Get out of the winter funk and shed the limitations of your comfort zone like a heavy winter coat when spring arrives. As swimmers, we tend to gravitate toward our comfort zones when offered the opportunity. Some of us avoid specific strokes in a “choice” set—raise your hand if you never do fly on a choice set. Others gravitate toward pull buoys and paddles rather than developing their kick. For my part, I avoid backstroke like COVID-19 and almost always breathe to one side.
Sometimes it is worthwhile to focus on what you don’t like for a while.What is your comfort zone as a swimmer? How about as an athlete in general?
Spring is a perfect time to break free of those training comfort zones. Do you tell yourself “I’m not a morning person and can only come to two evening practices a week”? Spring out of that comfort zone and commit to one morning a week. Do you find your speed plateauing? Take private sessions with one of your favorite AGUA coaches or get into the fitness center and move some iron! Perhaps your comfort zone is your lane. Try moving up a lane for one set. Just try it at one practice. Sometimes all it takes is a tentative step to get out of your comfort zone!
See you at the pool,
–Coach John
