WHAT’s NEXT

Hope everyone had a great spring break and enjoyed the time away from school and the pool.  We now have two short weeks left of swimming in a short course pool, as the pool will be switched over to the long course format the first Friday in May.

We will spend these next two weeks going back and looking at our foundations in your swimming, and try to repair any cracks that show up in that foundation.  Everything in your life including friendships, family, houses, and yes, swimming are built on a strong foundation.  To have that strong foundation a lot of attention needs to focus on details.  The next two weeks details are what our practices will center around.

With every new phase of our swimming season it’s a chance to take stock and recommit to building a solid foundation that will carry us to our goals.  With this there will always be new challenges to meet head on as we try to move past the past season.

As we look back on our short course season ask yourself this question, Did I get to the meet that I wanted to?  If not what can you do to get to that meet?  If opportunity doesn’t knock than build a door.  The time to start preparing is now!  Not one month out from the meet.  This is not the time that you want to cut corners or take the easy way out during practice.  You need to put in the work and it begins with the foundation that you build.  If you are not working on building a better foundation than all you are working on is repeating the past.  We talk in practice about detail to the little things but in actuality there are no little things in this sport.  Change your future and it begins now.

SPRING BREAK

Our journey for the 2018-2019 short course season concluded as the last relays touched the wall this past weekend in Saint Petersburg Florida at the TYR Elite Classic.  As you head out for spring break for a much needed break from school and swimming it is also a good time to reflect on both your success and your shortcomings as I will also be doing from a coaches perspective.

It’s a time where you close the book on the past season, all the characters have been identified and the storyline has been revealed.  Maybe the story ended up with a happy ending and maybe not.  Either way another book will be written alas with a new storeline, or are you going to allow the storyline to be the same.  If there is a particular way you want the story to end then you need to become the author and take ownership of your own story.  We, the coaches are like editors who provide the criticism, and yes this can be both positive and negative but either way it should be viewed as
constructive criticism.

Coincidentally the short course season and spring arrive at the same time.  Spring is a time where everything comes out of hibernation and is rejuvenated with life.  Why not take this same approach to your swimming and be totally honest in your self evaluation of this past year.  All swimmers want to
perform well when racing, but the effort must mirror the expectations.  Below are some areas that you
 may want to look at during your evaluation;

• How many times a week did you swim?  Did you make those workouts? How focused were you during those workouts? You know missing a workout is not a deal buster, but missing a few or lack of consistency is a whole other subject.  It is hard to make up a missed workout because your group is on its on cycle and plan.
• Were you taking care of yourself during the season?  How much were you really sleeping?  How well were you fueling yourself? Was it with pizza, soda, chips, and candy?  Were they healthy choices ?
• How well do you hydrate yourself? 
• How well did you handle the meets? Were the warmups and warm downs approached with a 
• purpose?  Was the effort there or did you allow distractions to dictate the results?  Did you 
• make excuses or blame anyone or anything for your lack of success?
• Are you keeping a journal of practices and meets?  Writing down what works and doesn’t work?  Your strong areas? Your weak areas?
• Were lines of communication open with the coaches?
• Do you stay up with your schoolwork or do you let it pile up creating unnecessary stress? Does this lead you to miss workouts?
• Do you create unnecessary conflicts that lead you to miss workouts?
• Do you create mind games even when you go a best time? For instance you had a soda right before you raced and now you believe coach is wrong.  Just maybe you finally nailed that turn, or your streamlines and breakouts were great or maybe you didn’t breathe into the finish, or just maybe you swam smarter and it was your time.
• Do you ride that roller coaster with your races? Really high after a god one, really low after a bad one? It takes a lot more of your energy to ride this roller coasters? Stay in the moment?

I know it’s a lot but these are areas that you need to think about and you need to be honest with yourself as you search for answers.

In closing wherever spring break finds you over the next week we hope you enjoy time away from school and swimming and most importantly enjoy time with family.

WRAP UP FROM SAINT PETERSBURG

The Mako swimmers wrapped up their four days of competition in Saint Petersburg last evening with several of our swimmers donning their suits, caps and goggles for one last race in the pool.  The atmosphere was charged as the music played on while the kids were racing in the longer events.

