by Larry EderWhat can distance runners learn from a pole vaulter?
Lots!
Mondo Duplantis set a new world outdoor best yesterday of 20 feet, 2.52 inches or 6.16 meters. He did it on his sixth attempt in the pole vault. In the pole vault and high jump, one gets three attempts at each height, and you fail when you miss at that height.
Mondo has vaulted since he as seven or eight. His dad was an elite vaulter, Greg Duplantis. Greg is an American vaulter and his Mom, Helena. Helena was a heptathlete, from Sweden, and she met Greg, at LSU, and they married in 1987. A fun story on Helena is here.
Mondo Duplantis is a student of his event. He studies his jumping, and takes advice from both of his parents. I have observed this. I met Mondo and his parent sin 2017 at the Pre Classic. They are a loving family who supports Mondo and that is good.
Yesterday, when Mondo missed on his first attempt, he said a off color word, under his breath ( i saw by wonders of TV broadcast), replayed the jump in his head and then, gave it another try.
What do we learn as distance runners from a pole vaulter? How to love what we do and to reconsider our workouts, races and try to be our best.
Your workout today, July 1, 2022 is warm up, a 45 minute run in the woods, and a cool down. Do the run with some friends. Stay off the big roads, as it is holiday in Canada and US today, so be careful. Crazy drivers are in both countries.
