video: U of I PV: 9/24 Pole Runs

Will, Jackie, Kaitlin, Josh working on pole runs. Day 2 of pole drills. 10x50m Pole Carry

Videos from 6/5, Meet #4

This should have been my first jump but more technically sound.
15' 16.5 14'8" grip
7 Lefts 101.5"


I know its only 5m but its my highest jump this year and my highest jump from 7 Lefts in a meet. I love positives.
15' 16.1 14'8" grip
7 Lefts 102'...

I am really opening up the plants I like the look and feel, but I want to get more pop.



Gill Meet #3
LATE LATE LATE
15' 16.1 14'8" grip
7 Lefts 101.5"

I think it was Halo in the background throwing me off

Videos from 5/29, Meet #3

6 Lefts from 86' 14'3" grip on 14'6" 15.9 Very little bend


6 Lefts from 86' 14'3" grip on 14'6" 15.9 Very little bend again


7 Lefts from 101' 14'6" grip on 14'6" 14.8


7 Lefts from 101' 14'6" grip on 14'6" 14.1


7 Lefts from 101' 14'6" grip on 14'6" 14.1

My second meet...

The first Friday Night Open at Gill was last Friday.
We had great conditions, but most people didn't make the most of them. I did okay. I came in wanting to set a personal best from 6 lefts (higher than 5m), more specifically 5.20m. I jumped 4.85 with one good look at 5m.

I came into the meet looking to stay relaxed and focused on my technique. The first jump of the day was at 4.55m...i jumped it on a 14'6" 15.3...smoked it, I'm looking for the video still.

This is 4.70m...

85.5' from 6lefts
14'3" grip on 15' 17.9

4.85m

86' from 6 lefts
14'6" grip on 15' 17.6


86' from 6 lefts
14'6" grip on a 15' 17.0
Lesson: You have to keep the hands moving thru the take off...I paused for a second to catch up and my inversion suffered...still had decent ht. needed to finish this jump better.

Moving back to 7 lefts this week. We have some serious competitors coming to our little open meet series. Peep the entries for this Friday: http://www.pvelite.net/gillvaultseries/2009-05-29/registered.html

4.15m from 3 Lefts

I have received some criticism from people about how many steps I'm taking. For clarification purposes...I don't count my first left I step to because I'm not running I'm walking back into my first right. Call it what you want but for consistency sake I'll keep counting it the way I do.

Check the video of a new 3 Left PR (6 Inches better than last year.

Enjoy.

More Video from 3 Lefts

This was a jump from 2/27: My first day back on a pole. Looks like I forgot a lot of bad habits. This jump looks a lot smoother than it felt.

In this video I jumped a 13' 15.6
Improvements since then: Jumped a 13' 15.6 from 2 lefts on 3/3 and a 13'6" 16.0 from 3 lefts on 3/10 (equals a 13' 13.5 from 3).

2.5: A Slow and Safe Return.

Wow. It has been 2 months since my last training log update. That is mostly attributed to the fact that I have not been training. Well not running and jumping. Still busting my butt in physical therapy. My current weekly workout (based on doctor's recommendations) Short run vault once a week with a lift after, run a workout once a week with a lift after, left upper body and work the core one day on the weekend. I'm waiting on some better orthotics before increasing the volume. I got fitted at Heel to Toe in Urbana. I was very impressed with the service there and waiting to see the final products. I am confident that this will relieve the discomfort I am having and allow me to get in a full 2 months of base and speed work, before tackling the outdoor season. I am hoping to compete in late April, early May. But that will depend on my recovery of course. Great coaching advice: "Listen to your body."

I am getting very excited by the current state vault. I feel like the heat is back on from a lot of my friends. Everyone seems to be jumping well this year. I am proud of all the guys who already PR'd this year and those who are consistently jumping at a high level. I really feel like this will be a great year for a lot of people including myself.

Check out my video from 3 lefts.

I am still working out some technical/timing issues, but feeling much more confident than before and ready to start moving the step back once I get cleared.

Steve Hooker 6.16 Attempts

Wow.

2.4: After a long wait...