For our swimmers it would be one more warmup to get through before the races.  Feeling the fatigue that was now setting in, we took a different approach this evening, and kept the kids in the pool until a few heats before theirs was to take to the blocks.  All the Mako swimmers responded well to this approach with a great effort in the pool posting some best times along the way.

Mako finalists were Blake 50 fly (2nd) and 10 minutes late taking another 2nd in 100 breast.  Blake would finish as the runner up for his age group in points.  In the 13-14 50 fly Kendall and Sophia Cloutier would be seeded in lanes 1and 2 respectively.  Both girls got out fast and arrived at the turn wall simultaneously and came off with some great underwater’s , and now it was a horse race to the finish with Sophia just out touching Kendall. Sadie was next up posting another best time in the 50 free.  The last individual swim of the evening was a 200 free for Katherine Helms and her last swim as is recognized as age group swimming.  After swimming a smart race with great splits an exhausted Katherine would stop the clock a little off her time.  The meet would end with our 11-12 boys 400
free relay consisting of Chaz, Blake, Ben, and Adrian hitting the wall in 3rd place.

After the meet the swimmers and parents walked to the ark next to the pool on the bay for pizza, swimming , volleyball, and just a time for everyone to unwind from a long 5 days of swimming.

As the coaches told the swimmers on the beach the entire Mako family can feel proud of the way they were represented over the last week, and this was both in and out of the pool.  Friendship bonds were created and our older swimmers really stepped up to mentor our younger swimmers with the stretching and the socializing in the team early.  Regardless of a swimmers result, good or bad, their was always a teammate their to support them whether it was individually or as a group behind their lanes.  It is hard to realize it at this time, but long after medals have collected dust and times are forgotten it’s the other things that will become more important and that you will remember during your lives.  A big thank to all our parents who pitched in and help make this week run so smoothly
and most of all for allowing us to work with you most cherished things, your children.  You can all be so proud of them because the are a special group.

Saint Petersburg DAY 4

Day number 4 in Saint Petersburg started off a little cooler than it’s been so warmups were a little chiller than the previous mornings, but after the initial shock the kids got to work and got through in grand fashion.  We even managed to get Brady out of the pool and brought him back for a team chat and watch the sun rise.

Waiting out the 400 IM. Great event wish we had some of you in it 

Will the sun rise today for the Mako swimmers

YES IT DID AND YES WE CAN!

This mornings sessions turned out to be very successful for our Mako swimmers  with many best  times  posted  by our swimmers.  We had quite a few of the swimmers race and win their heat along with a few placing second.

Swimming their way into finals for tonight’s final session are, Blake (50 fly, and 100 breast),Kendall and  (50 fly and 100 breast), Sophia (50 fly), Brady (50 fly), Emerson (100 breast), and Katherine (200 free).

Since finals move up an hour could not elaborate much more but will later.

DAY 3 SAINT PETES

 Day three of the meet would start with another early wake up call for the swimmers.  After grabbing breakfast in the lobby we would all hop in our chariots for the short ride to the aquatic center, and another early morning swim.  Best line was from Brady who informed me that the reason he can’t stay on the right side of the lane was because it’s dark outside. Brady think about itttt!  Sorry Catherine just push him to the side of the lane.

After our early morning swim we headed to the back deck to do some stretching.  Minor problem occurred when Brady disappeared again only to cause great stress for Ethan. Now I’ll have you know that the rumor going around was that Brady was still in the pool warming up with Fish because of a certain girl.  We quickly put that rumor to rest after locating Brady.

Adrian working the tables with the group.

 Always looking for a photo opportunity are these three.

The girls holding court.

This mornings session began under a cloudless
sky and bright sunshine over the pools and would last throughout the morning.  All the swimmers would need to be extra vigilant in keeping their bodies hydrated throughout the morning.  Another element that they would be battling was swimming some longer events in the heat.  As our DJ would say a lot was that you really had to take ownership of something, get comfortable and let the good times roll.  He stated how it was easy to take ownership of a doughnut and ice cream and become very comfortable.  I rally had a good laugh with that analogy, but how true it is if you really think about it.

