“WIN”. What’s Important Now: HAKUNA MATATA

Did you all know that most of your races are won or lost before you even leave the blocks. Most of the time what determines whether you go fast or not happens between your ears. Think back to when you have had a good race, you probably had some of that positive "self talk" going on, or maybe there was little thinking going on and you hopped up dove in and raced. On the other hand what about those bad swims, was there some negative talk going on such as I'm tired, I have to lower my time, or maybe I don't feel good, or I don't like this lane, or I have to race that person. Remember those are the things you write on that index card and put them in a box and leave in your bedroom where they can't harm you. The little green monster that we have talked about that is always lurking around. Deal with him before you arrive at the meet.

Don't overthink things this weekend at the meet. Remember the song from THE LION KING "Hakuna Matata" which means worry free go ahead and listan to it a couple of times. The nervousness that you have before your races doesn't come from your opponent, or the conditions of the pool, or your coach which I guess is me. It all originates from one person YOU! Have you ever wondered why in your off events or distances you always have a pretty good result, it comes from the fact that you aren't expecting great things, where as in your events you believe you own them and have to go fast and you expect it. Shift your focus this weekend from having to get a certain time to racing, beating people and having fun. HAKUNA MATATA. Good luck and SWIM FAST and be happy. Mike

THE VILLAGE OF CU CHI KNOW AS THE IRON TRIANGLE

Today we went back into the country outside of Saigon to visit sites, and one of these sites was the Cu Chi tunnels. This is where the local people lived. They were sympathetic to the north and so they were know as the VC. This land is very dense with a magnificent tree cover and the people worked the land. The ground is red clay and looks and feels like concrete. The local people had a tunnel system under ground where they would live during the day and would only come out during the night to gather supplies, work the land and fight the Americans. These tunnels went to Saigon (20-30 miles away) and all the way to the river. West they extended into Cambodia and north all the way up along the Ho Chi Ming trail. They were 3 and 4 levels, with dining rooms, sleeping areas and even hospitals. Here are some pictures they were only big enough where even some of you would have trouble moving around. They made them a little wider so tourists could go through, but even so I had to crawl on my belly when going through.

The trail and landscape

The uniforms for men and woman made in tunnels a lot of times using materials off americans

Traps along the path not to necessary kill but to mame people

Giant craters are all over the place left by our bombers. Couldn't tell hell deep they were so they had me crawl in one to give a better perspective, but after everyone got their pictures they left me there. Great

This is a normal meal they would have in the tunnel and yes I tried it and it wasn't steak and potatoes. Tasted like rubber. Maybe a little sauce would have helped. They also ate it to stay small and maneuver in the tunnels.