It's simple. My Achilles had hampered my performance as of late. My lack of flexibility was causing me to keep undue stress on the tendon's medial side. With some great therapy from the people at Carle Sports Medicine, I have gained more flexibility and have more range of motion with less pain. Up until Monday, I was at about 75% of full speed when running and about 60% of full speed on the runway. I have started taking things easier to help the rehabilitation along, and things are looking up. Had a decent day from 4 lefts today. If finally started to get some steps outside of 10'. My biggest issue has been the ability and confidence to take of out with the weaker penultimate step. Today I made some major improvements in my confidence in the last Left-Right-Left phase into the take off.
Video:


I also got in a light leg lifting session, in my new weight room. This is a much needed addition to my training right now. At a time when its hard to get in a decent sprint workout out, it is good to be able to still work my legs without over-working my Achilles.
Video:

2.1- September Wrap-Up

The first month of work is a wrap. So far I am stronger, but with the addition of 3-day-a-week lifting, I have struggled in some of the early season running workouts. The biggest challenge is to become comfortable with 8-10 workouts a week, as opposed to 5-7. We are not vaulting yet...just running and lifting with the occasional technique day. Check the links on the top right to see the workout schedule. I will have weight lifting workouts added soon. According to a recent survey most people are checking in weekly, so am going to challenge myself to update weekly, but in this part of the season there is not much interesting going on, or I'm too sore to sit up and type for 15 minutes. Not Really.

Gill Weave Video Shoot:
I have a new found respect for any pole vaulter who has ever shot a commercial, video or any other type of vaulting work in front of a camera. This is my second video shoot. The first one is super-top-secret and will be hitting a cable TV near you in the near future. The second one can be found at the WEAVE website. First of all, the videos are very demanding and they leave about %50+ of your jump footage on the cutting room floor. Further, you have to take several repetitive jumps, while maintaining consistency within the time constraints. The weave video shoot was really tough because I am in the middle of preseason training and I was definitely not ready to pole vault, especially since I got absolutely killed in the weight room on Thursday of that week. So after of two days of "rest" I was at more sorest point after my first lift of the season. Nonetheless, it would have still amounted to a decent day from 4 lefts, minus the top end. You can see in the one full jump shown that I look real lazy on the top of the jump. I was a pretty sore. I never really realized how much of my upper body I use to get inverted. Being really fatigued that day showed some promise. The strength I lacked that day is being built in the weight room as we speak. Furthermore, I noticed how much more inversion I could get by using my swing as opposed to just muscling my self up. Well check out the video, buy Carbon Weave Poles if you are ready for them. Be on the look out for more videos from Gill.

PV Practice 5/21/08

A real confidence booster.
I jumped from 4 and 5 lefts.

4L 57'/ 14'6" 19.3
5L 71'/ 15' 18.9/17.9
14'6" Grip
Bungee at 5m and 5.2m


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZJK90G5U8g

WOW...Illinois Twilight 4/30

Okay first things first...Mark Hollis is ready. Came out today with decent weather and nice tailwind and he lit the U of I track up. 17'6" first attempt, 18'2" first attempt, 18'5" first attempt, 18'10" first attempt, and to boot some great attempts at 19'...ALL FROM 8 LEFTS. I am very excited for him, he deserves a lot of credit check his videos below.

As for me, I can't lie it looked like another bad day was in the cards. I struggled to get a smooth run together in warm-ups...and I almost put myself out of it, BEFORE the meet started. But the one thing I can say I did well- I competed. When the bar went up to 16' I put the pole in the box and started rocking. All in all, it was a pretty ugly day, and to end up with a 5.15m clearance was impressive for me. Let's walk through it:
-4.90: Still a little choppy on the run, mid was under and takeoff was cramped in at 10'9", but I held on to one put a so/so swing on it and hit 4.90 on the first try. The grip was low- 14'5" on 15' 17.1
-5.05: Made a small tweak moved back 6" and moved up 2 fingers (just like a practice), mid was under again, but the take off was closer to 11', a good adjustment, because I DESTROYED the 17.1. On the 2nd attempt moved up to the 15' 16.0, also moved up 2 fingers again, putting the grip close to 14'7"...mid was under again (probably a little over 24'), takeoff at 11' again, better takeoff position however, and a more active inversion gave me just enough hip height to squeak by the bar.
-5.15: Barely moved the grip up on this one, moved back 6 inches on the approach (to about 113'), better run, more relaxed, mid was probably close to on, take off was a toe over 12' (still under, but worked today). I didn't have the best swing, didn't really commit to the upside down position, but left the bar up after a slight chest brush.
-5.35: moved up to the 15'6" series, because I wanted to keep inching the grip up to 15'1". Well this is where I ran into problems. The first jump was on the 15'6" 17.6, gripping close to 14'8", pole was way to small for the speed and the 12' takeoff. The next two jumps were on the 17.0 gripping at 14'9". Still with these jumps the grip/bend of the pole made the timing of the jump feel rushed. This put me in terrible positions of the top of the pole. I would like to get to a 13' take off with a 15'1" grip on this series, that should move nicely for me.

