It's the season to be tough!

Christmas is always a difficult time for a swim coach for various reasons,
1. The pool will be closed for a number of days.
2. How do we plan a week when we only have a few sessions.
3. How do we keep the swimmers in decent shape but also let them have some down time.
4. The dreaded illness, unfortunately it's going to happen to someone.

After spending many a Christmas wondering what the best approach was and trying out different things I decided this year we would take the approach of "Christmas time = time to man up". I accept that people will be ill, people will go on holiday but for the kids that are here and really making the effort to be better they have been doing some really gruelling sets, 20*400, 5*1000, and on Saturday 120*100, this will be one of the biggest sets ever done in a swimming pool across Britain and across the world.

We are only swimming 5 times a weeks so we are doing lots of long swimming to keep fitness up and to prepare for the rest of the season. A lot of people say isn't it too much? My answer is no way, this isn't hard it's just long. What a lot don't realise is that it is more a test of mental strength than physical. This period is a test to see who wants it and is willing to go that extra mile to do so. Being physically ready to race is only half the battle. You have to be mentally prepared to race and especially if you are at a 5 or 6 day competition, often the mind will give up before the body. You have to be mentally tough.

When we as a team stand on that block come April 10th rest assured we will be ready for battle.

Here is a link that makes for interesting reading on my views.
http://swimnews.com/News/view/9975