MYTH #1 - "There is an easy way, I just haven't found it yet."
There is no easy way. All fast swimming for everyone comes as a result of hard work. There is value in always trying to find a better way (the reason for this blog), but there will never be an easy way. Realizing this is key to tapping your motivation to give maximum effort every day.
TRUTH #1 - Swimming is Hard Work
There is no other sport that demands the combination of athleticism, physical fitness, attention to detail, and volume of rigorous training the way swimming does. There is no way of getting around it: if you want to achieve anything in swimming, be prepared to work hard for your goals. Those who begin by accepting this truth and embracing the challenge and the difficulty that it represents have taken a huge step toward their swimming success. A key to this step is understanding that though the effort required will be great, the rewards of achieving your goal will be equally rewarding.
MYTH #2 - "That swimmer is fast because he/she is just talented."
These words are usually spoken by somebody who believes in myth #1. If you find yourself believing or maybe even saying this myth out loud, consider your own talents and find a way to maximize them to better achieve your own goals. This is far more effective than bemoaning your talent deficiency.
TRUTH #2 -You have inside of you right now what it takes to be a champion.
That's right. You already possess the mental and physical abilities to achieve your swimming dreams. These qualities have been present in you since birth and have been molded by your parents, your coaches, and your individual actions and choices. From now forward, it is your future actions and the choices you will make that determine the heights to which you will ascend.
You are talented in a different way than every other swimmer. When you see another swimmer succeed, it is because he or she has figured out how to get the best out of herself, not because he or she is any more talented than you. She has taken her talent and put it to use to the best of her ability. Will you do the same? Will you seek to maximize your talents by making the daily choices of a high achiever?
The second truth should empower and inspire you. Swimming success is yours for the taking.
MYTH #3 - "This is just practice, I will do it correctly/faster at the meet."
This myth is perpetuated by those who have poor practice habits. When it comes to anything technical, only perfect practice makes perfect. The pressure and excitement of a competitive situation tend to exacerbate your bad habits rather than magically improve them. Factor in the fatigue you will feel in a swimming race, and you can see that you are truly only as fast as your habits will let you be. Strive daily to eliminate your bad habits and practice good technique at all times.
TRUTH #3 –You will race how you train. Your preparation will determine your results.
There is a reason why we call it practice. We are rehearsing what we want to do at the race, preparing our skills, and improving our fitness. If we were only doing the last of these, we would merely call it training.
When an actor is preparing for a Broadway musical, he prepares methodically, rehearsing the production in parts. He repeats each line exactly as he hopes to perform it in the show. Not once does he allow himself to make up the lines as he goes or allow himself to perform them incorrectly. Doing so would encourage him to make the same error when he is performing in front of the audience.
We must take the same approach with our swimming technique. We must strictly avoid doing things incorrectly and always be exploring ways to perform better. We must visualize the championship meet performance that we seek and strive to prepare precisely for that. The great performance can only be preceded by careful preparation. Strive to practice correctly and prepare precisely to swim the race you dreamed.
MYTH #4 - "Swimming is an individual sport."
Ironically, this myth is usually believed by someone who has always been in a good team situation. Though it is true that we mostly compete as individuals in a race, the social nature of our sport cannot be totally discounted. If you believe this myth, try training by yourself. Better yet, imagine swimming at a meet where the only people in the building are you and your 7 competitors. Make the most of your teammates by supporting them, and they will support you.
TRUTH #4 – "The fastest swimming is often performed by athletes who surround themselves with excellence."
To realize this truth, you have to look no further than the current state of swimming in the United States. Look at the success of North Baltimore Aquatic Club, which has placed a 15-year old on each of the last four U.S. Olympic teams. They have established a tradition of success that breeds more achievement today.
Look at the results for Olympic Trials - how many of the top swimmers are the lone standout on their teams? Not many. Most are part of programs that routinely develop swimmers to the highest levels, creating a culture of excellence.
Success in our sport occurs in clumps. Talented, hardworking athletes tend to train together and reach new levels together. Train hard to be the best you can be, and encourage your teammates to do the same. Together, you can push each other to new heights!
MYTH #5 - "That little technical thing won't make a difference."
This myth is believed by people with poor attention to detail. This "pennies on the sidewalk" mentality leads them to believe myths #1 and 2, because only big improvements are worth the effort.
TRUTH #5 –"The little things ARE the big things."
First, there is no such thing as a 'little thing.' Drag is a huge factor in determining swimming speed, and each small technical adjustment can have an impact. Not only that, but a bunch of these small technical adjustments can add up to so much more.
Think about the last time you saw a penny on the ground. Was it worth picking up? Would you have been more likely to pick it up if it was a nickel? How about a dollar? What if every time you walked down the street, there was a penny, and every day you picked it up? Eventually, you would begin to accumulate enough money to be able to purchase something of value.
As swimmers and coaches, we sometimes get stuck in this "penny on the sidewalk" mentality, one that says the changes we can make are so small as to be insignificant. But the truth is that it is the sum of these changes that make a difference. Thus we must strive daily to make small incremental improvements. Some days, we may be able to make a dollar's worth of improvement. Other days, just a penny. But if we strive for improvement each and every day, the sum will be well worth the effort.
MYTH #6 - "I messed up my taper."
Usually stated after the meet or season concludes by someone who is unhappy with his performance. Though it is possible to not hit a taper correctly, the far more likely culprit is poor preparation all season long. Many swimmers and coaches who believe this myth don't honestly evaluate what came before the taper.
TRUTH #6 – You control 80% of your own training.
At this stage it is important for the you to take full responsibility for your sport. Your coach is just reinforcing this concept. Having a good attitude, developing proper time management, and demonstrating a strong work ethic are important both in and out of practice and competition. These are called “hidden training factors.” You are in control of what you eat, how much sleep you get, your practice attendance, and even your effort at practice. This may really add up to even more than 80%. Whatever happens at the end of the season is up to you.
If you find yourself buying into any one of these myths, honestly evaluate where this belief comes from and whether it truly holds any water (pun intended).
Adapted from posts at http://swimtelligence.blogspot.com/
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