1 + 1 = 2

Above is one of the most basic addition problem there is. This is something that is taught to us at an early age and is the basis of most of our knowledge of arithmetic. As we progress we move on to subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, algebra, trigonometry, calculus...and on and on (well, at least for some). All of this learning started with 1+1=2 and developed into (again, for some) a complex form of mathematics. For all of us, 1+1=2 became a known entity, something that is consistent and something we do not have to be reminded of at the beginning of every math class throughout our schooling.

One of the first things a beginning swimmer will learn is streamlining (like a kayak, not a canoe...right Bronze?). A good streamline is essential to maintaining speed off of the start and turns and leads to great body position during that lap (and great form in all four strokes). Just like the math problem 1+1=2 coaches should not have to tell the swimmers to streamline off of the walls at the beginning of every practice (or every set or every repeat of a set). If progress is to be made a swimmer needs to be consistent in their learning as well as their swimming during practice. Some of the people you see at the top of the results event after event and meet after meet are not the most talented swimmers around, but they are certainly the most consistent and persistent swimmers around. Talent will only take you so far, but you have to do the rest through excellent practice attendance, consistent learning and hard work during practice and a willingness to improve yourself on a daily basis.

Forget About the Groundhog

Some people look forward to February 2nd when groundhogs around the country (like Punxsutawney Phil) are pulled from a hole at sunrise to determine the proximity of springtime. Me, I prefer to look further ahead about two weeks when teams begin to gather in Florida and Arizona for baseball's Spring Training. That, my friends, is the truest indication that spring (and summer, for that matter) is right around the corner.

The approaching spring also means the coming of another championship season. Five months into the season with just over a month to go a swimmer can do more to harm their preparation for the championship meets then to help it at this point. Practice attendance is vital right now but that alone will not get you to your goals. You have to be doing everything in and out of the pool to prepare yourself for March. Now is a perfect time to assess your eating and sleeping habits and make necessary adjustments so that you are ready for peak performance in March.

COUNTDOWN
NJ High School State Meet of Champions and DST Last Chance Meet: 14 Days
Eastern Zone Sectional Championships: 25 Days
MA Junior Olympics: 26 Days
MA Senior Champs: 32 Days
MA Mini Champs: 42 Days
Eastern Zone All-Star Meet: 46 Days
MA Regional Champs: 48 Days

These are the meets the coaches have been planning for since August. These are the meets the team has been working toward since the first day of practice. They all seemed very far away when the preparation began but they now appear on the horizon.

(Oh...95-67 and repeat as NL East Champions with a trip to the NLCS in October.)

College Conference Championships

Its hard to believe but the College Conference Championship season has arrived. Many GCIT Swimming Alumni will be in action over the course of the next few weeks representing their schools against the other teams in their respective college conferences. Collegeswimming.com does a great job organizing results from these meets here: http://www.collegeswimming.com

Here are the former GCIT Swimming team members that will be in action during the months of February and March:

This Weekend (Feb 14-17)
Lauren Stull, Mike Tubb, and Brian Brady (Rider/MAAC)
Matt Fralinger (Loyola/MAAC)

Weekend of Feb 20-24
Kacey McCaffrey (NYU/UAA)
Kerry Choplin (Kutztown/PSAC)
Michelle Wesh (Bloomsburg/PSAC)
Jamie Marks (Arkansas/SEC)
Mandee Cregar (South Carolina/SEC)
Bill Cregar (Georgia/SEC)
Sammi Edwards (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Meghan McCourt (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Stephanie McAllister (Rowan/Metropolitan)
Ryan Gorsky (Montclair State/Metropolitan)
Cassie Tubb (College of Charleston/CCSA)
Kellene McCall and Owen Black (LaSalle/Atlantic Ten)
Kelly O'Hara (Pittsburgh/Big East)
Greg McFadden (Bentley/New England DII-DII Champs)

Weekend of Feb 27 - March 1
Sabrina Warren and Ryan Majek (Towson/CAA)
Christian Sprang (Michigan/Big Ten)
Megan Carlin (Penn/Ivy League)
ECAC Championships for various teams and swimmers

Weekend of March 6-9
Evan Schindewolf (Harvard/EISL)

The results of the various conference championship meets are a great way to see what conferences and teams would be a good fit for you. Take the time to look at the results from as many meets as possible and compare those times to the times you are doing now. You will be able to see how you would fit in right now as well as how much faster you would have to get to swim at different schools. Just keep in mind that the times for each conference will get faster every year.

Its Not About the Suit

OK...look past the fact that I haven't posted anything since September. I'll spare you the "sorry I've neglected the blog" stuff. It is nice to see the number of people that keep checking back. I'll try to post more as we move forward.

So what is the reason for this post, the first in almost five months? Well, as the championship meets approach the various swim apparel companies send out their championship suit catalogs. If you tuned in to the Today Show this morning you would have seen the official release of the new Speedo LZR Racer which will be available this summer. Technical words that are not readily thrown around the pool deck (like "compression" and "repellency") are used to describe these suits which, seemingly, are there to take you to the next level. Unfortunately some see these catalogs or see (insert USA Swimming National Team Member's name here) swim fast wearing a certain suit and think "That's what I need to swim fast." However, in the end, its not about the suit. Its about the person that is wearing the suit.

We do have to talk about the fact that these suits are very expensive. Yet most of them are not meant to be worn constantly and really only last for a couple of meets. This is the compression factor working against you : every time you put that suit on it stretches out a little bit. The more you wear it the more it stretches out. Once the compression aspect of the suit has been compromised the suit has no "added edge" in a race. It is about assessing the value of the suit and using it at the right times. Since the suit is only meant to be used, at most, six times you have to save it for the six most important meets in the future.

Do you attend every dryland session offered? When you are at practice, are you working hard when you are asked to work hard and focusing on technique when told to do so? What is your practice attendance percentage? 70%? 80%? 90%? We have said before that the percentage of practices you attend is akin to the level your body will be able to perform at a meet. If you attend 85% percent of the workouts, you can expect to be at 85% of your best at the meet. There is absolutely no LEGAL substitute for these factors.

This sport, perhaps more than any other, is driven by science and technology. This is a great thing as it is the perfect combination of physical and mental abilities. There has been an amazing impact on this sport through the evolution and technology behind the swimsuit, especially since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. But a swimsuit on its own can not move anywhere; there has to be a body in that suit to make it go...not the other way around.