Dunk Before 50

I Did Dunk But...

2010-10-07T12:32:00.000-05:00

So here is the scoop...my final post. We all knew that I wasn't going to the gym and dunk yesterday. That fact was determined weeks if not months ago. A combination of genetics and a busy life that most middle age men have to endure.

Every single day for the past 14 months I was consumed by this goal and I honestly think that if I hadn't had constant conflicts on my time I could have made it...or come damn close. I just couldn't put in the workout time that was needed. But as illiterate athletes always say..."It is what it is."

So yesterday I left work early with the intention of grabbing someone with a cell phone video camera and head to the Bixby North Elementary court for a little consolation prize. I couldn't find anyone but I headed to the court anyway. I was concerned how it might look that a middle aged man in gym clothes was out on the court by himself but luckily the court and the parking lot was empty.

The reason for the trip was that one of the hoops is in fact nine feet high instead of the regulation 10 foot rim. I hurriedly swept away as much gravel off the right side as I could to clear a path on the right side and backed up.

It took 4 attempts and it was ugly as hell but I dunked. Yes it was only nine feet but I need to get on with my life. I wish I had video of yesterday but I can always go back and get it recorded. The important thing about yesterday was I wasn't 50 years old at the time. I am now. As Will Smith said in "Hitch" (and I am paraphrasing) - "I saw things working out differently in my mind."

Bill

Where The Hell Have You Been

2010-09-21T14:10:00.000-05:00

Yeah I know...it's been over a month since my last post. As Eddie Murphy said in "48 Hours,"..."I've been busy!"

Clearly with 15 days left unless I get a hold of some super illegal steroids I am not going to make it. I am reading a book called "The Dip" which points out that maybe I should quit...but I'm not going to give up. I'm not in a Cul-de-Sac, I'm in a dip-a temporary setback.

It would be easy to give up but as I turn 50 years old I get fewer opportunities to control my own destiny. I will see this through not only because I promised I would but because it will give me the motivation to pursue even more ridiculous goals into next year.

When I started out I needed to have a vertical of 39 inches...but that's standing still without a running start. Figure you get 6 to 7 additional inches from the momentum of running. As of today I have a vertical of 27 inches which leaves me a foot short of my goal. I've actually jumped onto a 34 inch platform but that's not a true vertical because my legs were bent big time.

My new goal is to throw down by Christmas. If I can maneuver past the holiday feasts I think that date is very attainable. Besides, dunking at 50 years, 3 months is more impressive than 49 years and 364 days...right?

Bill

This Isn't Going to Help

2010-08-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

My wife had surgery last Friday so friends and coworkers are bringing us meals and goodies. My sister-in-law brought a ton of pasta and unfortunately...brownies. Like I have enough challenges in my life every day without coming home to a pan of yummy brownies. If all 5 of my sons where home this would have only been a problem for 24 hours but it is now day three and there are still a few brownies left. Maybe the dog will find them while I am at work.

50 days to 50 years...wonder if that means some special type of karma today?

Bill

It's Not The Jumping That Causes The Pain...

2010-08-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

It's the sudden stopping! Actually, I think the quote is "The fall didn't kill him, it was the sudden deacceleration." All this comes to mind as I have finished off a couple workouts with my new program.

The soreness in my thighs is obviously a good feeling but the twitch in my back and joints means...well it means I'm old! I really like this program and the philosophy that Jacob Hiller shares about workouts.

He talks about "training explosion - not endurance." This makes a whole lot of sense. If you wanted to train to run the 100 yard dash in less time you wouldn't run 5 miles a day would you? He preaches intense reps so that is what I did.

I did some depth jumps (by the way - I have NO IDEA why the guy in my example video doesn't have a shirt on but there are women who read this blog...and you are welcome). I also did some lunge jumps.

I will not bore you with the entire workout but I will tell you about the prize I am considering giving myself when I finally do dunk! A visit to the Pop-Tart Store!

