Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Why You Need a Coach

Because coaches have wisdom gained from years of experience watching swimmers succeed and fail...because as an athlete, you only get one opportunity to reach your potential... because you need an honest voice to tell you how things are, not just how you want them to be... so that you have someone who has been there for every moment of preparation to share the excitement of victory with... so that someone who knows how bad you wanted it and how hard you worked is there to pick you up when you fail... so that when the days are long and hard, there is someone in your ear asking you to be better... because you do not really know the achievements of which you are capable... because the pool doors are locked at 5 a.m.... because deciding what to do every day at practice would take longer than you think... because where else would you hear the joke of the day?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The T-Shirt Watcher Rides Again

Here are some I've seen on the pool deck at this week's Junior Nationals in Federal Way:

"Those who have the right kind of character don't tremble at the first sign of adversity."

"Great thoughts coupled with intense actions produce unbelievable results."

"Resolve to succeed. The greatest discovery one can make is that nothing is impossible."

"A very clever brain can catch a heffalump, if only he knows the right way to go about it." -Pooh

"Hotter than fish grease."

"It is a sublime thing to suffer and be stronger." - Longfellow

"There's a choice you make
in every thing you do.
But keep in mind that in the end,
the choice you make makes you."
-John Wooden

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

"Fortitudine Vincimus" (By Endurance We Conquer)

"Wake early if you wish to take another man's life or land. No lamb for the lazy and no battles won in bed." -Hannibal

"When your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme."

"There is no point in saying, 'I am doing my best.' You must succeed by doing what is necessary." -Winston Churchill

"Bring it pansies."

Until next time...