They say many hands make light work. "They" are right!! Swimmers spend so much of their time preparing. They prepare their heart and lungs for long races. They prepare their technique in order to stay as fast and efficient as possible in their races. Coaches prepare training plans to best fit the swimmers goals. Coaches prepare for what the best thing is to say in each of the millions of different situations they will be in each day. Officials prepare their knowledge of the rules so that every athlete has a fair and even chance to succeed. Parents prepare a great home where their children can have a safe and loving place to learn about the world. From my perspective the above list includes many of the things that I truly love about the sport of swimming. It's made up of all of these little situations that test us to see how good of an example we can set for the young impressionable athletes around us. In my experience, the swimmers, coaches, officials, and parents with the most potential to support the best possible swimming never see any of these things happening around them as problems. They stay in their role when it comes to swimming. While their team mates are at the bargaining table under the coaches tent negotiating what events to scratch, they are getting in a great pre-race warm-up. While other teams coaches are negotiating scratch possibilities, our staff is talking race strategy. While the pushy parents are pushing, the supportive parents step away and give the pushy ones room to reveal themselves. While the timing system is acting up we don't panic and complain, we initiate plan "B" and move forward.
The ability to plan, train, and prepare are great skills to develop; but it is more important to be able to identify, adapt, and act in the best interest of us and those around us.
These are the lessons I learned while preparing as a coach for the 10k races in 2006-2008.
We had to plan, but we had to go much deeper than a pool race plan. We had to plan for the many scenarios that could happen throughout the race. We had to know how each competitor could be used as an ally, and when to identify them as a threat. The 10k was not really a swimming race at all, but a constantly changing strategic battlefield. It is a race where you can not execute your own ideal race plan unless you were both aware of and ready to react to the plans of your competitors. Next weekend in Florida, we will see who has prepared their "battle plans". If you watch the race, look deep to see who is going unnoticed. They will be the biggest threat late in the race. If we have a front line battle in the first 2/3 of the race, it will mostly be made up of guys wasting their energy that could more wisely be contained for later breakaway opportunities. Look to see who is willing to sit back in 10th-20 place in the first few laps around the 2500 meter course. They will be in best position to watch and learn what their biggest competitors are doing and capable of on that day. Watch for these smart racers to make a false break away from time to time to see who is willing to go with them. Try to identify who is packing a bunch of gels in their suit before the race, they may not be planning to stop at the feed boat; they may launch an attempt to take the lead pack away from the feed station alltogether. Though it is a detrimental move for anyone not to get the hydration available, it will serve best those that have gel packs ready for this situation. If the pack draws away from the feed station and you are determined to stay with the pack, don't stress, just stay with them and feed from your gels after the next set of turns. If someone is determined to stay attached to you and you don't want them near, slow down to a point where they think staying with you is a bad idea and they will go away. Every time you adjust your plans, gain confidence. Remain in control of your emotions as things get tougher in the race. There is no reason to waste precious energy getting upset. After all, it is probably someone else's plan to get you worked up and wasting energy.
There are so many scenarios that will play out in the men's 10 trials this week and I look forward to seeing what happens. It will be a day of mixed emotions. I have my predictions, and those are probably best kept to myself. But, I can tell you that whether you are running a swim meet, racing in one, coaching one, cheering at one, or in the 10k race of your life, calm confidence in yourself and your preparations will carry you to the finish line far ahead of anyone without it.