Bill

Tick Tick Tick

2010-08-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

Basically I am two months away from turning 50 years old. I don't know why, but the realization of this is bothering me a lot. Maybe it is looking back over the past 30 years and thinking about all the mistakes that were made (because I didn't make any my first 20 years...ha!). Maybe its all those damn mailers I keep getting from AARP or perhaps it is just the second consecutive weekend of 110+ degrees here in eastern Oklahoma.

As I have documented before I am behind schedule to be able to dunk by October 7th. I haven't made noticeable progress in the past few weeks so....what? It's not that I have chosen an impossible goal...extremely difficult yes but it's not like I would be the first 50 year old human being to dunk.

It's certainly not from a lack of effort. I workout 5 to 6 times a week. I am in the best shape of my life...the lowest weight since I got married and I have gained about 14 inches on my vertical...just not enough to throw down. While I can "jump" up 35 inches onto a bench, my vertical is about 26 inches and change. The difference being when I jump onto a bench my legs are bent big time.

So if I haven't picked an insanely impossible goal and I haven't shortchanged myself on my workouts...maybe I am not training correctly. Today I have made the decision to bring in help.

Last month I posted a video from Jacob Hiller who, by all accounts, is the best jump training coach out there. His guarantee is that I will gain 10 inches on my vertical in 60 days or I get my money back. Actually I have 59 days and need 12 more inches. If Jacob can take responsibility for one less day I will take the responsibility for the extra 2 inches. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Bill

Just Show Up

2010-08-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

I have written before about the challenges of just making it to the gym for my workouts. When you think about it, THAT is the single most important element of your success...just show up! Gold's Gym has a sign on their front door which really drives this point home. "Know that by just showing up you've won half the battle." It's true! It is just as hard, if not more difficult, to motivate yourself to actually drive to the gym than actually doing the workout.

I can't count the times that I dragged myself to the gym, wanting to go home and call it a day, and ended up having a great workout. Maybe it's the Endorphins. Maybe it is the opportunity to work off the stress of the day (which is why I could never workout in the morning...no stress yet.).

Just showing up plays into my all-time favorite quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." This applies to anything in life...if you don't try you are guaranteed to fail. An important thought as the clock strikes 60 days left. I'll have more to share later today.

Bill

New Gym

2010-08-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

Because I didn't have enough challenges to overcome in the next 64 days my gym decided to go out of business! While I was certainly surprised, the employees who lost their jobs without any warning whatsoever are in shock.

My membership was transferred to Gold's Gym. I don't have to stay with them and there is a new place just around the corner from my house but Gold's has a basketball court so they will probably prevail.

They have plyometric jump boxes but no "jump tester" which sucks big time. I need that feedback and affirmation a couple times a week to tell me I am making progress. Guess I will need to call around town and find a place that has vertical jump tester that I could use each week. The other option is to purchase my own wall-mounted tester.

Hey this journey has always been about overcoming challenges. Having to join a new gym isn't the first challenge I've faced on my quest for "dunkability," and it certainly won't be the last. The only thing I wish is that "old naked guy" hadn't transferred his membership to Gold's too. Thought I was done with that visual!

Bill

Year in Review

2010-08-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

Well I had to renew the domain "DunkBefore50.com" yesterday. Has it been a year already? Well not quite. My first blog post was August 17, 2009.

My countdown clock says 66 days and change left before I turn 50, so lets take a look at my journey so far. At the end of August last year I shared a typical workout with my trainer.

In September I got hurt...just didn't know how bad for 10 days!

In December I shared my love for lunges. In January I talked about giving up and how I missed the most exciting play in Dallas Mavericks history.

February I go my ass kicked by a Bosu ball. March brought the first and so far the only video of my working out. Shortly after that post I did added another video and some insight that I was not as far along as I thought.

In June I wrote about my motivation for this endeavor and just last month I posted about recovery issues.

It's a fairly interesting series of events that is more than likely going to continue well into my 50th year. Don't know if it will be fun but it will certainly not be boring!

