Randy Hixon in SF Gate - Healthy Obsession
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:39 am
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 6QU35I.DTL
Randy Hixon
Age: 58
Occupation: Part-time ocean shipping auditor
Town: Sausalito
Sport: Pole vault
Why: I vaulted in college and always remembered the feel of flying away from the pole at the top of the vault and then the drop into the pit. I have extra time now and wanted to try it again.
Latest accomplishment: I recently set the record in the 55 - 59 age group at the Bay Area Senior Games at Stanford: 10'6."
Gear you can't live without: Fiberglass vaulting poles made by Skypole.
Where you train: With the North Coast Vaulting Association in Petaluma; the Outlaws pole vaulting club; Nautilus of Marin for weight training and core work; and the Tamalpais High School track for speed workouts.
Best time to train: Vaulting: anytime; gym and track work: in the mornings.
Most annoying thing people assume about athletes in your sport: When I'm carrying poles over to the vaulting area of the stadium someone (usually the younger vaulters) will ask "Are you one of the coaches?"
Advice you'd give a rookie: Get strong and fast. And do lots of "Bubkas" (swing to an inverted position from a hanging position on a high bar keeping the arms straight; named for world champion pole vaulter Sergei Bubka).
Know someone hooked on a sport? E-mail healthyobsession @sfchronicle.com.
Randy Hixon
Age: 58
Occupation: Part-time ocean shipping auditor
Town: Sausalito
Sport: Pole vault
Why: I vaulted in college and always remembered the feel of flying away from the pole at the top of the vault and then the drop into the pit. I have extra time now and wanted to try it again.
Latest accomplishment: I recently set the record in the 55 - 59 age group at the Bay Area Senior Games at Stanford: 10'6."
Gear you can't live without: Fiberglass vaulting poles made by Skypole.
Where you train: With the North Coast Vaulting Association in Petaluma; the Outlaws pole vaulting club; Nautilus of Marin for weight training and core work; and the Tamalpais High School track for speed workouts.
Best time to train: Vaulting: anytime; gym and track work: in the mornings.
Most annoying thing people assume about athletes in your sport: When I'm carrying poles over to the vaulting area of the stadium someone (usually the younger vaulters) will ask "Are you one of the coaches?"
Advice you'd give a rookie: Get strong and fast. And do lots of "Bubkas" (swing to an inverted position from a hanging position on a high bar keeping the arms straight; named for world champion pole vaulter Sergei Bubka).
Know someone hooked on a sport? E-mail healthyobsession @sfchronicle.com.
