Training Progress

May 8:

Today is Tuesday Im off work early today, I've been watching pv videos getting ready for this evenings vault session at 5:30pm. Its that time of year in Florida where its to darn hot during the middle of the day. The evenings are beautiful, little west wind sets up perfect during that time for my favorite runway, so Im excited.

The last I wrote I was heading to LSU for their Alumni Gold meet. I've been to been going to LSU for six years now for that meet. Its a great place to jump and there is usually great weather. This year was a little different. The day we arrived it was typical bayou weather, hot muggy just like FL. But the following day, competition day, there was a huge front that moved through early morning and was still passing through a few hours still jump time. The temperature dropped about 10 degrees and the wind picked up, I knew this was going to be a good thing.

We warmed up right on schedule, runway was still wet, temperature was about 65 and the wind was pippin. Everyone was struggling a bit with their runs because of the runway and mentally checked themselves out. I enjoy this type of weather so I was smiling and ready to roll. Warm ups went ok, not the best but def enough to make me feel confident about the day. I came in at 5.09m (16'8") on my 4.90 18.4 holding 15'1", cleared on my first but almost hit it on the way up. Bar was moved to 5.21m (17'1"), I went up poles, 4.90 17.9 same grip. Came down with a little more confidence, good step 12'5" and cleared. Again almost hit it on the way up, blew through that pole. My confidence goes up and up as I move through poles that quickly so I grabbed the next stick. I used 4.90 17.6, this time I was feeling good. I moved my grip up to 15'3", this ties my grip pr. First jump at 5.31m (17'5"), I came in and floated my last step and popped up...no jump. Second attempt, good step 12'6, good jump just couldn't get my arms out of the way. Third jump I backed up 3" and brought the juice, banged a good jump and a clear. I passed 2 heights and moved to 5.46m (17'11"), all three jumps at this height were different. This happens a lot with me when the bar gets high, I start working harder doing things different and can't tame the adrenaline. But I was happy with my performance. Video.

Its been 3 weeks since then and I haven't had a chance to compete in a meet. This has given me a chance to work on some things at practice and really get my jumps ready for my next meet. I've also been messing around with my 4.75 (15'6) poles and 4.90s (16'1) to see which works best for me. I love the 4.90s because it makes things seem a lot easier when jumping at the higher bars but Im gripping down a foot so Im not getting the full use out of them. When I raise my grip I have a hard time moving that much pole into the pit because I have a softer left arm than most. On the other hand, I love my 4.75s (15'6) poles because my timing with them is right on. I can actually hold a little higher and the pole still rolls in really well. I actually had a lifetime PR this past Thursday on my 4.75s. Toward the end of practice, my good friend Denise Von Eynatten and I decided to move down poles and put the bar at 5.41m (17'9") gripped up and inch and cleared it on my first attempt! Ill flip a coin and see what I"ll take this weekend to Louisville, KY!

Olympic Trials are within a month and things are coming down to the wire. I'm in the process of rewriting my schedule for the rest of the season. Im trying to plan for meets within reasonable distance of FL and within my budget. I want to have thee best jumping conditions, competition, facilities possible to set myself up to make the qualifying mark, which is 5.50m (18'1/2"). Im feeling very confident, I have a lot of momentum, good energy n support behind me right now and I believe anything is possible! I want to thank everyone who has supported me through this journey thus far. Its not over yet, still lots of exciting things to come! I will keep you posted on this weekend and how my next few meets go. Or you can look under my schedule tab to check all results and meet videos. Theres also a link "Donate" on the site if you want to help me live this dream, food, gas, meet expenses, a motivational message, everything helps!

Thank you for you support!

Skys the limit

-Sean

April 18:

Howdy, its Wednesday April the 18th and I am hungry! Im starting dinner soon, fish, potatoes and corn on the cobe...mmm. Anyways, its been a while since Ive updated my training log or wrote down anything about it.

After indoor season I took a week off and relaxed, didnt do much of anything. I wanted to be ready for the next phase of lifting and of course outdoor season. Back in the weight room, the weight went down a bit the sets got bigger and the reps went way up. It was time to start building a mid season base to carry me through the rest of the season. Jared and I started meets immediately after indoors and the week of rest. It may of been a wrong move but we were feelin it and wanted to jump.

Our first meet was UNF, that was a fun one. Long story short, had great warm ups cleared 5.50m on my third jump down which was around 4:30pm, four hours later and thirty two jumpes later we came in to the competition and I took a NH, I was dead. So that was my outdoor opener. Going into that second meet at FIU I was feeling extremely heavy in the legs and a little tight from the new lifting. That meet didnt go as planned, we got to the meet in Miramar which is a little north of Miami. We had a head wind so we switched the pit, mid warm up the wind switched again. Of course we jumped with a head wind. I ended up jumping 5.22m (17'2") and had some good attempts at a PR. After this meet I questioned whether or not the lifting was going to work for me at this point in the season. I wanted to switch it up and try something a little different so I did. No more squats! Jumped at USF the following week, made 5.20m for the win. I'm not the type to give a list of excuses but the sun was directly in our face that evening and I was closing my eyes at take off with a little head wind, scary!

After USF we went to FSU where my legs were feeling a little better and I was starting to feel good after changing the weights again. I jumped 5.25m (17'3") for the win and had one good attempt at a PR. That was a great confidence boosting meet, felt like things were clickin!

