new "old guy"

[stevieray]

Hello Pole benders....new guy on the block....but a now official "old guy". Just hit 50 two weeks ago and want to jump again and I haven't vaulted since I was 21....yikes!!! Anyone on this site in the Ventura County area that knows of a Masters Track team or a place for a clinic for geezers? I know about Anthony Curran and Jan Johnson...so no need to mention those....but I was just wondering and wanted to ask.

Also....I have a 13 year old son who wants to start vaulting.....any advice from anyone here?

Thanks for anything anyone has....StevieRay

[souleman]

Back in January of '06 my good friend Bob Banagel contacted Bubba and me with the same questions that you have. Here is the e-mail I sent to him.
As Bubba said to me after my first e-mail to him..."WELCOME BACK
BROTHA". First of all, at this point, don't worry (much) about the
weight. I started my comeback at between 165 and 170, I've been
working at this for over a year and guess what? I'm still 163 to
168. This coming season will tell me if I have replaced fat with
muscle or not so don't worry about it, it will take care of it's
self. Next and this is probably the biggest piece of advise that
either Bubba or I can give you. You have an 18 year old brain
sitting on top of that 60 year old body. So keep in mind a
percentage number, and that number or number range is 60% to 70%. A
60% to 70% effort in your melon will be a full 100% on those old
bones of yours. Our goal is to train over time to a point where we
can hopefully raise that number 10% or 15%. Find a workout
facility. Just recently in my town of Wyoming, MN they put in a no
frills franchise gym called Snap Fitness. It's $30 a month and it's
open 24/7. The key thing I think is to have that gym be very close to your home. As I
said, it's a mile from my house so I can go up, do my workout and
be home in an hour. I started out using a home trainer called a
Body By Jake total body trainer. $200 and it is a great piece of
machinery and equipment. Trouble with it is, I couldn't work on the
areas of my body where I got hurt last season. That's why I'm
saying if you can get to a basic gym I would favor that. Bubba has
a great gym in his garage so he might disagree with me on that one.
Once you have a work out facility lined up then Bubba and I will
get you started with a routine that's "Old Fart" vault specific.
Now for the good news. Plan on jumping this summer! No matter how
good or bad you are, keep in mind you are going to be competing
against yourself and other geezers your age. So, they'll probably
be starting at 6' 7' feet (don't laugh, you'll be surprised how
high that will look the first time you try it). Point is, estimate
when you can go jump (for your first time trying to get off the ground) when you
start working out and then go jump. After you've been totally
humbled and exhilarated at the same time from that first day of
getting off the ground, then look at the local USATF meet schedule
and pick a meet to go jump at. You don't want to wait "till you're
totally ready" to go jump. As good or bad as it will be, go jump.
That will be your reward for all of the hours in the gym, on a
bicycle, eating right and counting calories etc. Once again I will
remind you, 60% or 70% effort TOPS. I hope this will get you
started. Later...........Mike

[2-15-46]

yep I remember the letter that Mike sent and folowed his advice.... 30 lbs lighter now..... on 4 M Essx poles 180 thru 195s, speed and strength are up and still plug a way every day...... trying to get technically better...still have some old habits to break................keep plugging and keep your legs strong and limber, baby steps.....

signed
a 62 yr old UFO

[stevieray]

Gracias for the encouragement guys.....it's very appreciated. Hopefully someone here reading on this board will be in my area and know of a place for me to jump.....I hope, I hope!!! I have been perusing vaulting pole sites and they cost a few bones...eh? Looks like a quiver might not be in the near future. I jumped on an assortment of poles in my day.....mostly favored SkyPoles....but that was then. Pacers were new then, but felt a bit mushy to me.....but I was very fast in my day......9.5 100 yd dash.......so I jumped a heavier weight for me and got some good spring out of that, I also only weighed around 150 instead of the 195 I am currently sporting around. Times change...no? I think my fave was the old green Cata-Pole, a fifteen footer if I remember correctly.
So gents, thanks again.....this should be an interesting ride.
I played tackle football this year on a local public safety team (I'm a FF) and had a blast, but pulled an Achilles in the last game of the season. I proved my point to myself and won't be playing football anymore, haha!!
Hopefully I will shed some lbs and start getting some good heights...that would be a stoker for sure. Keep on jumping!!!!
StevieRay

[souleman]

Fill out your profile on this forum. That helps put a locater on you for those who might like some company vaulting. Read "bending again's" thread and see if he's close to you. Good luck and don't forget about the 60% to 70% deal. Later............Mike

[Bubba PV]

Welcome back - we've been waiting for you!! You should have no problem near Ventura County. Good advice by the boys. Mike - "bending again" is way far north east and in the mountains. Fantastic skiing there!! Bubba

[stevieray]

Souleman.....where do I find the profile link to fillout?

[stevieray]

Oops....I found it....I'm a bit of door knob sometimes with computers. I am mostly an analog guy in a digital world, haha!!

[vaultmd]

I notice you are a firefighter in southern CA. Ever cross paths with Casey Carrigan?

[stevieray]

Who does he work for? There are quite a few of us here on the job in SoCal. I work for Ventura County FD if that helps and his name doesn't sound familiar, just fyi.

[rainbowgirl28]

Who does he work for? There are quite a few of us here on the job in SoCal. I work for Ventura County FD if that helps and his name doesn't sound familiar, just fyi.

According to an article from 2004 he was captain of the Long Beach Fire Department.

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Contact BJ. He is in your area or nearby and would probably be able to direct you to the nearest "Old Guy" coach. He is on this board as bjvando..