It Could Always Be Worse. . .

I was able to jump this weekend in the New York Adidas Track meet on Randalls Island in New York City... This was the first meet that I have had since indoor season, and with only two jump sessions to get ready for it.  The weather was less than ideal. . . Ok the only thing I could think of that would have been worse was a blizzard.  So bad in fact, they almost canceled the vault because our officials at the pole vault pit felt it was to unsafe. . . BUT they were shot down by the head official of the meet.  So with the meet still rolling and the unsafe conditions, I was very proud of myself for jumping off the ground almost every single time, from my full approach.  I may have not cleared the bar, but as you can see in the video below it was not lack of height!

It feels great to be back, and I am very very excited that the mental training I have been working so hard on  with my Sports Psychologist is coming together! One of the hardest things in pole vaulting is mentally getting over the fear of injury.  Coming back from this last injury has been a long hard fought battle, but thanks to my coach and team of Therapists I am finally able to jump again!!! And man it feels good!

I am hoping to jump this coming up Thursday here at the OTC Meet but it will all depend on how the foot feels.  Next Sunday is the National Championships in Eugene, Oregon and I want to be fully prepared to go in and make the US Team in order to compete at World Championships in Daegu, Korea at the end of August!!!

Thank you to everyone who continues cheering me on , I strive to make you proud!

INSPIRATION

Living at the Olympic Training Center, I have seen my fair share of amazing athletes, as well as performances.  But it wasn't until yesterday that I was a witness to something beyond extraordinary.  I had the privilege of watching one of our blind paraolympic runners get on a BMX bike and ride part of the course here at the Center.  Now, maybe I should let you know that this is a course where most people with their vision are too scared to ride. But not Lex, no King LEX walked it once, then began to riding. . . gaining speed with each pass he took.  As I stood there and watched in awe I couldn't help but think of how scary this must be for him, and the danger he was putting himself in.  But he went for it.  He didn't let the fear control him!!!

The video attached is what Arielle Martin (BMX World Cup Champion) put together.  The song playing in the background is one that Lex wrote after walking the course with Arielle This past fall.

On the right track!

After a very disappointing weekend in Boston, my coach Ty Sevin, Becky Holliday, and myself flew to Colorado Springs for the Air Force Academy Indoor Invitational this past weekend.  I was definitely ready for some redemption after my poor performance in Boston, and redemption is what I got!!! I jumped 4.51m (or about 14ft 10in)  This was a new indoor personal best for me, and only 1cm off my all time PR. This jump also put me at #2 in the US Rankings! . .  Here is the video of my 4.51m jump.

Next weekend is our National will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico where both family and friends have purchased flights to come watch me compete.  This means so much to me, and I am so excited to share that experience with them.  I have always loved vaulting with my family present, because I love the feeling of knowing that no matter what, after the meet I get to spend time with them!!!

Millrose Games

I competed this evening at the biggest indoor track meet of my career this far with a great field of 5 very competitive girls. This was my first time to New York City and I have really been looking forward to coming! The travel getting in, however, was not as exciting. With the big snow storm, all flights were delayed coming into the city. My ticket had origionally put me in at 9:30, which is pretty late the night before a meet anyway. But to make matters worse they had trouble with the plane so we didn't get into the hotel until 2:30 in the morning. Wowzer. Nonetheless I was still very excited about our hotel which was across the street from Madison Square Garden, which is where the meet was held. That in itself was a very inspiring feeling, walking into a facility that has held some of the greatest athletes of all time.

Even with a late night I was still able to get some sleep under my belt. I woke up in enough time to grab lunch/breakfast with Trey Hardee and Adam Nelson! So with food in my belly, and great conversations with good friends I was able to muster up the energy to give one of my better performances! I made each bar on my first attempt up until 4.54m or 14ft 11" about. So I walked away from the competition with a jump of 4.44m and a third place finish. Coming in right behind the #1 and #2 ranked girls in the world!!! I had a great cheering section comprised of family from Washington DC as well as some of the guys from USATF Foundation!!!

I will now try to catch up on lost sleep and get prepared to compete at the Boston Indoor New Balance Meet next Saturday!

Millrose

I am very excited to announce that I have been invited to jump at Millrose at the Square Gardens in New York on the 28th of January!!! I am very happy with this for multiple reasons. . .One being that I have never been to New York City before!!! I know that, coming from Montana, I may be a tad overwhelmed with the number of people. Nonetheless I am looking forward to seeing it all for the first time!!!  Oh yeah and I am of course excited to be vaulting at such a prestigious meet.

If I can make it happen, I am going to try to fly into Maryland in order to talk to some high school athletes at the school that my cousin attends.  That way I would get to see my family on the East Coast, and get a chance to share my experiences with some kids getting ready to head off to college.  Talk about a great trip. . . I will keep my fingers crossed that the timing works out!  It gets extremely hard when competition rolls around, to be able to commit to pretty much anything.  So all I can do is tell it to the agent, and hope that we can make it happen.

Other than that, first day of long run happen today. . .  I am very please that even on the first day the things I have been working on in my short approach are showing up!!!

I willingly admit that I have not been the best about updating my blog on my website. . . I am going to go ahead and blame it on the fact that I don't always have my computer with me, which was the only way I was able to get on and make changes.  By changing to Blogger I am now able to update it from my phone, and I tend to ALWAYS have my phone on me!!! I will start competing starting in January, and I plan on doing very well this season! My New Years Resolution is to be more consistent at posting more about both competing and training.

Training has been going amazing so far.  I am just finishing up Block 3 (A block consists of 4 weeks of training) Week 3, and I am pleased to say that my testing has increased every single block.  For instance, we have been recording the power output of my behind the neck jerks for the past 2 blocks, and Thursdays weights I recorded my highest numbers BY FAR!!!  This increase in power is showing up both in my vertical jumps testing, as well as in my actual pole vault practices.  I am loving the confidence I am gaining from this progress, and look forward to feeling that confidence carry over to my competitions!!!

Here is my practice from Yesterday. . . My second practice from 6 lefts! (You will have to be a little patient, as it was filmed in slow motion :)

Thought Provoking Statements

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

There is great need for a sarcasm font.

How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Map Quest really needs to start their directions on I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the Person died.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. Bad decisions make good stories.

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this- ever.

I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Even when opportunity knocks, you still have to get off your hindquarters and open the door.