Derek Miles Diary

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/st ... 5848c.html

Spiked-shoe diary: Derek Miles

By John Schumacher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Editor's note: This is another in a series of periodic diary installments from local athletes preparing for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on July 9-18 at Hornet Stadium. Today, we hear from pole vaulter Derek Miles, who lives in Jonesboro, Ark. Miles, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, finished fifth in the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, clearing 18 feet, 8 1/4 inches.

Derek Miles
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 190 pounds

Age: 31
Local connection: Bella Vista High School
Event: Pole vault
Career best: 19-1
World ranking: Eighth
American record: 19-9 1/4 (Jeff Hartwig)
World record: 20-1 3/4 (Sergey Bubka)

I switched to a new pole I'd never jumped on or done anything with. It turned out to be a little bit of a bear. It wasn't quite the right stick. It was the right-sized stick, but it had just a little bit of a turn in it.

Running down the runway, it felt awkward. I didn't know that it had that turn in it until I unpacked it (Saturday). Unfortunately, I was just struggling down the runway a little bit to hold the pole in the right spot and get it in the right spot in the box.

I think probably next time I'll make sure I get the right sticks in the bag and go from there.

Going through the poles and jumping first attempts on everything through 18-8, I felt great. I just had the wrong pole in my hands.

I thought I was ready to jump pretty high. I jumped 19 (feet) last weekend and so I thought, Well, I know I can jump higher than 19 feet. I know I can jump 19 or higher if I just get the right pole in my hands.

Things seem to be clicking really well from 14 (step approach instead of a full 16-step runup). Obviously, people are jumping really well. I'm going to probably have to make some determinations if I'm fast enough from 14 or if I need to back up two steps. And if I do back up two steps, is that going to throw off timing and the rhythm of the run? A lot of it will be I'll talk to (coach Earl Bell) quite a bit and see what he thinks and what he recommends.

It (the hamstring) is getting better. I didn't really feel it all that much today. It was kind of sore. I was a little nervous. But today, I warmed up, and it felt pretty good.

I still haven't been able to throw power behind it yet. But as far as being able to run down the runway at about 95 percent without pain, that's a pretty good step.

I'm getting excited. Hopefully, the next three weeks or so, I can get some training in, get a little stronger, a little faster. I haven't done a speed workout since indoors. Hopefully, I can mesh that in with the rest of my training, see if I can run a little bit faster when the Trials roll around.

I'm kind of leaning toward just relaxing at home (staying with his parents for the Trials). We'll see what happens, see what my wife wants to do and things like that.

I'm really relaxed at home. I don't know how much I need a hotel to remind me why I'm in Sacramento. I think I'll be pretty committed.

Staying relaxed and not necessarily thinking about it all day long every day will be the key. Get that competitive edge.