Random Thoughts

"FOUR MORE IN FOUR"-Status Update.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

In an effort to do something that has never been done in Utah to my knowledge, I want to report on what we have been doing so far at HAST. I am very please with the progress of all our swimmers. They are working exceptionally hard and striving to learn all that they need to in order to improve their abilities. With the end of this week-Days 13 through 18, and the start of another I just wanted to give a report on the progress of the HAST swimmers in our "Quest" for "FOUR MORE IN FOUR". During the past week in our techniques sessions, we focused heavily on breastroke and the backstroke. Over the course of the last four weeks we have been taking five days each of fly, free, breast and now backstroke work. Our back work will conclude Tuesday, 4 May, 2010.

After Tuesday we will begin adding more endurance training. Another point of emphasis has been on the legs. The legs are so very important in long course as they can help build a race and bring it home. We have had some great leg workouts in and out of the pool. In our dryland sessions we have been building up to running 3 to 4 miles each session with bouts of random exercises between runs. Medicine ball, VASA and power rack work will also be added this week to help the swimmers really increase their strength, speed and endurance. It is going to be a fun week. As we enter a new week I want all of my HAST swimmers to read,then remember this quote from the Boxing's former great Heavyweight Muhammad Ali. He said:

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."

WE, as a HAST team are going to really strive to work hard no matter what level you are currently at. If you do not have a state time then we are going to help provide you the skills and conditioning levels needed to help you achieve your goals. If you are qualified for Sectionals and beyond then we are going to provide you the skills and conditioning levels to get to the next level. We have two years until 2012 and the four year plan calls for us to really build through this summer to help you get the most out of your long course experience, while preparing every HAST team member to compete at the highest levels possible this season. I love the following quote from Thomas Edison about failure. This relates directly to what I just stated in that you will not fail unless you fail to prepare by participating fully in the program. Additionally people only fail if they give up or fail to learn something from their experiences so that they may go on and get better.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work."

I have been coaching now for nearly 32 years. Since my volunteer days with the old Meas Aquatics in Mesa, Arizona I have learned a lot and grown. I have seen many great things happen to swimmers who are committed and dedicated to their training. Every swimmer, from the very beginning level of swimmer up to the Olympic Trial qualifier has one thing in common. That is that if they want to improve and get better they must WORK. Lance Armstrong said it best when he stated,

"I've read that I flew up the hills and mountains of France. But you don't fly up a hill. You struggle slowly and painfully up a hill, and maybe, if you work very hard, you get to the top ahead of everybody else."

There is no substitute for work. Going places requires work. Learning and passing math class requires work. Having a beautiful garden requires work. Learning to swim requires work. Making it to Regions, State, Sectionals or to whatever level you want to be at requires you to work. I promise you that if you will work hard, be dedicated to your health, progress and goals you will reap great rewards. Coach Vince Lombardi of the World Champion Green Bay Packers reveals his feelings about winning championships after the months of hard work in and out of season. He states,

"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the battlefield of victory."

There are few things more satisfying than knowing you have paid the price and then seeing and feeling yourself achieve a difficult goal you have set for yourself. I hope that all my HAST swimmers will go forward and set realistic, yet challenging goals that will help you grow and progress towards the fulfillment of our team motto FOUR MORE IN FOUR. Go HAST!!!!!!