The Journey

You know when you've been working on something and working and working without seeing any results?  In fact you've had to start over a few times and your so close to just throwing in the towel?  Then you finally have that breakthrough and you start to feel redeemed, your confidence is boosted and you just start to snowball towards bigger and better.  Feels good right?  Almost makes all that work worth it.  For many of my faithful fans that have been on this journey with me you know that this has been my story, in fact this story has been about 4 years in the making!  That's why this past weekend has been such an awesome thing, I jumped higher than I have since 2010!  I jumped an indoor season PR, top jump in the US for now, and I'm only getting started!  That snowball is only beginning to roll, and my confidence is higher than its been in a long time!

I always thought this blog would be an avenue for me to update my family and friends on my competitions and my travels and maybe Id throw some insights that Ive learned for the upcoming vaulters.  I was so wrong!  This blog is a story, a novel that is being written one day at a time.  I know you the reader is just holding your breathe as you turn the page, hoping that I would succeed, because you know the work, the heartache and the passion of the story.  I think that's why I have such a following and why we connect so well to Olympians, the story is real!  Ive been blessed to meet most of you and have been strengthened and inspired by you to continue on this insane journey.  So many of you wear my shirts and have donated to my training fund.  I can tell you I definitely would not still be doing this without your support.

Just one more reason this is the greatest sport in the world, in the couple of days following my competition I received many texts from my competitors congratulating me, so happy for me.  That's what brings us vaulters young and old together , we understand the dogfight, the down and dirty wrestling match and its so great to see someone come out on top because this sport doesn't fight fair.  Its the journey that makes the success so much sweeter.  We all need that reminder when the going gets tough, and I'm so happy to add a positive page to this story.

Ill leave you with a pretty sweet bar cam video that I was lucky enough to be given by the guys at Virginia Tech.  Shows my clearances of 17'8", 18'2", and 18'6". 

If you want to see the full jumps check my Facebook or Twitter pages.  Heading to NYC for the Millrose Games this weekend and heading to Albuquerque next week for USA's.  Keep supporting and encouraging each others respective journeys, we are all writing our own story.

Always Pursuing
 -Mark-