Making Progress

Things are beginning to really look up. I am starting to run good times again in my workouts. Finally, starting to be at the head of the pack. Its nice not being in the back and chasing but rather being chased. The coach is starting to show a real interest in my vaulting and is starting to have big dreams for me. I am really beginning to get excited. I am still struggling with my pole selection. I have been having to make almost 20 pound jumps to go to the next pole. I guess colleges don't really invest a whole lot in their inventory for a 5'7 135 pound pole vaulter. However, I have been working with one of my nutrition professors to gain weight and to become leaner. But despite all odds I am going to be the best pole vaulter and I am not about to give that up any time soon.

Back to my practices they have been going really well despite last week. I was struggling since it was my first day back at a competition step. I had blown threw all my poles and had to make a huge jump and was really getting discouraged being rejected every other jump. Nevertheless, victory was mine. I came back this week determined to make that pole my bitch, and yesterday I was rolling threw beautifully. Still haven't done a full vault on the pole, but am determined to get past this little bump in the road. Because I have been kicking my butt insistently and a pole is not about to stop me any time soon. This weekend is an in house competition and I want to win it so I have to really have a thoughtful and productive practice tomorrow. Also, season starts officially next week and I can't wait I am really excited to see what I will do this year with my vaulting and seeing where all my teammates are going to go. Weeks are flying by I hopefully they slow down once season begins. Its always going to be one step at a time though.

Looking up

Self doubt can be a vaulters biggest enemy. It creates a dark shroud that blinds a vaulters ability of knowing what he or she is good at.  I have been second guessing everything I have been doing on the runway. But finally I had a break threw yesterday during practice. I have worked on my biggest problem which is head position. I have been having a very low take off. But yesterday was the first time I got a high plant with a good head position. The take off felt like I was cutting threw butter. It is crazy how just changing one thing can change your entire vault. Along with that I have been improving on all my running my times for some of our intervals has dropped by a second or so at a time. So it is exciting to see things are finally starting to come together a little bit. I am excited for season to finally begin and hopefully I will be moving my step back to a full approach and I finally can get onto a bigger pole. Just taking one step at a time and trying to stay patient.

Grip it and Rip it

Today was my first official day back to pole vaulting. I started off small on a short run on a 2 step it was great. Got in some good jumps from a 2 and then pushed back to a 5. Which was kind of cool. I haven't done any real jumping for a little over 2 and half months. I am really struggling with my trail leg I can't get it to swing when I vault it has been just tucking which is a pain in the butt. I am getting to a good position for how little I am doing to get there. Once I get my trail leg to actually swing and put some energy into the pole I will begin to jump a lot better and higher. Bur for now I am stuck where I am at and am really limited but I don't know exactly how to fix it. All I can think of doing is just do a lot of bar work. But according to the coach I could clear my PR today if I went up a pole from a 5 step and just coming back from a broken hand and 2 month vacation from vaulting. Which was a great confidence booster. I can not wait to jump again. I am trying to jump at an indoor on this coming Saturday, I am planning on going from a 5 step there as well, I am not really ready for a full approach so I think something short and easy to control would be a good idea. Also, today was my first real day back to lifting, which felt great. It felt like I was shaking off the rust but its time for me to begin to get serious about my lifting. Especially, if I want to go to nationals and after being contacted by the Indian Track Athletic director saying to contact him after I clear 5 meters. Things are starting to look up I just need to make sure that I am smart with treating my finger. It is exciting to see things are finally starting to come together a little bit. Now all I can do is just keep working towards my goals on day at a time. I just wish I was able to get other advise that would help me with understanding on what I can do to fix things other than keep rotating. It just isn't clicking in my mind, I get what to do but my mind isn't comprehending it so that my body can do it. So hopefully things will come together a little better on Saturday.

One step at a time.

