On many days you begin your training thinking that you would rather be in bed or anywhere else other than stepping into the pool. Many around you including the coach are enthusiastic, motivated and ready to go. The question is what do you do next?

Are you willing to do the opening set better, stronger and more focused than anyone else so that you will have the winning edge? Are you going to be the best in your lane today? You must hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone else in your lane is prepared to do. Are you prepared to challenge yourself to more significant goals daily?

The difference between the very good athlete and the average athlete is often their approach to training. The training plan may be important yet the real path to success is HOW you do the work which is totally dependent on your attitude and approach.

The good athlete will do the workout on the board in the fashion that is described.

The very good athlete does the same workout and sets personal goals along the way to gain more from the workout.

The great athlete will do the workout demanding a level of excellence to gain maximum benefit recognizing that today's training session is an opportunity to improve. They will keep a positive spirit while striving towards stated goals.

The spirit of an athlete was described once by Theodore Roosevelt who said:  

It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to those in the arena; who strive valiantly; who fail and come up short again and again; who know great enthusiasm and great devotion; who at the best know in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, at least fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Poseidon Blue athlete Ben Brody said it best during our last competition where he recorded many personal best efforts; IT IS CHAMPIONSHIP TIME YOU GOT TO WORK HARDER. Great advice Ben!

Giddy Up!