Director's Dare
Ah Reckon That Horse Oughtta Be 'Bout 30 Hand High
Thursday, May 24, 2007
You know, height is a funny thing. It's really a matter of perception. For example, I'm six feet tall, exactly. I don't care that the chart on the doctor's wall during my last physical said 5 feet 11 and 1/2 inches. I'm six feet tall, and if you don't believe me, I'll show you my drivers license because it's right there in bold, black type right next to the BLD that describes my hair color;-).
When I was on one of those two-year, church-sponsored vacations to Brazil, I had a companion who was about 5 foot 3, and when we were together I was the tall elder and he was the short elder to the local members of the congregation. After Elder Samuel was transferred to a new area and Elder Montgomery with his 6 foot 8 frame replaced him, I suddenly became to the short one.
I've noticed that when you're on the ground looking up at the bridge, it's nowhere near as high as it is when you're on the top, watching the water flow beneath your feet and those with you are yelling and making sounds that fat, flightless birds make just before the Colonel gets them, while silent tears of terror run down your cheeks as you stand there shivering while you contemplate whether or not you should jump just because your friends did.
Most people I am acquainted with know that I've always participated in a sporting event at the Utah Summer Games every year since I became the director. Knowing this, it's not unusual that they might ask me what my sport is this year. So I tell them, "I'm Pole Vaulting this year."
After tears of mirth are wiped away and cramped abdominal muscles are relaxed, the very first question that follows is "So, how high can you go, about 20 ... 25 feet?" Of course it's said like that should obviously be a beginner's height and anything less than that must be just embarrassing.
Well, for those uninitiated in the world of Pole Vaulting, the current WORLD record for males, held by the indefatigable Sergei Bubka of the Ukrain is 6.14 meters. That translates to a mere 20.14 feet in American. The female world record, currently held by Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, is 16.44 feet.
So no, I am not getting over 25 feet. I'm not getting over half of that. In fact, I'm not getting over ...
Well, anyway you get the idea.
It's all just a matter of perception anyway.
Want to know how high I'm really getting? Come and see on Friday, June 22, at the Utah Summer Games Track and Field meet.
Labels: pole vaulting
