Before Champions were FAST...

 “Once a generation, an athlete puts himself against such overwhelming odds that even the most jaded spectator finds himself cheering.” – Iron Will

Before they were crowned champions of the UAAP, the Ateneo Blue Tankers were either the cellar-dwellers or the dark horses. We were the perennial underdogs; the odds of landing a podium spot, let alone a championship, were, more often than not, not in our favor (though they were never overwhelming as the quote implies). Seventy-five long years it took (the latter ten of those I can personally vouch for) before the Blue Tankers were finally the kings of the UAAP swimming pool. And that makes the laurels on the heads of the boys sweeter to behold.

After receiving news that the Blue Tankers won their very first UAAP Swimming Championship last Sunday, September 30, a wave of emotions ran through me—the two most familiar and poignant were pride and regret. I was overwhelmingly proud of the Blue Tankers for having made history after seventy-years of heartbreak and frustration. And it is such a blessing that I got to swim with the current seniors and juniors of the team during my days as a Blue Tanker. After all that they have been through, I can honestly say that they have earned the euphoria of being champions.

Yet, as proud as I am, I regretted two things last Sunday. I will expound on the second thing later but the first was that I was not at Laguna. I would have wanted to witness the boys standing a top the podium making history before chaos ensues with bodies flying everywhere in a futile attempt to avoid being thrown in the pool good-naturedly. But that is the beauty of hindsight. I live with the knowledge of not doing something I should have.

As a former Blue Tanker, the championship the boys brought home means so much to me—as well as my fellow alumni—as it does to them. Not that I am attempting to get some of the glory the boys swam for. Absolutely not. Besides, I had no part in winning the championship; that was all them. In the last decade, I have witnessed and eventually experienced how the Blue Tankers transformed from a consistent cellar-dweller to a dark horse to eventual champion. I have deeply rooted personal ties with the team after all, despite graduating from college a couple of years ago.

If you would indulge me, I will share the history of FAST through my eyes. It will be a brief history lesson; I will be focusing on how the championship transition happened through a decade’s worth of trials, tribulations and recruiting and assembling the best UAAP team possible year in and year out.

The Frustration Years

When I first swam for the Junior Tankers (that’s the Ateneo High School swim team) back in 2003, though I have been training with some of them when I was in Grade 7 in 2002, the Mens’ Team was not a force to be reckoned with, let alone taken seriously. They had more than capable swimmers do not get me wrong. They had butterfly and sprint specialist Andrew Leong. They had breaststroker and future coach Ryan Tan. They had distance swimmer Joms Ortega. Leading them was the ever-dependable team captain and breaststroker Mark Sui. But UP, UST and DLSU had national swimmers, record holders and even Olympians. As such, finals appearances were rare; medals, even in the relays, were rarer. But our guys were fast and tough as hell. My teammates were fighters—they never gave up on anything. It was just that their opponents were of a different caliber in a very different league.

It was not until 2005 that the state of the Mens’ Team began to improve. Now boasting of veteran Raem Puno (who, by the way, won the only individual medal for the Seniors the previous year with a silver medal in the 200 butterfly) and reigning Juniors MVP Jonas Ramos as well as national athletes MM Danila and Janjan Chiu, the transformation of the Tankers from cellar-dweller to dark horse was beginning. With the four aces complemented by distance swimmer (and baritone-voiced) Kevin Barrios and breaststroker (and current FAST assistant coach) Aldo Tong, the boys put on a tougher fight than they did in the previous years. But alas, even with the addition of these top guns, team depth was the weakness they could not overcome in the end.

The following year was the first time the Mens’ team landed on the podium. With the seasoned roster reinforced by national athlete Evan Uy, NCAA Juniors MVP Jan Formalejo and breaststroker Bruce Sing, the guys got third place. At that moment, the future was looking very good.

