SMELL THE ROSES

Valentines Day, Roses and swimming.  Do they have anything in common?  Roses and Valentines Day go together.   Have you ever heard the phrase, Slow down and Smell the roses?

This thought came up during our meet in Greensboro a few days ago and the reason for that is simple, we had talked about warmup and warm down during the meet and I always wonder if you all hear the message, I know you hear the noise but do you really hear the message? 

First up was warmups the first day of the meet when what to my Astonishment some swimmers said they were finished warmup after 15 minutes and all I could do is shake my head.   You are about to ask your body to be ready to race when you make that call but you fail to prepare it and get it ready for the grueling task ahead.

Second we talked about getting a long warm down after your last event (300-600 depending on your level and age).  I actually had to sit at a swimmers lane and keep them going because after a 50 this swimmer said I'm done, so we continued on foe another 450 although almost at every wall the swimmer asks, Am I done?  To the swimmers credit when getting out I heard these words, I feel better now.

The point is that there are times when you just need to slow your roll a little bit in order to get yourself to a better place.  I get that this sport is all about speed and sometimes we get so wrapped up in it that we fail to slow down and enjoy the other things that this sport has to offer.  

the phrase "stop and smell the roses" as it is applied to swimming is an encouragement to enjoy this sport with a deeper degree of gratefulness for what surrounds you beyond the times.  It is a reminder to take notice of the things that surround you, chlorine smells, the facilities, the teammates, the moments outside the pool, its the reminder to be present in every moment and to enjoy that moment to its's fulfillment.  Be present in that moment and to do that you need to put the phone down once a while. 

Just a thought1