One of the best events in this mornings session was the 100 free with most of our Mako swimmers posting personal best on the scoreboard.   Skylar had an incredible swim taking the lead off the start and never looking back and finishing under a minute for the first time.  Another standout was Adrian Coray who would finish with a 55 and now understands how this event needs to be approached.  One of the more gutsiest swim of the morning was turned in by Emerson in the 200 breast.  After getting
out pretty well on the first leg she would go into her third turn and get an arm cramp but she powered through it and split the next 2two  50’s with 39’s but finished right out of finals in 11th place.

 Chaz swimming one of his best free stroke wise wound up dropping over 2 seconds in the event just missing the 59.  Ben had a great 100 IM this morning posting a 1 second drop on the scoreboard.

The 13-14 girls would have two relays swimming at the end of the session and fighting both fatigue

and the heat turned in some great legs in the 200 free relay.

Coming back to finals this evening are both the 10 and under and 11-12 year old 200 free relays with Sadie, Emily, Reese, Mary Claire and Chaz, Blake, Ben, and Adrian respectively.  Makos having individual events are Blake (100 IM 100 fly, 200 breast), Sadie (100 back), Katherine (100 back 100
free), Kendall (100 fly) .

As you fall asleep tonight say this to your self and believe it.  NO MORE DOUBTING!

 
WHY NOT ME!

DAY 2 SAINT PETES

The alarms sounded and it was off for a quick breakfast and an early ride to the pool for our morning warmup.  Today’s warmup went much better than the previous days.  Yes we know it was early but we were able to spread out into 4 lanes and get some easy stretch out swimming in before the hordes of other swimmers arrived.  In fact it work out so well that we made an executive decision and will arrive early the next two days also.  Yes my lovelies that means we will be in the pool by 6:30, and by the time we are finished you may head over to the back for some light stretching and enjoy the sunrise over the bay.  This is what we mean by doing things that

will help us be successful and swim fast in our races.  Get a good night sleep everyone.

Unlike yesterday this morning both courses would start off with the 100 IM for our 10 and unders and the 200 IM for everyone else.  Sadie started off the morning gaining valuable experience in the 100 IM, and swimming herself right into finals this evening. The Small sisters would both swim two great
 IM’s with Sara dropping 8 seconds, while sister Skylar after realizing it was a 200 not 100 IM would
 drop over 10 seconds.  Not to be out done our boys Adrian (3 second drop),Ben (2 second drop),and Blake swam some great IM with Blake swimming his way into finals this evening.  Our big boys Matthew, Ethan and Brady had some excellent IM’s in posting personal best.  Kitty, Kendall and Katherine Helms took their shot at this event all posting personal bests in the event dropping over 10 seconds cumulatively.

It was now time for some fliers to take their shot at the pool, and first up were the 50’s with Sadie, Emily both posting lifetime bests in the event.  We had 2 of our Mako swimmers take a crack at the 200 fly with Blake dropping 2 seconds and getting the gift of doing it again later in the evening at finals. Catherine Lim our senior statesman wound up winning her heat and dropping over 10 seconds.
We just watch Blake finish his 200 fly at finals not only winning the event but dropping another 5 seconds.

It would now be time for our backstrokes to begin their quest in the pool and also to see how they would handle this bright sunshine right over the top of the pools and not a cloud to be seen.  Swimming backstroke would be Sarah Small and Claire Dobrydney touching the wall with personal best in the event.  The 11-12. Boys would feature Chaz, Adrian and  Blake entered the pool and finished with some good swims.  Adrian and Blake would return in the evening and according to ESPN turned in 2 stellar performances finishing 8th and 2nd respectively.  Matthew and Ethan also enjoyed the rare experience of racing two good 50 backs and according to Ethan he had a time drop of over WAIT FOR IT, 30 seconds.  The 13-14 girls of Sophie Scadron, Kathleen Altenburg, Jaime, Emerson, Riley, Kendall,, Catherine, Ava, Mackenzie, Jackie, Nicole, Catherine Lim and Sophia all turning  in some great 50 backstroke races.  Sophia Cloutier would return in the evening posting a faster time and moving up 2 places.