Bill

In the Zone - Batting 50% on My Goals

2010-07-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

I don't normally like to work out during the morning...especially a Sunday morning. While I am a "morning person"...I need the stress of the day to help fuel my workouts. My schedule today meant I had to head to the gym early. I figured it was better than no workout.

Two things I noticed were (A) I was the youngest person in the place; (B) The music that was blaring over the speakers didn't seem conducive to middle age folks from the Midwest (can I brag that I spelled "conducive" correctly the FIRST time! It's the minor victories that keep me going people).

I started working out with no intention of working my legs. Friday I had the onset of "shin splints" and I didn't want to risk having to shut it down for several weeks...though I could have tried this treatment.

I did do some leg curls to work my hamstrings and thighs. I then moved over to some seated calf raises and looked up at the box jump and figured, "What the hell."

I got "into a zone" and quickly went back and forth with a set of calf raises, quickly followed by a box jump and then some stretching. I repeated this process several times until my legs threatened to atrophy so bad I wouldn't be able to walk to my car.

As I write this post some six hours later, I have that "good" hurt. You know, that soreness that makes you feel like you accomplished something special.

Now onto the mini goals I set for today. I made the first one, losing 3 pounds. I think the two consecutive weeks of 115 degree heat index helped but who am I to quibble about results. The second goal of adding 2.5 inches to my vertical...didn't make it. I've gained a little over an inch.

Again, it doesn't look good...just 73 days out from the big five Oh...but who knows. If I continue to have workouts like I had today maybe I can work a miracle.

Bill

Science of Jumping

2010-07-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

Like most people I have searched the web for information pertaining to my interests...in this case increasing your vertical jump...and like most people I have waded through a lot of crap searching for stuff that is worthwhile.

Jacob Hiller seems to be one of the most legit guys out there. I have repeatedly found his material getting good reviews. He even was interview on ESPN radio.

The audio is hard to take and the stick drawings are pretty amateurish (I like how he makes fun of them himself). I hate the commercial you are forced to watch a the beginning too.

The upside is this video is really informative and breaks down the science of vertical jumping. Try to enjoy!

Bill

How to do perfect plyometrics
Uploaded by howtojumphigher. - Check out more sports and extreme sports videos.

Recovery is Becoming an Issue

2010-07-21T18:11:00.000-05:00

So I have jacked up my workouts because the "clock is ticking" but it is getting increasingly difficult to get in two days in a row.

Yesterday I was doing 30" jumps with a 35 pound weight and this morning I woke up with soreness you would expect in 49 year old joints. No problem...until 4:00 p.m. when it was time to leave work and head to the gym. I was wiped out and then wimped out and headed home.

This is in contrast to my 20 year old son who drove several hours in the middle of the night to see Lady Gaga last night and barely got any sleep before going to work this morning. Damn I wish I was young again! To make matters worse I thought I had 80 days left but the stupid clock says 77 days.

I'll share some cool information on plyometrics tomorrow...more science behind the pain!

Bill

Thought I Deserved a Medal Until I Saw This

2010-07-18T07:17:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I dragged myself to go workout even though it was a 107 degrees outside and I had already work my rear end off cleaning out my gutters. I told my wife I deserved a medal for not missing another workout when the temptation to not go back outside and drive to the gym was so overwhelming. Then I saw this video. Isn't it funny (actually sad) that she deals with critics too. While I am tempted to tell people who criticize others for attempting outlandish goals to "shut the hell up!What have you done?" It is the naysayers who help us fight through the tough times we face in pursuit of our dream.

Another Old Man Trying to Ball!

2010-07-16T14:10:00.000-05:00

Had a friend tip me off that Stephen Colbert was trying to thrown down. Hopefully my results are better than his! By the way...he uses the exact same jump tester that I use.

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Don't Always Follow My Own Advice

2010-07-15T22:05:00.000-05:00

As many people know I wrote a book several years ago on sales careers. I keep another blog tied to the book that I try to post to a couple times a month. Back in February I did a post about "Never Giving Up." Guess I need to remind myself once in a while to follow my own advice.

