To lose weight or to gain muscle, that is the question.

[guthrie]

So my question is, for vaulters, is it better to be really light or to be really strong because theres a girl who vaults at my club whos 14 years old and tiny and she fly's above the bar with total ease, or is it better to have more muscle, because I feel heavy when i jump, like it requires all this effort to even get off the ground (but i'm 5ft 7 and 123 pounds). I looked at Yelena Isinbayeva nad it says she 5ft7 but 140 pounds. What gives?

Catherine

[nitro]

id say you have to find a happy medium because the stronger someone is the bigger pole they could possibly get on but if they get stronger and bulk up too much they will get slower and not be able to get on those bigger poles

[powerplant42]

It's really WHICH muscles you work. I mean, powerful forearms and ripped biceps are really no good to a vaulter (unless your pole is as heavy as it's weight rating). The muscle groups that vaulters should work on include abs, shoulders, and legs. All the other stuff should be tone, but they aren't too important in the vault. It'll definitely slow you down, and make you use poles that you might not be ready for yet.

[guthrie]

Ok thanks for the posts guys. I'm also wondering if I should try and lose any weight though because I am really fit and lean but i feel so heavy when i run and jump. My running coach even told me i ''run heavy'' which i know doesnt mean i'm fat by any standards but does this mean if i weighed a bit less it would fix the problem?

[Rhino]

Work on plyometrics, bounding--minimizing ground contact time when you run.

[master]

Ok thanks for the posts guys. I'm also wondering if I should try and lose any weight though because I am really fit and lean but i feel so heavy when i run and jump. My running coach even told me i ''run heavy'' which i know doesnt mean i'm fat by any standards but does this mean if i weighed a bit less it would fix the problem?

You shouldn't need to loose weight. Your weight for your height is just fine. Core strength is very important to the vault, as well as balance. Work on those. Neither of these improvements will add much weight if any. Ask your coach what he means by "run heavy". He should be able to explain it to you in terms of what you should do differently. Then go out and work on those technique differences doing pole runs on the track. Perhaps this analogy will make sense. Some women have great posture and grace just walking. Others don't. I would contend that those who do didn't come by that naturally, they had to be taught how and practice. Only then did it become natural and effortless.

When you watch most elite vaulters it appears they do everything effortlessly. Of course it isn't effortless, it only looks that way because they have mastered proper form and technique, and have developed the body strength and balance to perform the required skills.

As you build core strength and balance, and develop proper form and technique in your run, pole carry and plant your vaulting will improve. Then it will become more apparent what muscle development will facilitate improvement in your vault. Of course along with this development, your coach will be able to provide you with advice on technique of the actual vault.

- master

[powerplant42]

I completely agree. What your coach most likely means by 'running heavy' is that you put your weight on your feet. Now what I mean by that, is that each step should not be a 'bounce' action, rather a 'claw' action; your heel should never touch the ground during your run (except on the last two steps which are completely different). Do sprint mechanic drills to help reinforce dorso-flexion and clawing at the ground. And no, losing weight would not really help this.

[AVC Coach]

You want to be as strong and powerful as you can be for your size.

I hear vaulters talking about gaining weight so they can get on bigger poles and I laugh. It's all relative. A pole rated 50lbs. over your weight is going to return the same amount of energy regardless of whether you weigh 120 or 180.

[vault3rb0y]

I see very athletic looking guys, skinny but strong, who cant vault because they dont use their wieght to their advantage. Then sometimes i see a vaulter with a little pudge but a real skip in their step, that end up doing their vault very well. If you train hard and eat right, and work on the mechanics of the vault, your body will be just fine and might adjust a little to where it needs to be.

[fx]

A pole rated 50lbs. over your weight is going to return the same amount of energy regardless of whether you weigh 120 or 180.

Actually I think it would be better to be 120 than 180. By percent, the 50 pounds over is more significant to the 120 pound person. So overall, I think added weight could be good or bad, depending on the rate your strenght increases with more weight.

[vault3rb0y]

I think added weight could be good or bad, depending on the rate your strenght increases with more weight.

I think that sums it up the best.

[powerplant42]

A very interesting point by fx... I've never thought about it that way. Has anybody got the know-how to do an experiment with this?