Resolutions

For the past 21 years of my life I have started the new year in the same manner. At the temple I spent the the last 4 hours of 2011. It is the perfect way to step into the new year. Within gods presence and in the presence of great friends and family. At the beginning of every year everyone makes promises and wishes for something for the new year but this year I am going to take a different approach. This year I am going to be thankful for the things I have and can do.
2011 was a great year with a lot of great memories. I am thankful all the great people in my life. These new friends that I have built memories with that will last a life time. As well as bonds that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. Also, I am thankful for this wonderful life I have, that is full of no worries about money, health, or food. What more can I ask for?? I have a easy life that is full of great people, that love and care for me. One of the things that I am most great full for is being able to do the thing I love to do, Pole Vault. So all I can want is living life the way I am and keeping the things I love and have in my life.
All I can ask for is the success of people that truly deserve it. Those who try their hardest and put their best foot forward.

Cleared

Today, was a fun yet interesting day. It is crazy to see how quickly things can change. Woke up early this morning to get to the doctors on time, expecting to hit work hour traffic I got there traffic free and an hour early. Surprisingly was seen instantly and in and out with in 45 minutes with a clearance to practice again. Of course its a slow process, limited to short runs with super small poles. But it is still great to know that I can start up again. It has been horrible being sidelined while all my teammates are jumping and just passing me by. So it was a breath of fresh air, being given the green light. 
I haven't been able to do any type of vaulting for 2 months and in a day I was able to pick up a pole and jump again. It may not have been anything impressive, embarrassing at most, but it was still jumping. Went to one of the local JC's to go jump with a buddy. I have never been that amped and nervous at the same time. I can still remember that first plant when the pole just bent right in front of me and it felt great. It reminded me why I feel in love with this sport. Being air born and just feeling destressed. It was one of the first practices where it was just fun and nothing else really mattered. I was there just to enjoy myself. Even though I was stuck at a 2 left because of pole limitations. It didn't matter to me I was back on the runway carrying fiber glass and best of all JUMPING. 

One Step At A Time

Look Whos Back!

Today was a great day, I have not done any type of activity that involved my left hand, since I broke it. But today was a new day I woke up motivated to try some hand stands and hand walking. It was a success. I held a hand stand for over a minute today and it felt great. I swear breaking my hand is probably the best thing that could have happened to me. I guess its true you really can't appreciate something until its gone. I can not wait to get back into the gymnastics gym. I have been looking up cool new things to learn on the floor, along with tones of new drills to try on the bars. But we will see how soon I can return to hanging from bars after my follow up appointment with my surgeon and my physical therapist.
Either way I can not wait to get a pole vault pole back into my hands. I emailed my coach today and we are meet on the 2nd for practice. I can not even wait to start jumping again and try all the new ideas I have in mind. I have been watching vault videos and comparing and contrasting to mine, my first step towards success will be to get my foot down at take off and really hitting the pole rather than letting it do all the work. I need to start really moving that pole and keep moving it rather than just getting picked up and letting it fling me. I am able to get to vertical well but if I start working "against" the pole I will be able to get to vertical earlier, putting me in a better position to come off the top with higher peek height. But first things first, seeing if I can even bend a pole. Hopefully, in little less than a week I will be able to. "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

One Step At A Time.

Baby Steps

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God...There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

Why do anything halfheartedly I am diving in with both feet. My journey of two destinations begins today.
Every step I take forward I feel like I am taking two steps back. Coming back home not being able to get to a track, even just wearing this splint and not being able to lift. But all I can do is stay patient and keep my eye on the prize. By keeping negative thoughts in mind it just sets me back that much more. That is why I have decided I can do it. Why not? If others can do it why can't I? What makes them so special? I am putting my money in the bank. It is time to stop making excuses and making it happen.

“A vision without a plan is just a dream. A plan without a vision is just drudgery. But a vision with a plan can change the world.” The vision is there and now it is time to make the plan. Every week I have been poisoning myself just to have a great time with some friends. But why can't I have just as good as of a time without killing myself a little bit at a time. So first step is when I return to school I will not be drinking. College is a once in a life time experience, so I am limiting it to season. You are what you eat, so an improvement in diet. No more eating out as well as having a well balanced diet. No regrets, so doing all my workouts to the best of my ability and going above and beyond that on my own. Keeping up with my pre-bedtime workouts, push ups and core. Each days is a new beginning and each day needs its own vision, setting daily along with weekly goals. Finally, get onto a longer pole. No more excuses time to just do it there is nothing to fear but fear itself. You always have to begin from some where, some shine early and some take time. But I am done waiting its time.

One step at a time-Pardeep