Looking Back & Looking Forward

[Bubba PV]

First let me say I’m bored terribly this time of year because nothing major is going on except training. With that said, I look forward to 2009 as it will be my 20th year back in vaulting. After retiring from the elite levels in 1978, those 11 years off took a real toll on me. Through my Wall Straight days of overwork and over stress, I managed to gain 70 pounds and was horribly out of shape. MAN was I hurt a lot in the early days.

Unlike my training partner, Don Curry, who came back at 49 (now 52) and has won a medal at every national meet he’s been to, I didn’t get my first one until 1997 when I won Indoor Nationals and got 3rd at the World Championships in South Africa. Two Achilles surgeries kept me out, and then retired me, then brought me back but I lost 2001-5 during that process. Sure seems like a long climb and struggle back up since 2005 but it makes me reflect more positively on the challenges this 20 years have brought.

No matter where you are in your comeback, enjoy the journey, the process, the learning and the friendships. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. Have a great off season and then 2009!! I’m really looking forward to my 20th. Bubba

[souleman]

Nice reflection Bubba. I often wonder why I won't "let this go". As most know, this year was a total wash for me. Yet, I'm hoping to reach a point to where I can return "full steam ahead". It seems that each day the arthritis finds a new place to rear it's ugly head but I know the only way to put it in it's place is to make those joints move. Until the next surgery on the foot my left leg is virtually useless yet I keep telling myself that "someday" it will work again and I will be able to get back to pre-injury form. Even if that never occurs the one thing that this event and "journey" provides is hope and a reason to at least try and to "look forward". Later..............Mike

[Bubba PV]

I totally understand Mike. Meeting you is one of the best things to happen on this journey. For that matter we all have to thank Becca for many similar stories.

Don had a real struggle with injuries this year too. Glad to have him back out there jumping with me all of the time. All the best!! Bubba

[vaultwest]

Bubba and Mike
Great posts. I too am impatiently looking forward to the upcoming season, while training my butt off right now and wondering if my bad left foot will allow me to climb back up to the level I was at a couple of years ago. Each year does get harder to hold it all together and one can wonder why in the hell we still try and vault. I know for me it can best be summed up by my own motto "I vault, therefore I am". Anyway, I have been vaulting now for 43 consecutive years and I hope to add on at least another 30 before I am done. My new plan for this year is to vault goofy footed. Got it started last year and I was starting to make it work when a right hamstring injury shelved that strategy so by the time I got to nationals I had to vault off of my left foot and that just didn't go well, so I know my foot will only be able to handle sprinting and not jumping thus I am determined to make goofy footed vaulting work for me. My lifting and running workouts this fall are the best I have done in 3 or 4 years so I am once again very excited to start vaulting in December. I look forward to seeing all of my very good vaulting buddies throughout the masters track meet scene. I am also super pumped up about the 2010 indoor world championships in Kamloops BC. I will have just turned 55 so I will be the young guy on the block and I hope to be able to compete for a medal. Isn't master's vaulting just the best thing ever.
Vault On

[Russ]

You guys are the best. Keep up the great attitudes!

In 2002 I came back after a 27 year break. My first couple of years back went pretty well (in my late 40's). I made 11'00" several times in competition. In 2005 and 2006 I managed to sustain injuries that have slowed me down. So I'm now putting more energy into coaching and writing, and less into my own jumping. I continue to run, cycle, NordicTrack & lift, hoping to keep my body in shape so that I can sneak onto the runway occasionally. For me it's a hip flexor (arthritis?) that continues to hold me back.

I hope to see you all in Reno & maybe at Indoor Nationals.

All the best,

[Bubba PV]

Dan, you and Russ are great examples of what is right with our sport!! Wouldn't be the same without you and guys/gals like you!! Bubba