Near the End of This Chapter!!

When I came to Texas almost three months ago, my number one priority was a break from business travel and a focus on training.  As I do my last few workouts here I can see how much progress I have made.  I haven't made the corner but at least I can see it and it feels imminent.  Pride is dangerous but it's nice to see some results.

Yesterday I felt I had a little possible issue with my left hamstring.  So far I'm not seeing anything major to confirm this.  Maybe a touch on a 90 degree angle leg stretch, on a bar but nothing in heavy leg curls.  Some calf exercises also get deep into the attachments near the hamstring, but nothing there either.  I'll hold my breath and move forward slowly.  As always thanks for your support!  Bubba

ACDC - "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuureXcbddY

Getting There!!

Today was my last practice day in College Station.  I'm sure I will jump there on my trips to Houston, but my main training place will again be Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, California.

I jump in Belton next week so today was quickly going through poles and trying not to get injured.  My legs were pretty beat up from lifting Thursday but that's expected.

I started on the 1355 from 4 lefts/8 steps/43'.  Today for the first time I felt like I could have jumped on that pole from 3/6/33' so that's an improvement.  

Jumped 10'6"/3.20m on the 1355, 11'/3.35m on the 1440 and barely rolled off 11'6"/3.50m from 5/10/53' on the 1445.  That pole was too small on that jump as I brushed it with my chest going up.

I felt like I was a bit at risk of twingy hamstrings over the last two jumps, but didn't actually feel anything like a ding while I was jumping.  When I did my last five sleds I thought I felt it a little but it turned out to be nothing ... I think.  Mainly I just need to get my lifts, bars and sleds in tomorrow through Wednesday and then break for the meet.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas and thanks for checking in o me.  I'm optimistic that at some point I will be able to jump again at a decent level.  Bubba

Winery Dogs - "Oblivion" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SoTgZjokLU

I Feel It & See It!!

After three months of grinding away I'm finally starting to see some evidence that I can compete again at a high level.  Yesterday I started at 10'6/3.20m and then went to 11'/3.35m and made both very little effort jogging in from 4 lefts/8 steps/43' total run, on tiny poles - 1355/1440.  These aren't big jumps but I'm basically putting in minimal strain.  I can build off of this.

In the gym today it became apparent that my lifts are also going up and I'm getting stronger on bars.  I continue to spend double time on stretching and I'm beginning to feel a little optimistic.  

Saturday will be my last jump day before the meet in Belton on 1/2/16.  I know I shouldn't say this but I rarely worry about my body holding together anymore. I think a combination of conditioning and the extra stretching have taken a lot of stress off of my efforts.  

I'll continue to slowly wander down this path and hope for continued momentum.  Glad to FINALLY feel like I'm getting somewhere.  Merry Christmas and thanks for checking in on me.  Bubba

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthraz and Slayer, together at the Big 4 in Sofia, Bulgaria - "Am I Evil" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upKtoIxXoig

Slow Progress, but Progress!!

I jumped a little simulated meet condition today, trying to figure out how to jump at Belton.  I started on Don's 1440 from 4 strides/8 steps, 43'.  If I hit the pole I blew it away, and if I backed off a little I wasn't in enough to turn up.  Cleared my opener of 10'6" by a mile and had good height on 11'.

I moved back a stride to 5/10/54' and went up to the 1445.  Again, I didn't get in for two jumps and then I blew it away twice before stopping.  

I think my issue is the timing on a 14'1/4.30m sailpiece is different. I need to grip a bit higher and jump through the take off a little longer.  But again, when I do that I'm off the back of the pit, and if I miss it a little I can't turn up.  Just need some more jumps to figure out the timing for the right grip and pole.

Though progress feels slow, when I hit a position I get launched.  I'm also able to run pretty well without much thought of my legs being hurt.  I do my five sleds before and five after I jump, two great leg lift days and five days of stretching.  Over time this will pay off.

I think one of my biggest problems has been that my smaller 12'4s/3.75m weren't made properly.  I won't go into it here but three of my seven poles do not behave like poles.  They have no sailpiece and respond more like a broomstick.  I spent a month trying to adapt to something that can't be jumped on.  Now I'm in a good place to continue creeping forward.

