I stand at the top of a synthetic, artificial track peering
down at a pit of sand surrounded by a small group of people. One with a plastic tape measure. I look at my
marker lying beside me on the track. I am in the right place and time. I now have to do what I said I was going to
do. I have to run towards the sand-pit and jump as far as possible.
Why am trying to jump long?
When I was in hospital the staff they always said, “Avoid
this” or “don’t do this” or “have you taken your medication.” They never said,
“Your treatment involves jumping as far as possible.” When I was in hospital they always treated me
as a sick person, someone who was going to need continual protection and care. They
always assumed they were going to look after me forever. I always thought I was going to get better. I didn’t lie in hospital thinking about the
long jump. When lying in the hospital bed I thought I don’t want to be here. I
want to be out there attacking the future and trying new things.
I started training for the long jump several weeks ago.
First thing was work out my run-up. How long would it be? I have to guess. I Count one stride as equal to a step with
left foot and then one with right foot.
I stand on the track
looking at the pit. I count the strides of my new run-up. It is 24 strides and feels
way too long. All I have to do is accelerate to my max speed. Not tire myself
out. I try a much shorter distance and measure it. My run-up is now 10 strides.
Now I have a run-up. Ten strides from the take-off line. I
re-measure and run towards the pit. I
want my right foot to land just behind the take-off line. Am I in the right
spot? It feels like I am overstepping
the take-off line. I need to increase my run-up.
I try 11 strides. Now I run towards the pit. It feels right.
I run past the pit. I can’t jump into the pit. 11 strides feels good. I now
have a run-up.
I try again. And again. I keep on moving my start position
by a couple of mms.
What is the technique for the long jump? Do I just run and
jump? Are there other things to practice?
Is there any technique I need to learn?
I do a few of my running drills. Skips, butt kicks,
backwards running and a bit of hopping. Are they helping? I feel the hopping is
helpful. I can go home now. That’s my first training for long jump done.
The next day I count out 11 strides from the take-off line.
It seems to short. I feel everybody will be longer. Do I stay short or copy
other people?
The next day I enter the DAC stadium. People are preparing
for a carnival. There is a tent at the finish line. And microphones and
clipboards and groups of officials hold their whistles. I circle the track and
head for the jumping pits. I will test
my run-up. I count my steps and run at the pits. I run past the pits. I think I
over stepped.
I repeat. I think I overstepped again. I move my marker back
and try again. I think I am still
overstepping. A group of school kids enter and shuffles into the grandstand. They have face paint and colored ribbons in
their hair and are not looking at me. I go home. Another practice done.
The big night has arrived. I wander to the pits and everybody
else has entered another event. I have 30 minutes by myself to prepare for the
long jump. I mark out 11 strides and
mark my starting point. I run at the pit. I think I am over stepping. I must move
my marker. I move it back. I know have a run-up of 12 strides. I watch my right foot. I think that was good. I
keep on practicing my run-up. I think I am in the right place.
And then they arrive and after a couple of jumps it’s my
turn. I run at the pits. They are watching me. Their eyes are on me. They are
watching me run. They are watching my feet. My feet which are not working
properly. They are watching me run through the take-off line. They are watching
me not jump. They are watched me freeze. That counts as a fouled jump. I want
another go. I can do better than that. I know I can do better than that. Please let me have another go. Please let me
go again. They don’t. They say wait your
turn. Fair enough.
I practice jumping on the other run-ups. I keep on practicing
the run-up and the jump. I am sure I can do this. Let me have another go.
My second jump. I am back at the run-up. Besides my marker.
I run towards the pit. I must do a legal jump. It must be legal. It must be a
proper jump. I run very carefully towards the take-off board. I must
put my foot behind the line. I must jump and land in the sand. The others clap
and say well done. I love them. They are good people.
My third jump. Back at the run-up. I run towards the pit. It
is a legal jump. It feels good but I fall back and the lady measuring says,
“I’m sorry I have to take it from here.”
I nod. I am happy. Fortunately I have done three very, very
bad jumps. Tonight I have begun my climb up the mountain. I have just told the
world my long jump is hopeless. I have just told myself there is only one way
to go. That’s longer.
The number one thing I need is more practice jumping. I need
to practice in a pit. I need a rake. I need to find some way of bringing a rake
up here and using it.
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