Last swimmers in the morning would be our 500 girls with Katherine, Jackie, and Kitty.  The heat was really starting to build and to give those three a little extra down time we took them out of our relays to get ready for that 500.  Katherine was first to go in and fighting both the heat and a persistent girl next to her during the entire race turned in some incredible splits and would post a best time while finishing 2nd in her heat.  Next in was Jackie who also while fighting the heat lead early in the race and finished around her best time.  Kitty was our dark horse in this event as we have been working real hard both mentally and physically with her distance events.  With the sun blazing she dropped over 5 seconds and placed 2nd in her heat with a great effort.

The finals this evening were great for the Mako swimmers consisting of Sadie, Blake, Adrian, and Sophia and the 11-12 boys of Adrian, Blake, Ben and Chaz all posting personal best times on the scoreboard.

Saint Petersburg Day 1

The MAKO swimmers began their meet this morning at the North Shore Aquatic in Saint Petersburg Florida.   Arriving at the pool early the swimmers immediately got into the pool to begin their meet warmups.  As they worked through the warmup they were treated to a gorgeous sunrise over the bay.

Upon finishing warmups the kids took care of any last minute items and the meet began pretty much on time.  The meet was swam on two 8 lane courses.  The 10 and under and the 11 and 12 year old girls along with the 13-14 boys swam on the course named as the locker room course.  The 10 and under boys, the 11-12 year old boys and the 13-14 year old girls swam in the bay side course.

Sadie Buckley was the first Mako to swim and after figuring out we were not going to mess with the stroke count jumped in and finished pretty much on her JO time with a great turn.  Next up was Emily Radcliffe who had two really good walls and finished right around her best time.
Over in the other course Adrian Coray threw down his best 200 backstroke of the season finally figuring out a better way to split the race even though it meant he was going to hurt a little bit, but by his facial expressions it may have hurt more than a little.

We had a lot of our 13-14 year olds swimming the 200 backstroke and first up was Nicole Campbell who had the best walls I have ever seen in her races. She would drop over 3 seconds as did
Mackenzie Craig who also finished 2nd in her heat.  Jackie Dobrydney was the next girl up finishing
2nd in her heat and dropping over 2 seconds.  Sophia Cloutier was up next and not only did she win
her heat but she also dropped over 3 seconds.  Catherine Lim wanted to be aggressive with her first 50 of the 200 which she accomplished with some really nice strong walls and would finishe on her time.  Katherine Helms swam a strong 200 backstroke dropping about 1 second with some fantastic walls.

On the other course we can’t forget about our 13-14 boys swimming the 200 backstroke.  First up was Matthew Bowman who after being asked “ what can you do to shorten this race”?, had the perfect answer, long streamlines off my turns.  He proceeded to have 7 of the best turns and walls I have seen from him, something he has really worked at. Matthew would better his best time by over 6 seconds.  Ethan Birkholz turn at this event was next and after swimming and splitting a great race
would end up with his best time of the season

The breaststroke swimmers were the next group of swimmers to try their luck in the two courses.
Now you have to remember that the 13-14 year olds were doing 50’s which is not a normal event for them and they were seeded with their best 100 time.  This was more of a fun sprint event for them and not a lot of strategy.  However this was a chance for them to work on some pullouts.  Matthew B. Would place 2nd in his heat.  Chaz Stevens posted his best time of the season and Blake Madsen had his same time but would end up being seeded 1st in tonight’s finals.  Our 13-14 girls with Sophie Scadron, Ava Craig, Jaime Ellenberger, Kendall Vess, and Emerson Wilson all turning in some excellent swims in the event.  Jamie would end up placing 2nd in her heat, while Kendall placed 3rd.

Next up on both courses were the true sprinters of the sport, yes that would be the 50 freestylers.
Sometimes it may not look pretty but all they really care about is getting their hand to the wall first.
On the bay side the score board was down for a while so a lot of the times would be off my watch.  The 11-12 boys Chaz, Blake, Ben and Adrian had some great sprints with some best times, or right at
their best times.  The big stand out in this group was Adrian who would break a 25 with a 24.93.

