Nancy and I were to have breakfast with my dad and sister-in-law this morning so that put me warming up at the track in the dark at 5:45 AM with my first jump at a bar at 6:45 before the sun showed up on the horizon. Because of this I re-thought my plan to start on the first 14' pole. I reasoned that at the last practice I had to go to my 43' run to use my 13'/14.7 and 14.3, so today I would try and use them from 32' and be more aggressive. That turned out to be a good plan as I again made 12' on each of those two poles. I did not try higher again as I was looking to solidify a few technical issues. I mention this because I ALWAYS raise the bar after a clearance. I will start progressing the bar again next time.
After these two clearances I moved back to 43', skipped my first 13' carbon fiber pole (13.7) and went right o the biggest 13' pole (13.2) I have and IT was too little. I went into the shed and got my smallest 14' pole (17.5) and made 12' by quite a lot, yet that pole was too small. So my patience was rewarded. I had a total of eight vaults but all were at a high level and far more consistent technically than the last time. I guess my rehab is over because I felt well within my physical abilities and never felt at risk of injury though I've not been on a 14' pole since August 11, at Nationals. The good news is that the pole felt too small from the 43' run, as it usually does when I'm jumping well. So at least physically I'm back to 100%.
Reality check - I'm still four poles down (weaker) from my normal big meet start pole (55' run) and one down from my start pole if I choose to start my meet from a 44' run. My opening height is always 12' (3.66m) and my objective is to easily make it on either of these pole/run choices. Knock on wood but I have made each height except my final height on the first attempt of every meet I have been in for the past year and a half. Part of this is that I use a much bigger pole than is needed to make the heights. Remember that I just cleared 12' from 22' 6" last week whereas I start at 43' or 55' in a meet. The difference is from 22' 6" I made it by a few inches and on bigger poles I make it by over a foot with a bigger margin for error.
I'm going to move up my leg lift day and do it today so I will feel good again on Thursday, when I hope to use only 14' poles. These next three sessions will solidfy the poles I will take to Australia.
I found out yesterday that my friend Tom Rauscher is going in the M60 group where he should be a threat to win. Hoping the best for him and look forward to seeing him. He won't be on our flight but will arrive Sunday as we get there Friday.
There is one "official tour company" who books this trip for all of the athletes. So almost all of the passengers on our flight will be athletes in various sports going to the Games. The LA to Sydney leg is 14 hours so I'll try and sleep as much as possible since we arrive at 8:25 AM. I'll want to be on their time immediately so oversleeping has always been the best way for me.
That's it for today. I jump five weeks from Tuesday but the email activity has jumped drastically as final plans are being coordinated. Tomorrow I find out what time I compete and then will know what time it will be at home. I got a new netbook with a wireless adapter that can work off of my cell phone so I can remain in contact. That's it for now. Thanks for being there. Bubba
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