Following that weekend, I slowly started back to the squats because I was feeling good and recovered from before. The next two meets I took a NH :/..... took another step back. By this point I started questioning what was going on? Was my training affecting my jumping that bad? Or was I overthinking everything? Not a good feeling. After the second NH I slipped into the UF Relays the next day and made a bar of 5.10m (16'9") just to get some confidence back. Def a good thing.

After UF I talked with some friends and family and decided I wanted another week off. Ive been training since September and I was def feeling it, mentally and physically so I needed to get my mind right.

That week was great! I went out in the woods, put up some deer cams, got to spend time with my family, relaxed the body and even had a beer. Exactly what I needed !

Now thats over Im ready to role!! Ive had a great week of training thus far, Saturday I entered a little..I mean little competition and almost made 5.44m (17'10.25"). I won the meet of course cause I was the only guy :0......but I had a blast to say the least. Jumped again tuesday from short approach 6L and took five jumps from 8L and made 5.30m (17'5"). Im feeling that fire again, I ve had the time off to heal physically and clear my mind with some fun time (always needed) outside of vaulting and training.

This weekend Im headed to LSU for some good competition, nice weather and some crawfish!

Feb 17:

Woah indoor season goes fast! Its the eve of our last indoor qualifier meet before indoor nationals. Its been a fun adventure so far. After VT, I headed to Notre Dame where I took another W and jumped 5.25 (17'2.75"). Followed by a 5.30 clear (17'4.75") at the Indiana Relays. Thereafter I jumped in New York at the New Balance meet clearing 5.20m (17' 3/4"). During this time I really focused on my last 3 steps going into take off. I want to be tall, last step under my hips not out in front and leading with the chest. My step was also a big focus for me, I've always had a tendency to take off under, usually around 11'6. Each of these meets I stayed anywhere from 12' to 13', most of the time it was 12'6 which is perfect. After that string of meets I took a week off from jumping and got some much needed rest. You would be surprised how much traveling will take it out of you. Once back from VT I had three days of training then four days of traveling, three days of training, four days of traveling and so on for four weeks. Makes you feel like your on some crazy ride, no time to catch up on rest. Anyways, Im rested and ready to roll. Jared and I are in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Its beautiful up here, the weather is great, nice people and the campus is pretty awesome!

This week (monday) was my first attempt at jumping from 9L or 18steps. I took about 14 jumps and only swung up 8 times but the run felt really good. Im bringing a lot of speed down the runway while working a whole lot less. Its great. Big poles to come.

Also, I had a long talk with momma dukes this past weekend about some things she has noticed in my jumps that I could touch up on. I totally agree with her, after reviewing some videos we came up with some key points I need to focus on. Can't wait to put it to work! Thanks momma. GO TIME TOMORROW!

Jan 16:

Jared and I just returned from our VT road trip! I would call it a success! We had a blast in doing so, stayed with some great friend who are natives to good ol Virginia, Pat and Tony. I want to give a special thanks to them for welcoming us into their home and feeding us some amazing home cooked meals!! Couldn't of picked a better place. (thanks Pat for turnin the heat up for the FL boy)

Starting early in the week we had some great practices on the runway, best ones in a while actually. Followed by some gymnastics and a solid run day on Weds, rested up Thursday and Friday with a little bow hunting action (no luck). We jumped on Saturday concluding with some pole PRs for the year for both of us. Jared rolled in some monster 5m sticks and I worked on some good 4.90 guys from 8L. I ended up clearing 5.32m for an indoor PR, Im pretty stoked. Jared had a monster clear at 5.07m and had an opening bar PR! Good things happend on both side. We are very comfortable and confident in where we are with our training and look forward to improvements each week. We are heading in different directions this weekend unfortunately....Jared will be competing in Reno, Nevada at the Pole Vault Summit and I will be a Notre Dame! Its meet season!

Skys-the-limit

Jan4:

Back from an awesome Christmas and Bday break! Happy New Years ya'll! I made sure I maintained my fitness and pv tech through the entire break. Im going to start spending more time working my 8L run early in the week and focus on pole and short run (4,5,6L) toward the end of the week. Monday was the second time this year jumping from 8L. Things worked really well....I took 4 jumps at 5L, everything was on. Quickly moved back and took about 12-15 jumps from my full run which was 117'. The plan is to jump from 8 indoors which will be a first ever indoor and run a 9 outdoor which I've never tried. Stoked about it!

This week were back in action. Jared and I are getting back in gear and stepping it up in the weightroom and on the track. Monday, Jan 9th we are hitting the road on our 2012 VT road trip to Blacksburg, VA for a whole week of training and our first meet of the new year on Jan 14!!! Extremely excited to test out our progress!! Shortly after, the following weekend, I will be traveling to Notre Dame with the Bulls for our mens first meet of the year where Ill be joining them in some fun competition. Looking for great things in 2012!

Dec 5:

Today Jared and I started the new training/jumping format. From the beginning of Oct we ran on Mon, Tues, Fri and jumped on Tues, Thur, while lifting Tues, Thur, Sat. Now that indoor season is approaching we are going to jump on Mon, Thurs. Running, pole tech and lifting on Tues, Weds, Fri. This will allow for us to fully recover in between jump days. Training is going great we are still ahead of the game, anxious for the season to begin!

October 11'

2013 Season Goals

With new goals in mind this year I have changed everything within my training regiment from jumping, lifting, running, to circuits, and more. I feel this is key to continually get better, stronger, faster and to learn new things. I'm really excited, I have been working hard on a lot of new things for our training this season. The word for this year is EXPLOSIVE!