Turning the Corner

Had a very good day running this morning and feel like I've turned the corner on the little dings.  Like I said once before, when you protect areas during healing they grow tight and you begin to feel pains that really aren't there (you hope), which I call phantom pains.  The other part is that you feel like the Tin Man above, EVERYTHING hurts until you start moving around a little. 

Today I made the executive decision to do my first day back with sprint drills in my ankle weights.  I was going to wait a week but figured that the resistance might actually help me rehab faster as long as I was careful.  Not only did it work out great, I felt like a week or so from now when I can really start to open up with speed and power that I will have another faster gear. 

This is the best I have felt since Albuquerque. ALL of the cardio and low level 100ms and 50ms are really paying off and I still have just over seven weeks before National Senior Games. Next week I'll add the big pole drills and then the following week maybe do some 2, 4,and 6 step take offs.  OPTIMISM with reason is a nice change of feeling.  Have a wonderful day and thanks for being here.  Bubba

COW!!! Simply Irresistible!!

My good friend, Dean "The Machine" sent me an email this week saying he would like to see less farm animals and more vaulting on my blog.  Of course he's kidding but here's the deal.  I'm easily amused so it cracked me up when I read that the Chik-Fil-A cow came into one of their restaurants and this one little girl started pointing and screaming at the top of her lungs "COW!!!!!!".  So I've been looking for funny cow photos since then. Since I can't really top this one I may stop for a bit here.  In honor of the late Robert Palmer, I found it "Simply Irresistible".

Another great workout as my body continues to respond to the higher intensity.  I'm a long way from where I'm trying to get to but I'm certainly in striking distance.  Tomorrow I will add sprint drills and maybe ankle weights and some pole drills to my routine.  I'll play it by ear but it feels like my body is ready and wants to do some more. Of course I will be careful.  have a great day!  Bubba

Phantom Pains

An interesting phenomenon is going on with me right now - phantom pains.  I feel a little stinging behind my left knee where I got the ding at Nationals, yet when I put my hand back there, run, do stairs with ankle weights, or even do hamstring curls, I feel nothing.  I also noticed this after my Achilles surgeries - dull pain or aches that were really no longer there.  My gut response is GIVE ME A BREAK - I get enough dings without having fake ones.  That said, I'll take the phantom ones over the real ones any day.

Felt pretty spectacular at points in the gym today.  The cardio component is really coming around as I am able to push myself harder as it gets harder rather than back off to recover.  I feel very good about where I am and where I'm going.  As strange as this sounds, I'm in no rush to return to the runway.  It's more important that my body and fitness are very high before I do.  Sure I will mess around a little and start my big pole drills again Saturday but I don't have the need to actually vault right now.  Patience Grasshoppa.

Have a great day and thanks for your support!  Bubba

On the Road Again

It's Wednesday so I must be on the road again.  My body feels pretty good after yesterday's running but I have to make sure I leave time to stretch afterwards.  My only off day of the week, I'll try and enjoy it.  Have a great day!  Bubba

Progress?

Grass running day went well with 10 X 100m and 10 X 50m hill/sled.  I'm almost well enough to get out of breath and not quite well enough that I had to reel in my efforts here and there.  No pain or issues but I'm watching it very closely.  Will try to add some sprint drills on Saturday.  If that works I'll add the heavy pole back in the following Saturday.

My plan to vault right now is very loose.  Simply stated, I won't attempt to vault until I can do my full drill and running series without protecting myself.  If that is 2,4,7 or evn 8 weeks that's fine.  I'll wait.  Impatience is a sign of no confidence in your plan.  I LOVE my plan, but only when my body is ready.  Have a great day and thanks for being here.  Bubba

Back to Basics

At the beginning of a long ramp up phase I really try to go back to basics as far as form, breathing, attention to detail etc.  There are few things harder that what these people above are doing.  I'm not going that far back to basics right now but I will when the season ends.  If their weight was 45 lbs (20 kg) like an Olympic bar it would be much easier than the PVC bar as the weight helps them balance.

Loved my session today.  My body felt great and my shoulder thing was nearly nonexistent.  I feel fit and ready to gain momentum a little at a time. 

Entries closed last night to the World Masters Championships and we ended up with 28 vaulters, with seven over 13' (3.95m).  It's going to be a tough one.  I'll just focus on me and my plan so I can really enjoy the event when I arrive.  That said, it's not quite May 1, and I'm already thinking details about July 13.  That's how it's done and I enjoy that process. 

All the best and have a great day.  Thank you for being here!  Bubba

Day Off - Happy Easter!!

I'm taking the day off as my final eight weeks of training to the National Senior Games starts tomorrow.  I feel really good but I have a minor shoulder issue from a bar exercise I discontinued and want to give it an extra few days. I do different bar exercises each day but I don't do anything that makes me feel this area until Thursday if I miss today.  Good call.

Tonight at midnight Pacific time the entries will close to the World Masters Championships in Sacramento in July.  I think as of yesterday there were 23 or 24 in my group and I expect maybe we will end up with 27-28 ish?  So far all of the usual suspects are in except my buddy Kirk Bentz, who I know will get entered. We emailed yesterday about him coming to Houston for the NSG.  Kirk - as a friend, don't do it! Your son is getting married in San Francisco on the 18th and we jump on the 20th.  With only 10 guys in the field and Worlds just three weeks after, don't risk getting hurt.  If it wasn't here I wouldn't jump.  You have a great chance at a medal at the BIG meet.

Have a great Easter everyone!!  Bubba