SWIM and Rock Thoughts

 

The wrap up from the swim and rock meet this past weekend.  After missing this meet last year it was a great experience.  You all showed up, raced and should be very happy about your performances over the weekend.  A big THANKS to all our parents who volunteered to help out during the meet, we could not have done it without your support.

While I watched swimmers race this weekend, ones who have put in the work during the last year and especially during the past 2 months I may have had a tear or two (okay maybe it was the bad air)  thinking back how far you all have come during a very challenging time.  Some conquered new events over the weekend, ones that they would have never dreamed of racing a mere two months ago.  Some of you got to experience coming back and swimming at finals with the "BIG KIDS" in the evening, and yes Petra you can race a 200 fly twice in one day, just ask Coach Peter it was his favorite event.

It's always fun to watch our 12 and under's race and see how they perfect their flip turns, or do their first Big Girl/Boy finish in backstroke or maybe how they go a little faster and longer underwater and then as they touch a little smile appears on their face as they realized they just went a little faster than before.

As we move forward let's take a look back when we talk about swimming in our comfort zone,  This past weekend one of our senior swimmers swimmers walked by me and said "once a year Coach Mike".  It brought a tear to my eye to realize that this swimmer who came through the system with Coach Beth in the mini program through Junior Gold and Senior Prep and now with Coach Peter hung onto that one concept  that we talked about many years ago "swimming out of the comfort zone. " Katherine Helms will be the first one to shout it from the mountain top that 200 fly is not an event for her, but non the rest here she was swimming it at swim and rock.  Why? You would have to ask her but I venture to guess because it's  there and it will help her down the road in her good events.  

The comfort zone can involve many aspects in your swimming and not just events and distances.  It can be simply deciding to push a little harder during a kick set or the main set.  It could be getting your feet over the to a little faster on the turns or something as simple as not taking that first breath off your walls every repeat and not just when you want to.  Maybe its working that underwater kick a little faster and longer.  All I do know is that "Great Things never come from the "Comfort Zone."

Tomorrow - What if I had a Bad Race?