Around the world and back again
Yesterday I had my first competition of the 2013 Indoor Season, but before I get into that I will explain what I have been up to these past months.
During the two week break between outdoor competitions and the start of the new season preparations, Rens Blom my coach at Top Sport Limburg, Sittard contacted me to relate that the training situation there had become very uncertain. He was unsure whether he would be continuing as Head Coach and whether or not there would be any more training program in Sittard. After our discussion I considered my situation and decided to investigate the possibilities. It also gave some extra home time as I realized that the best options were not close by. I spent 6 weeks working on my physical preparation with Guy Moreau (Participated twice in the Olympics in the high jump). Intense and very beneficial. I then went to Tennessee, USA to train with “DJ” Johnston, mainly to work on my vaulting and run up. Another good choice. The last week I was in the USA, we headed to Orlando, Florida, for the NCAA coaches conference where I got to meet a number of interesting individuals, including Ashton Eaton (Olympic Gold medalist and World record holder in decathlon), and get some vitamin D into my body, giving it a nice brownish tint. It was cold and rainy in Belgium ;). The number of blue skies I saw while I was back - zero.
Being back for the holidays, I spent 2.5 weeks enjoying my family and friends, while continuing to work on my running and physical preparation with Guy Moreau, but unfortunately was unable to jump until I arrived in Clermont Ferrand (this past week). We decided on me jumping from a shorter run up for the first competition as I had not yet jumped from my complete 16 steps. With a 4m03 jump and a good attempt at 4m13 for my first outing, I would say that it was a good start to the season, showing what I need to work on. I also felt some other positives, my running has gotten much more relaxed and I used poles that I use from my complete run-up. Considering the uncertainty over the past 3.5 months, I feel this is a good start to the season.
In all the positives are beating out the negatives, the vaulting program at Sittard has completely closed down, but Rens is jumping again and with a nice height at 5m47 yesterday in Orleans, seems to be on the right track, go Rens! I have been away from Brussels and it looks like I will be for longer stretches as I have settled into a top notch training program with Philippe D’encausse. But I will be back and forth for competitions and seeing friends and family. I am now officially an Elite Athlete in Belgium, and feel very strong for the new season!! Jump on!!