Next up on the bay course were our 13-14 girls and first up was Kitty who heard a little birdie earlier whisper I think a 25 is possible and man did she come close with her best time of the season 26.07.  Skylar Small showed up today ready to race with the big girls posting her best time of the season along with Kathleen Altenburg, Mackenzie Craig, Emerson Wilson, Catherine McClure, Sophie Scadron, and Sophia Cloutier.  Riley Miller and Jackie Dobrydney also posted their fastest times of the season in the event.  Equaling some of their best times of the season were Katherine Helms, Brady Dasher, Ethan Birkholz, Matthew Bowman, Nicole Campbell, Jaime Craig andAva Craig.


On the other course Sara Small would win her heat while breaking 30 with a 29.2  Not to be out done Claire Dobrydney would also when her heat with her best time of the season.

It was now time for some fun with the 200 medley relays.  The 13-14 boys relays with Decker swimming the anchor shaved 6 seconds off their entry time.  The 13-14 girls B relay posted the same time

Coming back tonight to swim at finals are Sadie Buckley 50 back, Blake Madsen 50 breast and 50 free, Chaz Stevens 50 breast  Katherine Helms 200 back and 50 free, Kendall Vess 50 breast, Jackie Dobrydney 50 free, and Adrian Coray 50 free.
Also swimming finals tonight are our 10 and under,11-12 year old boys and our 13-14 year old girls 200 medley relays.

A good first day of the meet. Keep that energy level high.

GREATNESS

A while back we talked about how we needed to move our races from Good to Best and finally having that Great race.  What we have staring right at us is our last short course meet of the year in a unique outdoor setting.  This is the time to leave all those previous races behind, you have a new mountain to conquer. All of you have worked really hard this season to get yourselves to this meet and now there is nothing else to do.  Is there room for one more meet, one more week filled with GREAT races?  Yes there is if you can hold on!!!

It will take all of us working together to get us to that GREAT race.  Support each other throughout this week of racing and most importantly if you notice a teammate struggling, reach out with just one word of encouragement.  It may be just what they need to get them to the top of that mountain.  One of the easiest things you can do is cheer for them behind their lanes.  Think of yourself when you are on the blocks only to see your
teammates at the end of your lane watching and feeling each stroke you take, each breath you take
and each turn you come out of.  Embrace this week and be there for your teammates.

STARTS  
Be ready to take ownership of that block when your time comes.  Explode off that block with a purpose and accelerate into those breakout strokes.  Carry that speed into that first turn like we have at practice.

TURNS
Win the walls is the first step to that GREAT race.  Accelerate into those walls, fast in, fast out as we have done a hundred times during practice.  Breakout into your stroke before your momentum slows off the wall, in short be patient but maintain that speed off the breakouts.

FINISHES 
Time those finishes and adjust outside of flags if neede and use a full stroke to the wall.  Never breathe from flags to the wall.  Touch with the fingertips and watch the touch go from the fingertips to the palm.  Forget that scoreboard, you can look at it later.

As you enter this meet remember this, fear and self doubts  are nothing more than ghosts that we let in, don’t be afraid of them. Think back to a time this year when you had one of your best races and
have the confidence to go out and swim some GREAT races, and don’t forget racing is more
than a time.  Enjoy this unique experience, soak in the atmosphere and have fun over the next week.

Florida Group Practices

SEE YOU AT THE MEET

Thursday 4/4/19
Warm up
4x100 free@1:40
1x100 IM@2:00
3x100 free@1:30
1x100 IM @2:00
2x100 Free@1:20
1x100 IM@2:00

Pre set
3x
4x50 stroke @1:10
#1 drill #2 kick #3 build to fast turn #4 fast race put it together

Main set
6x
3x50 free fast @45 fast feet on turns deep arm no breath
1x50 easy back @1:15
3x25 fast stroke @30

1x25 easy back @1:00

Warm down 200 easy
3800 yards

SATURDAY 4/6/19
Warm up
200 free quiet/ 200 pull buoys/200 kick
200 back quiet/ 200 pull/200 kick no boards

Pre set
4x
2x25 fast kick @30 boards
1x50 kick easy on back @1:00

Main set
3x
4x50 build to fast turn@1:10
4x25 @40 odds fast breakouts to 15 meters evens build to fast finish
4x25 @50 fast RACE PUT IT TOGETHER
1x100 easy free @2:00
Round 1 stroke. Round 2 choice no free. Round 3 free

Warm down
200

3300 yards