If you have read the play by play you are probably thinking: How does this stack up? Where does this leave Chris with about 46 days and counting? Well its my 2nd best jump this year, my 2nd best jump outdoors (EVER) with lots of room for improvement. When you watch Hollis, it's simply amazing, but I'm just not there yet. I have to continue to be patient and run my own race. With a few weeks to work on grip height and the run rhythm the PR bar is inevitable. Be on the look out (Billy Hayes meet in a few weeks? maybe a few more home meets on the board runway??? Maybe even a trip down to Bell's?????) Who knows where, but I am ready to go...

Mark Hollis Series:


Chris Smith Series:


Jason Scott:

PV Practice 4/28/08

What a crazy day...9am 50 degrees and sunny, 12pm 45 and snowing, 3pm 50 and hailing...we set up the pits indoors, but we didn't have standards so we made a make-shift setup. Check out the pics and the video of me actually leaving the ground a few times.

Home meet on Wednesday...with a pretty strong field.

Enjoy!

8 Lefts from 113'
15' 18.5/17.8/17.6 gripping at 14'
Bungee (homemade flag bungee) at/around 16'-16'6"

#23- Run your own race...

First, I want to apologize for taking so long to post a Training Log Update. I have been traveling (to meets and back home), and it has thrown off my posting schedule.
In horse racing, the horses wear blinders on the sides of their heads to block the peripheral vision. With the blinders on the horse is free to run the perfect race without distractions. If the horse were to run without the blinders it would be frightened or distracted by the adjacent horses. I feel like up to this point I had run a strong race. I was a little of the pace indoors, when March came I picked up a few strides (getting back in the weight room), April came and once again I faltered thanks to the unpredictable weather. But May is upon us, and with over 250 days of preparation behind me I am poised to make a strong charge from the back of the field. Without my blinders on I would be distracted by the great performances around me (Mark Hollis = 5.71 and Erin Asay = 4.60, check the videos on YouTube). As happy as I am to see two young vaulters make breakthroughs, am just as confident that my breakthrough is soon to come. A few things that have hampered my progress this spring: small nagging leg injuries, the WEATHER and most of all--MY BRAIN.


I went to the Stan Lyons meet at IUPUI on Saturday, April 26, and had a wake-up call. There was a pretty strong crosswind and I kept trying to adjust to the conditions. The meet began and I had not taken up a jump. First jump- run through again, Second jump- blow through, and Third jump- another big blow through with some big height. I finally learned that the wind/weather doesn’t affect you as much as you think it does. With all that said, I have a few more chances to qualify. Trying to stay healthy and staying limber has become a daily job, but these are the most important factors to my overall performances at this point.

Workouts-
4/1- 10 Min Run; Lift- Snatch 3x6 95, 115, 115; 2x100m, 2x75m, 8x50 resistance, 4x75
4/2- Moved outside- Vault 4L 55', 14' 18.4, 13' Grip
4/3- Lift Bench 135 12, 10, 8, Front Squates @ 105 3x10, Upp Body Circuit; 2x100m, 6xOverspeed, 6xResistance, 4x75m
4/4- Pre-Meet anbd Travel (late travel 11pm-3am, bad planning)
4/5- Oliver Nikoloff Meet (Cincinnati)6 Lefts 85', 14'6" 15.3/14.8, 4.75m
4/7- Vault Day- Very windy 4 Lefts 55', 14' 18.4, 13' Grip
4/8- 10x50m Pole Runs, 4x50m Resistance, 4x75m
4/9- 2x50m, 8x50 Pole Runs w/ Resistnace, 2x50m
4/10- OFF Soreness
4/11- Vault Day- 3L 41' 13' 15.6 Short pole for height
4/14- Vault Day- 6L (did nothing but run from 86') 3L 41' 14' 18.1/17.6
4/15- 2x150m, 4x100m, 6x50; Lift 4UP/LO Body Circuit x3
4/16- Vault 8 Left at GILL (Boards Plus 25+mph Tailwind= bad results), Overshot the pit on 15' 17.5 (only took one jump)
4/17- Vault at Gill 5 Lefts 70.5', 14'6" 16.3/15.3
4/18-4/19- Travel and Officiated All-Ohio Champs
4/21- Vault Day- 8 LEfts 111' 15' 17.9/17.6 Bungee at 5.40m
4/22- Slide Box x8; 4x (30, 30, 60, 90) and Abs
4/23- Vault Day- 6 Lefts another bad day 84', 15' 19.2
4/24- Pre Meet
4/25- Did not compete, another pre meet
4/26- Stan Lyons NH- Ran thru all my jumps except #2 and #3 at 15-7 jumped on 15' 17.9/17.1
4/28- Vault Day- 8 Lefts 113', 15' 17.9/17.6
4/29- Pre Meet
4/30- U of I Meet- 3rd Place 5.15m on 15' 16.1 14'6" grip Ran from 8 Lefts 113.5' take offs under
5/1- 15 min run and stretch
5/2- OFF, Travel

jumpchrisjump.com

First go to jumpchrisjump.com and download the Lifetime best videos, because they will get replaced soon.

