Vaulting in the Big Leagues

I guess you don’t realize how much something weighs you down until it’s finally over.

Throughout the entire NCAA-Indoor-Compliance-eligibility issue,  I remained as positive as I could knowing everything would work out eventually, no matter what the outcome was.  Everything always works out.  Because it has to!

It wasn’t until I finally received an email from our Assistant Compliance Director with the attached letter from the NE-10 conference that I realized how  much this stress was bringing me down.

“Based on the information provided to this office, it is determined that Christine meets all the requirements for the granting of a hardship waiver per NCAA bylaw 14.2.5 and is eligible to regain her season of competition in Indoor Track and Field.”

I jumped.  I yelled.  I screamed.  I danced.  A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.  I called my mom, dad, brother, stepdad–even if no one answered!  I texted Coach Jackson super excited.  It was all finally over!!

Now that this stupid stuff is over with, it has completely changed my mental approach to practice and training.  I have a much clearer goal and focus.  It’s not some wishy washy, “well, I might be competing for indoor, but definitely outdoor.”  Yes. I’m competing.  My motivation has soared off the charts. Good.  I’m competing.  NOW LET’S GET IT!

I’ve really been surprising myself throughout this preseason training.  I’m excited about the progress I’ve made so early.  It’s only October and I’m making huge improvements at practice.  I’m jumping pretty consistently at 12′ at practice (6 inches above my PR), working on staying close to the pole up top and extending higher to get a bit more height.  I’m actually turning!  It only took 8 years.  I just recently started working with 13ft poles.  I’ve gotten on a few light ones, but do absolutely nothing with them when I get in the air.  It’s going to take some getting used to.  This week I’m going to start doing my pole runs and drills on 13’7″s so hopefully it’ll help me get the timing down and be less intimidated by something new.  To sum up, I need to stop being a baby and jump.

We’ve also started talking about pulling me back to 7 steps instead of 5 steps.  That will be very interesting.  I’ve jumped from 5 steps since my freshman year of high school.  Stay tuned for that fun!

I also have my tarsal tunnel syndrome in check.  It’s a condition that I will have for the rest of my life, but it’s about making the pain more manageable.  Heat, ice, ultrasound, the goods.  I’ve also worked out a few lifting plans with the weight room staff that are easier to fit into my schedule, mixing days together, focusing on more on the main lifts, and just getting in the weight room whenever I can.

So as usual, things have finally made their way back on track.  I knew it would eventually, it’s just exhausting in the process.  We’re halfway through the fall semester and it’s time work hard, finish strong, and start get pumped for winter training and indoor track–now that I know I actually have an indoor season.  :-)