“You have to start believing you can do it”

“You have to start believing you can do it” is what my friend told me last night when I said I wasn’t sure if I could swim 6×100 on a 2:10 send off. Swimming has been my slowest sport of the three and also the one I have seen the slowest improvement in, until recently. A fellow swimmer suggested I make one correction with my right arm and I have seen a great improvement in my times since. But swimming 6×100 on 2:10? That is a big jump I didn’t think I was ready to see. Maybe 2:20 or 2:30…

The first place to start was to do a 100 time trial today all out, nothing left behind. So I did a warm up of 1,000 meters, then 150 of 25 meter sprints, then 350 of stroke work. With 1500 meters behind me I was warmed up, gave myself a minute rest and took off – 100 meters in 1:52. That is lightening speed for me – and I did it without wearing fins. When I sent my friend a text, all it said was “1:52”. The reply – “That’s good! Based on that you should be able to do 6×100 on 2:10.” I will know for sure on Tuesday when I attempt it. Next week I add Tuesday as my 4th swim in the week as I build up to 6 swims a week.

Later my friend sent another message instilling reality – “It will start to get tough with 4 swims. You need to get the turns down.” Flip turns – something I fear. Yes I have to start believing I can do a flip turn. I also have to stop believing I will crack my head open on the wall.