Thanks to Kevin DiNardo for "facebooking" me and sending me the videos. This was three years ago and oddly I have never seen my best jump. I was reluctant and nervous at first, but after I watched it...I wasn't impressed. Hmmm. I wasn't really impressed when I did it either. But after not jumping within 6 inches of that height in 3+ plus years, this phantom video that has eluded me for so long, seems to be some sort of weird sign. TIME TO GET A NEW PR. Thanks...O and tell me what you think.

Quick Update from Cincinnati

Wasn't 100% satisfied, but had some decent height at 4.75m, would've liked to have pr'd at 5.05m. Next meet 4/25.

-Shout out to Shane Shockey from Cincinnati for beating me and breaking the UC Freshman record (also qualified for regionals).
Check the video after the break...



6 Lefts, 84.5'
14'6" 14.8, 14'5" Grip
4.75o / 4.90x

p.s. sorry about the video quality i need to find a new way to host my vids...any suggestions out there?

Video from 4/2/08

First vault day outside since August.

4 Lefts, 54', 14'0 18.4, 13'2" Grip, a little cold out, the bungee was up but I wasn't jumping the height. My last two jumps felt pretty awkward, but looked a lot cleaner.

Stay tuned for the results from Cincinnati this Saturday. I plan jumping 14'6" poles from 6-7 Lefts...Packed in the bag I have 17.8-13.8 it could be interesting... goal from 6, 16-6 goal from 7, 17-3...supposed to get some good weather, wish me luck.

P.S. Here is the visitor data since November, I expected Ohio and Illinois to be at the top, but I am suprised at some of the other states logging-on. Let me know where you are visiting from. Thanks.

More Vaulting for Distance 3/10/08

3 Lefts, 43', 13'6" 19.1, 12' Grip

#20- “We’re Halfway There…”

Actually we’re unofficially halfway there. I already touched on the overall indoor season performance, and it’s fair to say the performance was lackadaisical (in terms of what I wanted to accomplish, not in terms of effort). But like always yesterdays are easily forgotten. March has already been a great month (3 days in?), I broke my first pole in 8 years during the last week of February, I was religious in the weight room, and I feel healthier already. My plan for March is to train smart and remain healthy, I want to stay in the weight room 4 days a week (1 day heavy lifts, 1 day circuit lifts,1 day off, 1 day heavy lifts, 1 day circuit lifts, and weekends off). After having gone back to some heavy volume stuff, I have felt a little out of shape. So the next few weeks, I will also focus on building some endurance. I have also committed myself to waking up and doing some sort of physical activity every morning at 6am. My goal is to do it for the next 115 days or more, just to re-align my commitment with my goals. .

Some other fun info- T-Mobile Corporate shot a video of what I was trying to do this year. The crew they sent out was great. Hopefully once the video is posted on the Internal Diversity Website, I will upload a copy to the blog. It’s awesome to have a lot of people supporting/backing me. Hopefully I can Live up to the HYPE and out-perform expectations—yours and mine.

Check out these two videos of me doing some vaulting for distance. This is preparation for perfecting my inversion on my longer runs/poles.



Workouts:
2/25- Vault Day: 7 Lefts, 99', 15' 17.1/16.5, Cleared Bar @ 5.00m from 7 Lefts; Moved in to 5 Lefts 69', 15'/17.9, Grip 14'3"
2/26- Lift (Squat, Cleans and Bench 3x8,7,6 and Upper Body Circuit)Pull-Ups and Abs 2/27 - Vault Day: 4 Lefts, 55.5', 14' 18.4, broke a 19.5 (first break in 8 Years), Vault for distance
2/28- Lift (Bench and Squat @ 3x6 165, Lower Body and core circuit), Med Ball Circuit (8 station and 200m) x 4
2/29- AM Workout (8am-10am): 6x Fast Stair Workout, Lift atfter (Heavy Bench and upper body circuit)
3/1-2- OFF
3/3- Vault Day: 3 Lefts, 43', 13'6" 19.1,12'4" Grip, Vault for distance

GVSU Part Two

Chris Smith
8 Lefts 115.5'
16' 20.8/20.0 14'10" grip
4.98xxo
5.13ppp
5.28xxx

At least I was consistent indoors, just not very good.