Pain Is Temporary

So guys, we have a meet tomorrow!

Now if you immediately think "Holy crap, that's just one more thing to pile on top of all this hard work we're doing," or "I'm not going to swim well because I am so sore and tired, so I'm just not going to try at all," or "This f-----g sucks," then I want you to turn your brain off and listen for a few minutes.

How tired are you going to be on Sunday at PAC's? The last day of an intense three-day meet? You are going to be very tired. Why? Because you have not only trained your ass off for months, but you are also giving every race your best effort, to the point where you don't think you can climb out of the pool afterward. You are all going to be champions, with winning attitudes, and the knowledge that you did your best. This week, you guys have trained hard, and broken down a lot of muscle. THAT'S GREAT! When you break your muscles down during a hard workout, then go eat (and I mean EAT), stretch, and sleep, you are preparing your body for those three days up at Grove City. It is times like these when true champions are defined. Who will rise to the occasion? You are all very hard workers. You are ALL working hard. So enough complaining. Yes, you're going to be sore. Pain is temporary. Winter training does not last forever, so why complain about it? Work hard, have the right attitude, and it will fly by! Before you know it, we will be tapering, and practices will be getting easier and easier. So leave your negative attitude at the door tomorrow, and put on your game face.

Let me tell you a story:

Last year, for my team's winter training, we spent the entire of a Friday morning traveling. Friday night, we had our first winter training practice. Saturday morning we had our second. Saturday night we had our third. Each practice we were in the pool for close to three hours, averaging about 8000 yards per practice. And I was middle-distance. Right from the first practice of winter training I had started giving everything I had. That third practice in a row, with about 45 minutes left, my arms and legs gave out on me. I mean literally, gave out on me. I looked like one of those 70 year old men who swim laps, breathing every stroke, moving at a snail's pace, every lifeguard's worst nightmare. Everyone in the pool was passing me. That was the lowest point I had ever been training-wise. I missed all the intervals for the remaining sets, and just kept going. That's right, I kept going. I will not lie to you guys, I did cry. I was upset because I could not seem to get my arms moving. I was upset that I could fall so low. I had been doing great all of fall, and I couldn't believe this kind of thing could ever happen. When practice finally ended, I couldn't get out of the pool for about five minutes. And then I used the ladder. I NEVER use the ladder. I repeat, I NEVER use the ladder. Attached is the picture of me after that practice. I cried when my friend Brad gave me three Oreos, because I was so f-----g hungry. No words can fully describe how awful I felt.

Later, I had a long talk with my coach. She gave me lots of words of advice, that I am happy to pass on some of it to you guys: "I am so proud of you."

Even in the face of utter defeat, and wanting nothing more to stop, to rest, I didn't. I kept trying, I kept going, I kept swimming. And I'm glad to say, it all paid off. Three months later, I had the best meet of my life. I destroyed all my times, and was more successful than I thought I could ever do. To achieve greatness, you have to work hard. You can never give up. So tomorrow, and for the rest of winter training, I don't want to see anyone give up. When the sets get hard, and your shoulders start to hurt, are you going to give up at the first sign of pain? HELL TO THE NO YOU ARE NOT. Tomorrow you are all going to march into Wash & Jeff and say: "Hi, we're the Bearcats, and we're going to kick your asses. Thanks for having us." We win with class. We don't give up. We don't get negative, because we know it brings down the team. We keep going, and we cheer each other on. We give each other Oreos when we're having bad days.

So in conclusion, stay positive, never, ever, ever give up, and be a team.

I am so proud of you guys. Keep up the good work.

GO BEARCATS!!!

 

-Steve