5 Quotes to Remember When Tackling Training

Courtesy of Daniel Barth

No matter how in love you may be with the sport of swimming, training is not always going to be rainbows and butterflies. Let’s face it, there will be days where practice is deathly hard and you just wish you could pack up your bags and go home. As difficult as it may be at times, training is necessary to continue to improve and get to where you want to be as a swimmer. Here are five quotes that can help you keep pushing forward when training gets difficult.

1. Don’t Give In

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

– Muhammad Ali

Training is going to be challenging. It is as simple as that. Most swimmers who have succeeded at a high level don’t enjoy training any more than the next person, but they have the willingness and drive to do what it takes to achieve their goals. If you want to be successful, there is no way to get around having to give it your all in training each and every day. There will be days where you want to just throw in the towel, but pushing through it and refusing to give in will yield positive results. It’s not going to be a cakewalk, but the success you will achieve in the pool from doing so will be worth the struggle.

2. Overcome the Frustrations

“To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.”

– T.F. Hodge

Training and frustration will always go hand in hand. Whether it is stemming from a self-perceived lack of progress, issues with teammates and coaches, or an unwillingness to put the work in, frustration is normal. However, just because it is normal does not mean you can let it impede your progress. Remember, training is merely an obstacle you have to overcome to achieve your goals. When you are focused on the goals you have set forth, you understand that training is a necessary component to reach those goals, so you have to attack it with all of your effort. There will be practices where you are frustrated, but work hard and take as much out of it as you can. Training is simply a means to an end.

3. Achievements Never Come Easy

“Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.”

– Napoleon Hill

The sport of swimming requires a great deal of sacrifice. In the heat of the season when you are enduring early morning practices and doubles, it does not leave much time for anything other than school and practice. As a result, social and entertainment aspects are often forced to take a back seat. It gets old having to use the “I can’t, I have practice” excuse when you have the opportunity to go do something fun with friends or family, but that is part of the sacrifice that is necessary. Are there times when we would rather do something other than waking up before the break of dawn to go practice for two hours? Of course, but if you are willing to make that sacrifice, the achievement that comes as a result will be all the more rewarding.

4. Be Willing to Learn

“If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you’re determined to learn, no one can stop you.”

-Unknown

Having the willingness to learn from coaches and other swimmers is vital to getting the most out of your swimming experience. So many people strive for greatness, but are too stubborn to use the resources that can help them get there. Ask coaches what you can do to improve your stroke and get better, observe other swimmers techniques and work ethic, or put in some extra time after practice. These are all positive ways to continue to improve and become the best swimmer you can be. Someone who is unwilling to seek help and who is closed off to constructive criticism will never reach their full potential. Always being open to new ideas and being willing to learn will help you get the most out of your training time and keep you on a steady path of growth.

5. Rise Above the Competition

“When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet them they will win.”

– Ed Macauley

Never assume that you are untouchable no matter how hard you have been training, because there are always other swimmers out there training just as hard, or even harder. There will be days when you are not feeling 100%, but it is important to give it your best effort each time you enter the pool. Being diligent in your practice habits will spare you from having to wonder what could have happened if you had put in the extra work. Go the extra mile at practice, attack each interval no matter how hard it is, take something positive out of every set, and keep pushing to be the best you can be. When you’re not working hard, there is always someone else that is.