Earlier this week I posted that I was behind schedule in terms of where I need to be on my vertical jump. In my mind, I convinced myself that I had too far to go before October 7th...not that I was giving up on my goal to dunk...only I didn't think I'd make it by October. The result...I didn't work out Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

I was on my way to a "self-fulfilling prophecy"...if you think it will happen or don't think it will happen...you are probably right. If I start skipping workouts then there is no way I'll make it. I woke up this morning pissed at myself.

I went to the gym today with a vengeance and worked out like crazy. They fixed the vertical jump tester at the gym and after some weighted jumps on the box jump, I took a shot and measured my jump. I equaled or barely surpassed my record. Couldn't tell for sure because even though it's air conditioned inside, the heat index in Tulsa was 109 degrees and I was seriously sucking gas.

I still am behind schedule but the fact that I had a real good jump after missing three days of working out (not to mention eating poorly) gave me new hope. I am setting a couple short-term but aggressive goals for a week from Sunday, July 25th.

Goal #1 - Lose 3 pounds. Realistically this should be no problem...just need to not blow it by binge eating during the weekend. The normal Friday night pizza feast is probably out.

Goal #2 - Add 2.5 inches to my vertical. Sounds like a lot...and it is. But today I learned a valuable technique...do weighted jumps and then quickly move over to the vertical jump tester. It is the same principal when baseball players use weighted donuts right before batting. You take the weights off and the bat speed picks up.

I have new inspiration to go along with my crappy countdown clock! Now I have to tell my kids no pizza for the next two weeks.

Bill

Yes I Know the Clock Looks Like Crap

2010-07-15T19:28:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to add a countdown clock to my blog for several months but Blogger makes it extremely difficult. I finally found a "work around" but I am not happy with the look of the clock. Ultimately it doesn't matter...it serves the purpose that I wanted. To remind me that the October is coming up fast.

Bill

The Good; The Bad and The Ugly

2010-07-12T06:40:00.000-05:00

As I come screeching around the corner headed towards October 7th, it's time to reflect.

"The Good"...I am at my lowest weight since getting married over 27 years ago AND I have a 4.5 pack going on (getting a six pack of abs probably will require completely quit drinking Pepsi...not sure anyone wants me to give up caffeine).

"The Bad"...my back is a little jacked up so I've had to take some muscle relaxers. Whether it's the pain or the effects of the medicine, my concentration is a little lacking. I need to keep pushing myself.

"The Ugly"...well I am behind schedule. My gym screwed down the jump tester so I couldn't do my vertical test but I am pretty certain I didn't reach the point I wanted for the 90-day mark. I'm packing a screw driver in my workout bag so I can do a test jump tonight.

Clearly reaching my goal within 85 days is seeming less likely. I will somehow turn up the intensity a couple notches. I'm not concerned about finally being able to dunk (that WILL happen)...I'm concerned about making the name of this website irrelevant.

Bill

What Motivates Me

2010-06-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

I have written about motivation before and started thinking more and more what is pushing me.

The thought of "not dunking" is driving me more than the joy that would come from dunking. I shot my mouth off last year about this goal and even wrote about the reason I made my goal public under "What's The Story" section on the right side of this page.

Maybe it's a character flaw (I have several!)...it's the same thing with sports. The pain from one of my teams losing is far worse than the joy I get when they win. I grew up a huge Washington Redskins fan but backed off on my enthusiasm because you always had to wait a whole week after a loss. It's why I love basketball so much...you normally have 3 or 4 games a week, so while you can get double, triple or quadruple doses of wining in the same week...you also don't have to wait long for another chance to win.

I'm sure the rush I get when I finally throw down...especially on some unsuspecting 25 year old...will be great! For now though I am thinking about the pain of not dunking and those who mock my goal...it's what drives me to the gym every day.

