Feeling More Like 2nd Best...
It is June 21st on a Thursday night. It's almost been officially 2 weeks since the trials. The Tuesday after the trials was one of my better days. I was able to start getting back into my routine and I had an outstanding practice that night. I just about made 4.85m. One of those jumps where you make it, you think you got it, then the bar comes off:( But still it was a good night. I was still on a high from the trials and I got word that I would be competing in my first professional meet on July 23rd, which is this coming Saturday in Houston. I thought to myself, "man this is so amazing my first professional meet and its in the US." I was super pumped! Wednesday came and it was another good but very busy. I worked from 9am til 7pm then practiced from 7pm-8:30pm. It was more of a strength and technical day, nothing too hard. Thursday came around and I had my first bad jump practice in a while. I literally struggled on my 14 ft poles and only took like 3 attempts on my 14'7" poles. This was the beginning of the slump:( I took off Friday and Saturday completely from workouts. Again on Friday, I worked at the gym from 11am-7pm. Then I went eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant with my fiancé and his parents. This restaurant makes the best margaritas and I decided in January that I would not drink until after Rio. Now since I didn't make it to Rio I decide it was time for a drink. I had one margarita and enjoyed the heck out of it. I actually was a little tipsy from it because I have not drank alcohol in a while and my fiancé and his parents giggled at me the whole time lol. It was a good night. Saturday came around and I had the entire day off! Boy was this nice! I was able to get my house all situated, then had a mini spa day at home, and just hung around the house all day. If was soooo nice! I rested all day in hopes Sunday's practice would be much better than Thursday! Well not so much. I struggled again on Sunday. I'm having a little knee issue. I don't think anything major, but it's been bothering me some and kind of messing with run. I also just don't feel like I have the stamina right now. I haven't changed anything. I'm keeping the same diet and work outs. But my body has been hurting and I'm not lasting as long in my jump sessions. I left practiced extremely bummed Sunday. I knew I had a meet coming up that I really need to perform for and here I am struggling and not feeling as motivated. I was able to go to church that evening, which was really nice. I'm Catholic and I believe 100% in God, Jesus, and the Bible, but I have to admit I have not been on top of practicing my catholic faith much lately. I pray all the time, but going to church every week has been a struggle with competition. So now that everything should slow down, me and my fiancé are trying to work on practicing our faith and attending church at least once a week. Going to church on Sunday felt good and I felt like it was time for a fresh start:) The next week rolled around and Monday was a good day. I was surprised by my fiancés aunt Jenny with a heartfelt gift, which made my day. I'd like to switch rolls to my professional career. The week before me and my dad had been talking to a lot of people about where to start entering into the professional career the right way. A lot of people said to start with getting an agent, and to get him or her fast, because I was 4th at the Olympics and I was kind of in a hot spot to being looked at by agents and sponsors, so I was told. It was weird though no one came after us and the guy I really wanted kind of just looked the other way. It's the first time in the pole vault world I feel unwanted. Going into college I had too many colleges after me really wanting me to come compete for their school, but since I've become professional we are struggling getting me started. I understand it is the Olympic year though, and all sponsors want are Olympians. And technically I'm not an Olympian and I'm not able to compete in Rio as a pole vaulting commercial. So it's going to be very hard to get sponsors this year. It's the end of the year for track season and I will have to start fresh next year. Right now we are looking for an agent and hoping to get a few sponsors to not pay me but take care of some expenses. I am hoping to go and compete in Europe at least once this year but I will see more about that within the next two weeks. Back to practice, Tuesday July 19th, was not much better than Sunday's practice. It wasn't horrific, I made 4.60m, just again I felt the slump. It was then me and my dad finally talked about it. When you work so hard and so long for one competition and it doesn't fall through as plan most people fall into what we call a slump. This is when you feel tired, unmotivated, and achy. It's like you have no more adrenalin left. I know I'll eventually be fine. I'm really hoping the meet this weekend puts a fire in my butt, because I need it. We did a light lifting session yesterday and I slept most of the day yesterday and today. I know I still haven't caught up on sleep since the trials so I slept as much as I could the past two days, which again was not very good for my practice today. I'm okay with it tho because I know I needed the sleep more than I do the practice for this weekend. I know how to pole-vault and what poles I need to be on. I just gotta get myself feeling good to jump good:) My goal this weekend is to jump 4.65m or better. I just want to get a little bit better, but mainly stay consistent and hopefully get on one of my stiffer 14'7" poles. I did get some good news this week:) I received an invitation from USATF to go to rookie camp. They are going to pay for me and my fiancé to attend this camp. It's a one day camp in Texas a week from today that will help me get contacts and learn the do's and don't's coming into and competing in the professional world. I'm super excited about this and it definitely made me feel better about me being in this slump I'm in. I took my ice bath tonight and will be traveling tomorrow. I compete at 7pm on Saturday and I will be on ESPN. I'm very excited to compete at my first professional meet and just pray to stay safe, do my best, and have fun!