What should I be doing?
I ask myself that almost every day, in almost every context. What should I be doing to get ready for this essay? What should I be doing with my free time? And the place you really should not be thinking this, but I do all the time, is what should I be doing for a workout?
Lately the other vaulters and I have been on our own for practices. I can’t really say that’s true of all of us vaulters. Some of the group have been blessed with great running ability, or great jumping ability. But me? I vault. I am pointing zero fingers saying, this person isn’t doing stuff, this person isn’t giving us workouts. I guess the only person to blame is myself. If I really wanted this, wouldn’t I have made the effort to either build a workout, or have someone build one for me?
Which brings me to my next point- WHY should I be doing this? I loved vault in high school. The competition was fun, the practices even more so. We worked, we improved but we had fun. Lately to me, collegiate pole vaulting hasn’t been as much fun. It’s been painful, stressful and makes me feel inadequate. Yes, I finally got up to my high school PR (and even technically beat it by 1/4″) but I don’t feel as accomplished as I once did.
I know Kyle asked a lot of you a while back why you ran, why you vaulted? I would like to ask the same thing. I guess I am looking for a reason to stay Varsity and not just switch to Open. I by no means want to quit vaulting altogether, but maybe it’s time I think about what I need to do in order to be my best, and feel my best.
I recently joined an organization that makes me feel great about myself. I’m confident, happy and everyone there just makes me more confident and happy. Varsity pole vault has been the opposite of that lately. I just want to get back to that place where pole vaulting made me happy.
So, tell me why you run? Why do you pole vault? email me your responses at jacqueline.foti@wpi.edu