Bill

The Question I am Always Asked

2010-06-27T17:56:00.000-05:00

This afternoon working out at the gym I shared a weight station with another member and he asked me the same thing everyone else does..."Are you George Clooney?" OK...maybe I misunderstood him.

He asked me about my workout and I shared with him my dunk goal and he got "that look" and then said..."Have you ever been able to dunk?" I told him no and he kind of look dazed and said, "Wow."

I get it...I really do. I am not trying to relive some athletic history where I used to throw down in high school. I am reaching for the stars...almost literally.

I guess the fact that I never dunked in my youth makes me look more like a nut job. That's OK...I have been called worse. Unfortunately I've never been called George Clooney.

Bill

Anderson Cooper Broadcasting from Aspen Athletic

2010-06-23T08:19:00.000-05:00

You know how CNN's Anderson Cooper shows up to every disaster around the globe. He came close to getting on a plane last night for Tulsa. I am in the middle of my workout and decide to take a quick jump measurement. I couldn't even hit the lowest flag!

This had all the makings of the "gym trifecta of hell." First we had the Bosu Ball incident, and then the "box jump" incident. After months of training I've backed tracked so much I couldn't even hit the lowest flag on the jump tester...WTF!

Something wasn't right. While trying to squash the temptation to smash my own head with a 25 pound weight I noticed a red line on the bar of the jump tester. I went to my workout bag and got the tape measure and discovered that someone had raised the freaking bar 14 inches!! Yes I probably should have noticed the flags were higher than normal but in my defense I have new contacts that I am trying to get used to...plus I am an idiot! I didn't lower the bar to take a measurement but immediately went back to working out.

I used the mixture of relief and agitation to fuel the rest of my workout. Given that my legs are like jelly this morning I think I can say overall the workout was a success. Crisis averted and Anderson Cooper didn't have to visit Tulsa.

Bill

Drawing a Line in the Sand

2010-06-17T21:34:00.000-05:00

14...that is the number of days I've worked out TOTAL in May and June. 14 workouts over the course of 48 days. Clearly that is not going to get it done.

I have several decisions that will affect the rest of my life over the next three months and it would be so easy to push this endeavor aside. The reason I originally made the goal public was to make it difficult to give up.

Forgetting for a moment that it actually would be more impressive if I dunked AFTER I turn 50...it is important that I continue through this adversity to reach my goal. As someone once said, "Of course it's hard...if it was easy everyone would do it."

So I am drawing a line in the sand. I was 16 inches away from my goal on April 1st...77 days later I've only gained two inches on my vertical jump. I am making a commitment to get within a foot by Monday, July 5th. That will give me three months and a day to get those final 12 inches.

The workout regime gets narrowed...a lot of weighted jumps, daily visits with the damn Bosu ball and a better effort at losing a few extra pounds. Too much at stake personally NOT to persevere!

Bill

"Good Luck Sir"

2010-05-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

That was what this kid told me last night before our basketball game. "Sir?" Well hell...at least he was polite. He then proceeded to go out and score at least 50 points on us (for the record I wasn't guarding him...actually nobody was guarding him).

So I haven't posted in three weeks, mainly because it's been an unbelievable busy time (graduation, moving kids, final episodes of "Lost" and "24", etc.)

The current math on my "quest for dunkability" is daunting. I have 14" to go...and 20 weeks left. It seems overwhelming and might very well be an impossible task but guess what? If it was easy then this wouldn't be such a big deal.

The bad news is with just 140 or so days left I am going to have to absolutely kill myself to make it. The good news...school is out tomorrow so "in theory" my life should be a little less complicated and have fewer distractions (I am so going to screw myself with that statement...I can FEEL it!).

The intensity goes up with today's workout and I will start posting where I should be each week with my vertical. The only thing I can guarantee is if I fail, it won't be due to a lack of effort.

Bill

The Stairwell

2010-05-04T06:27:00.000-05:00

Trying to mix things up and keep my legs guessing where the next torture session is coming from, I made the decision to take advantage of working in a 15 story building. Twice a day I hike up the stairwell creating my own personal Stairmaster...which is kind of funny because I HATE the Stairmaster!

