back from the dead

oh my god.........this past week has been the absolute worst week of my life. Last weekend I started feeling dizzy and weak, then it turned into full blown nausea, puking, chills, and the runs. I spent a good part of this week in the bathroom with it coming out both ends. I got so dehydrated on tuesday that I had to go to the emergency room for an IV. I'm feeling much better today, but an still pretty weak. They have no idea what I had, just some super strain of the flu. I guess next year I won't skip out on getting a flu shot.

Always one to find a silver lining, I did lose 15 pounds, so I'm on the fast track to hitting my target weight now. :)

its been a couple days since I've posted, but there's not much really to report. Work has been terrible and my wife has been sick, so I haven't been able to get out and do anything. I feel like I've wasted the entire week. I've only got 2 weeks until my first planned meet,so I need to get it gear. I've got a bad feeling that all my short run poles are going to get too small, and my long run poles are going to be too big. I've got a pretty big gap in my line since I always went from short run back to long run, never in between before....

maybe I'll just cut off some fo my long run poles, or call Nordic and Catapole and see if I can get some free poles or something....

jump day 2

Mostly just did drills today. Its hard doing push plants by yourself, but not impossible. :)

Its a good thing my body awareness is still intact, or I might have bitten it pretty hard a couple of times. I would have had a better practice session, but I let one of my coworkers talk me into getting a huge burrito for lunch that's just sitting in my stomach. Its going to make for an interesting day at work since we only have unisex toilets in our office.

no movement on the front

between my hangover, football games, and kids, I haven't gotten anything done this weekend. I was hoping to get some vaulting in today, but it looks like kids and football are on the agenda. Hopefully I get to it tomorrow.

ugh

boy, do I feel rough.....

I over did it a bit last night "celebrating". I guess its those old college habits sneaking up on me again. I've got a splitting headache and I had to call in sick to work. Oh well, lesson learned! I did switch to Lite, so it was lo-carb/no fat all night long. every little bit helps.

I think today will be a recovery day and I'll get back up on the horse Saturday.

168 days!

I've still got it!

I was afraid that I'd lost my timing coming off of my most recent two year rest cycle, but it was just like riding a bike! My knees were killing me when I got there, but 4 advil, a red bull, and a long warm up later left me feeling pretty good.

I started out with some walking pole plants, followed by a few pole runs at 50%. I did some 3 step hangs, then 3 step short vaults. I backed up to 5 lefts and took 10 jumps in flats on my biggest short run pole. Got rejected pretty good on my first two, but got over my gun shyness on my 3rd jump. I put a bungee up at 5m just for grins on my last jump and (mostly) didn't touch it. Only 50cm to go!

I was so pumped after that last jump, I ran some 150s, but over did it a bit and deposited the red bull I had earlier in back the trash can. I'm feeling OK now, but I need to remember I can't jump back in at full throttle just yet. I'm so psyched! I think I might celebrate a little tonight if I can talk my wife into letting me out of the late shift with the kids tonight.

169 days!

1st jump day today!

I had debated whether to jump today or not, considering my knees are killing me (called it!) and I'm still pretty out of shape, but I've got a lot of catching up to do. I've been secretly watching my Neovault DVDs here at my desk and am all fired up to jump now. I'll post again later on tonight and let you all know how my jumping went.

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.

-Muhammad Ali

It has begun!

After along day at work and spending time with my kids, I did my first bit of training today! A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, or in this case, 20 minutes on the treadmill.

Wow am I out of shape! I know this is going to take a lot of hard work, but man am I beat. My knees are going to kill tomorrow. Oh well, pain is weakness leaving the body. 170 days!

I have a dream!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I have decided to come out of retirement and train for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the pole vault with the hopes of making the 2008 Olympic team! I know its going to be a challenge considering I work full time and have a wife and two kids, but nothing is going to stop me from "Livin' the Dream"!

I wouldn't be undertaking this if I didn't think I had a realistic change at making at least the "B" qualifying standard of 5.50m (18' 1/2"). On my last day of practice 9 years ago, I took a jump with a bungee at 5.50m and barely brushed it. I know my technique has improved since then, even though I only jump in the spring with the high school kids I coach. The real barrier for me will be my fitness level and speed, which I'm sure I can get back to an acceptable level.

171 days and counting!