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Vaulting into the unknown

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Tom Fordyce | 14:25 UK time, Wednesday, 6 May 2009

There are many ways you'd ideally like to feel before your first ever crack at the pole vault - strong, spring-heeled, as energetic and bouncy as a teenage flea.

What you wouldn't want is to be struck down by a dose of man-flu so dismal that you're left with legs that feel like sandbags and all the brute strength of an asthmatic kitten.

Ordinarily under such circumstances I'd retire to bed with a cold compress and a month's back issues of . Right now, however, ordinarily has nothing to do with it.

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There are just three months and three weeks to go until I have to complete an entire decathlon in under an hour. I have never even held a vaulting pole before. Surrender now and the battle is truly over before it has even begun.

Mentally, too, this feels like the first true test of my calibre as a wannabe decathlete.

This is not a sport for the weak of mind or limb. Pain-barriers must be smashed. Doubts must be crushed. Obstacles must be ignored, except the ones I have to jump over or hurdle.

Did Dean Macey allow the fact that he could barely walk without sticks prevent him from in Edmonton?

Would Daley, a man who used to train three times on Christmas Day alone, allow a mere sniffle to stand between him and ?

I rest my case.

On last week's blog, user decathlonDave recounted his own first attempt at pole vaulting. "In trying to emulate the great Daley, I held the pole at the very end, sprinted down the track, planted the pole and shot straight up vertically and straight back down onto the track."


Happily for me, training methodology has moved on a fraction since then.

Down at s indoor centre, coach Ian Grant begins by getting me to hold the pole vertically by my side, my right hand gripping it as high as I can. My left hand holds it just above my head.

For the first few minutes, I practise walking slowly forward, planting the pole on the ground and swinging myself gently through, right knee leading, left leg trailing behind me.

On one hand it lacks the splendid glory of decathlonDave's approach, not to mention any semblance of the event as practised by and . At the same time, my arms are still in their sockets.

After every couple of swings, Ian moves my hands another six inches up the pole. After five minutes, I'm landing on the mat, even if the temptation is to flop on it face downwards and fall into a deep flu-ridden sleep.

It doesn't take long until you're feeling quite high off the ground - relative to your normal eye level, at least. The problems are more to do with what I'm doing when I'm up there.

I'm supposed to be pushing the pole through with my right hand, keeping my head and chest straight on and my hips still. Instead, with a brain full of delusional , I'm swinging myself around like a child on a swing.

In my head, I'm throwing my legs forward in the manner of someone ready to invert themselves over a bar five metres off the ground. In reality I'm doing an impression of a monkey holding onto the branch of a storm-lashed tree.

Ian is full of encouragement. "Lots of people don't manage to penetrate the bed on their first attempt," he says, somewhat cryptically.

When the time comes to walk down the runway itself, I find myself subconsciously aping the mannerisms of a proper vaulter - resting the pole on my right shoulder, holding it aloft with one hand, rocking back repeatedly on my heels.

No matter that my run-up is all of six paces, and that it would be more accurately described as a stutter-up. It's all I can do not to start ostentatiously clapping at an imaginary grandstand.

The first effort is nothing less than shambolic. Concentrating on not missing the box with the end of the pole, I forget everything else I've been told, ping sideways and fall off the pole in a tangle of weary limbs.

Three attempts later, it suddenly clicks. My feet are six feet off the ground. One attempt later, it all falls apart again.

Either way, it's sensational fun. Just falling onto the mat from a decent height is enjoyable enough - the sort of thing they should offer on stag-do's. Doing so while flipping off a long fibreglass pole is even better. Why don't people do this more often?

By the end of the hour-long session, there are some clear positives. I'm running - well, jogging - with the pole, landing it in the box and swinging through onto the mat. When Ian lowers the elasticated foam bar to two metres, I even manage to get over it and lob the pole away before that follows me through.

On the downside, the concept of a solid bar to get over is still to be introduced. My shoulders, hip-flexors and arms are whinging in a way that Daley never would. And I'm yet to make the pole bend, let alone get close to the 3.20m I need to score 400 points - the mark I require to beat the overall target of 4,000 points.

Judge it yourself from the cumbersome antics in the accompanying video. If you've got the inclination and expertise, pass on all the tips you have. If you have neither, feel free to scoff. With hurdles and javelin as yet untouched, there's plenty more where that came from...

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Looks like you are working hard. I loved the look on your face when u made it over the "bar". It was the face everyone makes when being taught something new, just hoping that you did it right. Good luck!! Wish you all the best.

  • Comment number 2.

    Hilarious stuff that Tom, given me the biggest laugh of the day for sure! Good luck with it all and I look forward to hearing and seeing how you get on in the hurdles. I've enjoyed many a chuckle at people falling over hurdles so I think i've got a lot to look forward to when you give it a try :)

  • Comment number 3.

    Great read tim, laughed quite alot at your thought of landing face first on the mat and falling to sleep.

    Cant imagine how hard/scary it is to try and do the pole vault so i'm going to wish you good luck and look forward to your next blog.

  • Comment number 4.

    Tom, you have a great namesake in Bruce Fordyce who you can take after. Become an ultra-marathon runner!!

  • Comment number 5.

    aarongeordie - can I get this decathlon-in-an-hour out of the way before I do the ultra-marathon?

  • Comment number 6.

    Not bad for a 1st go. Your coach has probably told you that your hands are too close together, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

    Don't worry so much about getting 3.20 for the 400 points, it is much easier to score points in the running events. I have got over 4000 points 3 times, none of which have a vault higher than 3m, as it's so late in the decathlon, even though it is arguably my best event normally.

    Other than that, looking good. Obviously you'll need more speed eventually but then the actual vaulting technique becomes more natural and you will go over in the correct direction. Also it is much harder with an actual bar rather than a spongy bar, but there's still plenty of time. I had only vaulted 3 times before my 1st decathlon.

    Best of luck with the rest of the training.

  • Comment number 7.

    "flipping off a long fibreglass pole"???

  • Comment number 8.

    Sorry Tom, couldn't resist.

  • Comment number 9.

    who is going to be looking after your javelin coaching?

  • Comment number 10.

    Good tips lukeathlete - much appreciated.

    Un-bell-ievable - behave...

    JavelinSam - you volunteering?

  • Comment number 11.

    Tom,

    I will offer you my services if you need them. I am the London Region Javelin Co-ordinator for England Athletics. Based in East london at Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham.

  • Comment number 12.

    Couldn't see the video clip as my computer isn't set up for it. Message to self... However, enjoyed your written commentary. I vaulted for the first time at my first competition so you are well ahead of the curve.

    But one point, before you get into the (wrong) habit. A 4000 points decathlon is not 10 events of 400 pts. In fact, I predict you will not score 400pts in every event but still score over 4000pts in your first decathlon. Only points matter and as a triathlete you'll score many more than 400 on the last, your best and the most fun event - the 1500m.

    Looking forward to your next session

  • Comment number 13.

    Put your collar down!!!

    As mentioned in the previous blog, any chance of coming along to show the boy Fordyce some support on his training slogs?

  • Comment number 14.

    Tom,
    Get in contact if you fancy a throwing session...shouldn't be too difficult to arrange a session with the Men's national champion if you like?
    Regards,
    IlAa

  • Comment number 15.

    men's national champion at what IlAa... shot, discus or javelin....

  • Comment number 16.

    Yeah, thanks for pointing that out JS....discus! :)
    And no it's not me.

  • Comment number 17.

    Well done Tom on getting over the fuddled thing..
    did it as part of a multi events as a juvenile, used a warm up pole of the more experienced guy and broke it! needless to say i had points to make up in the 1500m!

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