Dorthy first meets the Scarecrow in her travels and unlike the scarecrow, you all are not very scary at all. Unlike the scarecrow who is seeking a brain all of you were born with one. Swimmers all crave the smell of chlorine and the feel of sliding through the water with ease. As a sportscaster once said " thrill of victory and the agony of defeat", whatever the results you always come back for more. Why? It's called endorphins, the hormone that makes you feel happy and is nature's high and is the reason why swimming is so addictive. These endorphins are especially released during your races. Be smart let your brain take you to that mountain top.
As Dorthy and the Scarecrow travel down the yellow brick road they come upon this old rusty Tin Man who only wants one thing, a ♥️. Again how lucky each of you are to have been born with a healthy heart. Obviously the heart controls the blood flow to your muscles throughout practices and races. Swimming is a aerobic sport and each time you swim your heart gets stronger by helping it grow and become larger which makes in more efficient in pumping the blood throughout your body. This comes in handy during those long races. The better condition you can get your heart in the better you are able to finish those races. To be a good swimmer you need to have a big ♥️
The last person that Dorthy meets on the road is my favorite in the story, yes the Cowardly Lion who when we first meet him is afraid of his own shadow probably the way a lot of you felt when you first saw me on the pool deck. The lion like all of you has to find his courage. When did you start building your courage in swimming? It was probably that first time you entered the "baby pool" and then graduated and jumped into the "BIG POOL' with Mom and Dad, and then on to that first swim instructor, your first venture into the deep end of the pool. Then came this first races across the pool with your friends and then that first day of "swim team". The first meet, the first race, the first relay. All of these things help develop your skills and build confidence and courage in the swimmer you are today. It takes a lot of courage to get up on those blocks and look down that lane especially when things don't go your way. But you always come back and step up again, and why. Because your brain is addicted, you have a big heart and you are courageous.
That courage that you have been building all your life will allow you to take risks in your races. It will allow you to be fearless in your races.
For this of you swimming this week in St. Petersburg, Be Smart, swim with a Big Heart, and Be Courageous.
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