The other major issue I have had is learning how to jump at 10 lbs/4.5 kg lighter.  It changes the pole, grip, take off dynamics, etc.  I'm catching on to this and feel I will be able to get on bigger poles with higher grips again soon.

I think in Belton in two weeks I will do what I did today, and in Reno in four weeks I'll just go for it on my 13'7"/4.15m poles.  That's the plan now, besides not getting hurt.  Thanks for checking in.  Bubba

Megadeth - "99 Ways to Die" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjE5BmMekQ

Sunburn!!

My late great friend and orthopedic surgeon, Glenn Almquist, used to remind me that when you introduce a new level of intensity, that it shocks the muscles and central nervous system.  Like sunburn, he says, you need to back off a bit and then ramp back up.

One week ago I started lifting considerably heavier on my legs. They were ready for it as I pout a very good base down.  Still, my back and left knee felt a traumatic shock and hurt all week.  I mean I felt injured.  I went ahead and did my regular speed weights on Thursday and the next rotation Friday, then vaulted and did sleds yesterday.

Sure enough, this morning I was able to do the same heavy leg lift workout with absolutely zero side effects.  Thanks Dr. Almquist.  You may be gone but I hear your words daily!  Bubba

Alter Bridge - Addcited to Pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M9QxzpTjec

Phantom Progress!!

I'm going to say something that probably only a relatively small number of vaulters will ever say; "Right now it's more important how well I jump than how high I jump.  Sounds weird but I've made more progress in my technique over the past three sessions and am really gaining momentum."

Physically I'm still pretty trashed because of my training load, but technically I have better control than I've had over the past 18 months.  When rest meets technique I think I'll be good.

Example - I'm jumping a lot from 2 strides/4 steps/22'/7m run, and my 3/6/33'/10m run.  Beat up I can jump 11'/3.35m from 3/6, which means I can jump 11'6"/3.51m from 4/8, 12'/3.66m from 5/10, 12'6"/3.81m from 6/12 and 13'/3.97m from my long run of 7/14.  Considering only two people have ever jumped 13' over 60 years old I would say I'm on track. In fact I don't move back to the next one until I achieve this technical transfer.

This said, I should be able to jump 11'6'/3.51 from 3/6 once my body catches up to the training, as this is my norm.  From there you can project the rest.

I think most good vaulters just came out of this phase 1-2 months ago but I want to be ready late next summer and into the Fall for World Masters Athletics in October in Perth, Australia, followed by the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand in April of 2017.  For these goals I'm on target or early.  I will jump in Reno for accountability of my progress.

My move back to California, and my reduced travel will really help me stay on track.  Loving this training and progress.  About time.  Have a great evening and thanks for checking in.  Bubba

Kris Dahl - "Love Me" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tedjlcQQs0A

I wanted to jump at a bar on my first meet pole today, but it was near freezing when we arrived at the building and turned on the heat.  So Don and I settled in to what I was planning on starting on Wednesday. Our thought has been that since I'm 10 lbs. lighter, that my poles are too stiff and my grip is to low.  To test that I started on a tiny 12'4/140 today, then went to a 12'4/45, BOTH too small from 2 lefts/4 steps.  Here's my report to Don. Have a great day!  Bubba

Heyyyyyyy Don.  Thanks for the support today. Here's what happened after you left.  The experiment about using small poles and getting my timing with the most comfortable grip really paid dividends.  Your 12'4/145 was too small of me from 2 lefts/4 steps/23' but I managed 10' gripping about 11'8" - nice.  I tried the 1335 and it was mush so I went to 3/6/33' and went to the 1345 and it was mush also. 

I figured I would switch over to my 12'4/155 and guess what, the grip was off that pole by 2-3". This is exactly what we thought; that I had no arc and was jumping over the grip.  I MAY be able to use the 1345 from 2/4, but what do you go to after the 12'4/145?  The 1350?  In any case I need to pick up your series at that point.  Thanks man!

Rush - "Something for Nothing" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhIB-edOhvY