Back when I was utilizing the services of the training Nazi she tried to get me to do a drill on a Stairmaster. I tried, but eventually told her to shove it...the only time I refused her commands. Anyway I set a reminder in my Outlook calendar to remind me before lunch and during the afternoon to hit the stairwell.

The first 6 floors or so aren't bad but after the 10th floor things sometimes start to get a little crazy. I often think how hard this would have been 10 years ago when all the smokers hung out in the stairwell...that was always fun...walking up the stairs into a cloud of nicotine and cancer.

Each day I pick up the pace so I am completely wasted by the time I get to the top floor...at which time I put aside the thought of heading towards the elevators. I start back down towards the 3rd floor where I work.

In addition to getting a great burn in my legs, I am building up my stamina which will help me get up and down the basketball court without dying. I AM the "Stairwell Masters!"

Bill

This Thing Almost Cost Me My Gym Membership

2010-04-27T19:18:00.001-05:00

So we have a new receptionist at work and she told me I looked "intense" when I walked by her on the first day at the front desk. I told her it was actually anger and depression...I think she thought I was joking. It might have something to do with those morons at the AARP who sent me a membership card with my name on it!

Now flash forward to today's workout. I shot some baskets and then went into my leg routine. After my workout I decide to go do some box jumps. The smart way would be to do those at the beginning of a workout when my legs are fresh...but I've not been know for always being smart.

I started with 9 slats...then 11...then 13...then 14 (my previous record). I got into a groove (so I thought) and said, "What the hell"...lets go for a new personal record...15 slats = 34 inches.I kept coming close...sometimes touching the top and other times knocking everything over. Between the sound of 30 slats flying all over the floor and some inappropriate language (so I am told...my Zune was cranked up for added motivation and I couldn't hear myself) I was making quite the commotion.

There was no way I was leaving without hitting this but now I am self conscious as hell. I've spoken to hundreds of people before during a speech but I was stressed because I knew I now had 30-35 people watching me. I finally stuck the jump and headed home. There is no video...it would be ugly as hell anyway but I did snap a picture with my phone.

I can't say I have a "vertical" of 34 inches because my legs were bent but the bottom line is I did "jump" 34 inches today and because of that..the AARP can take their membership and shove it! I am only 49.

Bill

Dunks Gone Bad

2010-04-16T13:39:00.000-05:00

While a bad dunk is better than no dunk at all (that's what happens when you try and cheat)...there are times you probably wish you had missed throwing down.

Vacation Ends and Why I Hate Physics

2010-04-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

Well my week off turned into 10 days off, which was probably 5 days too many. Yesterday I mixed in a workout with 3 hours of yard work. Today I felt 79 years old instead of 49. I did gut out another workout today, focusing on stretching and trying to reverse the atrophy that set in during my week-and-a-half of "no show" at the gym.

Last Wednesday started the 6th month countdown to the big five oh. Today also confirmed my suspicions that I have a little farther to go. A month ago I did in fact jump 32 inches. Shortly thereafter I also wrote that I thought the jump on March 1st may have been misleading. Simply put, while I did jump 32 inches I don't have a 32 inch vertical. My vertical is actually 25 inches. The difference is my legs were bent in the March 1st jump so I wasn't fully extended. Damn physics!

I used a vertical jump tester at the gym today to accurately test my dunk jumping ability. My reach (the measurement from the floor to the top of my finger tips when I hands are straight up) is 86 inches. I jumped 111 inches resulting in a vertical of 25 inches. So instead of needing only 9 or 10 more inches to reach my goal I need 15...damn physics!

So I mapped out the next 25 weeks and the bench marks I need to hit. I must add 4 inches to my vertical by the first week of June...hitting 115 inches. The would give me four months to work on the final 10 inches by black Thursday...October 7th. I am also fairly certain that weight loss will really come into play the final two months. It will certainly be interesting!

Bill