan a break the week after a big meet since that seems to be when I get hurt trying to jump. I'll get back from Florida and get a four week ramp up to indoor nationals.
I've kind of noticed that with crappy weather I train as long and hard as I can but once winter hits I only jump at indoor meets. IF I got a rare warm day on a scheduled jump day I could jump but it seems like a good chance to grind it out for 8 weeks to get ready for outdoors. We will see if that works. Hate risking injury by jumping in the cold and wet.
That's it for today but thanks for being here. I really appreciate it! Bubba
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Weird Mind Things
Can't figure out why that when I have a long and extended grind period that I can focus in and feel every rep of every set of every component. Now I'm close to a big meet and my training load is way down I'm like a kid with ADD in that I have to really pay attention to stay engaged. Short bursts of all out power. Obviously I can do it and do, but it surprises me how much harder it is to do easy training, and how easy it is to do harder training.
Senior Admirers
I do odd bar drills with ankle weights in the gym which draws some attention I guess. I say I guess because I usually don't talk in the gym during my workout, unless I'm coming or going, but occasionally someone will stop me and ask me something. I was on the 24 Hour Fitness website after I won the World Masters Games and there is still a framed summary of about eight members goals and accomplishments near the front door and I am one of those. Apparently the old guys have adopted me. One guy who I always speak with told me one day, "you're making us old guys look good" and gave me a thumbs up. He is about 70 so I guess he thinks I'm close to that too. Since then about 5-6 other "older" gentlemen have taken to speaking with me which is cool.
I bring this stuff up because I have a really nice group of people in the gym, of all ages. I see a lot of accomplished physiques and they all seem to do different things. This reminds me of some very simple advice I once read, "the most effective workout for you is the one you will always do". Lots of ways to reach the same goal but showing up IS the biggest part of the battle. The next part is give yourself something you will do no matter how you feel.
After all of the grinding, heavy weights now feel light but if I stay on heavy weights only I will grow weak and lose conditioning. It's just a big cycle that gets fine tuning daily. BUT - this is the last gym day before Reno. I lift in the garage tomorrow and do running Tuesday and that is it except for stretching.
Thanks for being here and for your support. Everything feels good at this point. Bubba
Senior Admirers
I do odd bar drills with ankle weights in the gym which draws some attention I guess. I say I guess because I usually don't talk in the gym during my workout, unless I'm coming or going, but occasionally someone will stop me and ask me something. I was on the 24 Hour Fitness website after I won the World Masters Games and there is still a framed summary of about eight members goals and accomplishments near the front door and I am one of those. Apparently the old guys have adopted me. One guy who I always speak with told me one day, "you're making us old guys look good" and gave me a thumbs up. He is about 70 so I guess he thinks I'm close to that too. Since then about 5-6 other "older" gentlemen have taken to speaking with me which is cool.
I bring this stuff up because I have a really nice group of people in the gym, of all ages. I see a lot of accomplished physiques and they all seem to do different things. This reminds me of some very simple advice I once read, "the most effective workout for you is the one you will always do". Lots of ways to reach the same goal but showing up IS the biggest part of the battle. The next part is give yourself something you will do no matter how you feel.
After all of the grinding, heavy weights now feel light but if I stay on heavy weights only I will grow weak and lose conditioning. It's just a big cycle that gets fine tuning daily. BUT - this is the last gym day before Reno. I lift in the garage tomorrow and do running Tuesday and that is it except for stretching.
Thanks for being here and for your support. Everything feels good at this point. Bubba
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