Winter '08 Coaches Message - Event Preperation

So, what are your goals for the year? It's time to set them and to adjust goals that you already have (hopefully in an upward direction).

I've got an anecdote about approaching an athletic event for y'all.

I spent New Year's eve and day in Vancouver BC. I found out about the annual English Bay Polar Bear swim a couple days before I went up. This polar bear swim is unique in my experience as it has a competitive edge to it. There is a 100 yard race with a prize for the top three placers. Now I may have jumped in anyway, but with the carrot of competition thrown in, I decided to swim (a lot farther than I would have otherwise) for sure.

With my goal to be competitive in the race, I had to spend some time planning. The water was 44 degrees, the air 41 degrees and there were an unknown number of people actually competing (1700 plus registered, probably only 50 raced). I had to stay warm before the event, prepare mentally and physically for the shock of the water temp., figure out where the buoy was that we were racing to, position myself on the beach for a good start, etc.

The day of the swim, I had a large, high calorie breakfast, packed all my gear and bundled up in many many layers.

2 hours before the swim I got to the beach to scope out the location. I registered, found out the competitive swimmers swam the north side of the course, then visualized the race (focusing foremost on ignoring the coldness of the water). I used the visualization exercise many times before the swim. I watched as various groups arrived for the swim and enjoyed the party like atmosphere of the event without losing my focus on the swim.

1 hour to go, I changed into my suit and then layered back up in such a way that I could disrobe quickly. I got a hot chocolate and some fries to keep my blood sugar high and my core warm.

15 minutes to go and I joined the crowd waiting to get into the staging area. Here I tried to figure out who the competition was with little success, there were too many people, so I focused on my own race instead, and got my PPST cap on.

1 minute to go, we were let into the staging area. I quickly pulled off my boots, warm ups, hat, shirt and just as I was standing up, the rush was on for the water. There were people ahead of me, this was no time for hesitation!

As visualized, I took three strides into the water and dove forward away from the crowd. The water was frigid, but since I prepared mentally for it I was able to focus on quick strokes and controlling my breathing (hard to do in very cold water). About 2/3 way out, I sited the finishing buoy and headed for it. With 6 strokes left, there were two of us racing for it. I went for the underwater long reach finish, he took the extra stroke and touched the buoy up high (where the life guard could see). I got 2nd.

I'm exceedingly happy with this result. I competed in an event that I've never taken part in before, it required skills and toughness that I've not exercised, I had no idea what the competition would be like, and I did well (Trevor, the winner, has won 5 of the last 6 swims - other things being equal, experience, in the end, does matter).

My good result was due to planning, preparation and visualization. I started my race at breakfast fueling myself for the race and the cold, got focused before the race, and by mentally preparing myself for the swim (through visualization) I was able to overcome the challenges of the event.

So, the reason to tell y'all this is not just to toot my own horn, but to demonstrate how YOU can prepare yourself before a competition. Whether you are swimming your favorite event, or taking on something that scares the pants off you (as this one did for me), there is no better way to do well. Planning your competition and visualizing your success is the difference between good athletes and great athletes.

IN THE END, the moral of this story is...
Swimming back from a buoy through 44 degree water is harder than swimming there in the first place. (I didn't visualize the return journey)