My Initial Blue Tanker Days

While all of these were happening in the Mens Team, my high school teammates and I had just won our first UAAP Juniors Swimming Championship in 2005 and defended it the following year (Congratulations to the Junior Tankers, by the way, for bagging their 8^th straight title!). I was a senior during our repeat­ as well as team captain. I was eager to join the Mens’ Team for the 2007 UAAP campaign but after an eventful summer, I quit the team and swimming altogether. As I heard, they put up a good fight but missed third place by the slimmest of margins. However, the guys were finally improving on their depth problems as evidenced by their becoming a medal contender in the relays. 2007 also marked the first time in Ateneo Swimming history that all four swimmers qualified in the finals of an event. What’s more, the aforementioned four swimmers finished as the top four of that event—also a first and a record which persists up until now. If I recall correctly, Janjan, Evan, Jonas and Raem finished 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th in the 50 meters freestyle respectively.  

I returned—or rather the team accepted me back—in 2008 refocused and ready for the battles of the seniors division. With the past behind me, I was eager to swim again and face competition against some of the best swimmers in the country. We did not have a prized recruit that year and DLSU’s Enchong Dee was the undisputed King of the UAAP Pool while UP’s Ken Uy had a rightful claim to the sprint and middle-distance freestyle crowns. Evan, Janjan, Jonas and Jan battled these two swimming behemoths in their respective events but both Dee and Uy had too much firepower. We finished 4^th once more by the slimmest of margins. Yet, one event encapsulated why the ADMU Mens’ Team should be feared. Jan, Bruce, Janjan and Jonas broke the record in the 200-meter medley relay on route the gold medal—the Mens’ Team only relay gold. It was the first relay record in the history of the ADMU Mens Swim Team.

For my part, I did not perform up to standards. I was way off my best times in all my events, failing to qualify for the finals for the first time in my swimming career. My two consolations was that I swam the 100 fly with a 1:06, two seconds off my personal best and that I still brought home a bronze medal in the 400-medley relay with Jan, Bruce and Jan Changco.

By this time, frustrations were mounting after another fourth place finish. In fact, the frustrations were at an all time high. It came to a point that we (at least I was) were dangerously close to becoming bitter at the whole thing. While we were proud and equally joyous that the Women’s team won their first championship in history, I would be lying if I said that our egos were not bruised. In the darkest corners of our souls, we all felt insecure—even just a bit—when we saw the ladies honored on stage during the Victory Bonfire while us guys brooded (but cheered for them, of course) at our table in the muddy Bellarmine field. However, we did have hope for the following season. Jonas and Janjan (as well as Nikki Santiago of the Womens team) agreed to come back and swim for one more year. Aldo was also returning for his last year of eligibility. To top this of, Juniors MVP’s Adel Barlisan and Sean Tan were incoming freshmen. A strong and formidable team—second only to the current UAAP Champions this year, in my opinion—was materializing for the first time in ADMU Swimming history.

A point of clarification is in order here. You must think that the Mens Team accomplished nothing other than losing. Sure, we missed out on the podium on consecutive years but we did not lose entirely. Evan, Jonas, Janjan and Jan Formalejo were always medal contenders in all of their events. Our “support crew” which included myself can always sneak in the finals and contribute points. Also, we “support crew” guys were fast enough to always be in medal contention in the relays—a testament to how much our depth has improved in just three years. So we were winning, you see. It is just that we never actually won.

The team had a rather eventful interlude in between seasons that year. Both the Mens and Womens teams were invited to participate in the University Games at Dumaguete City over the sembreak. The ladies won; we did not. And though it was yet another disappointment in the pool for the guys and myself we did get a chance to bond outside the pool. Over the next seven days after our two-day competition, we were inseparable. We watched and cheered for the other varsity teams, ate out constantly, played Counterstrike, drank, partied and went to the beach. Some of us even trekked up a mountain for three hours to visit a waterfall and river that are major tourist sites. Those were breathtaking to behold, mind you. Team chemistry was at an all time high, aided probably by the fact that we were still on UAAP-high. In more ways than one, those bonding moments served as the foundation with which the following year’s UAAP team was built on.

ADMU Swim Team becomes FAST

Perhaps it was fate that Coach Archie Lim encouraged us to formally change our name from the politically boring ADMU Swim Team to FAST in 2009. Whether or not Coach Archie had the gift of foresight, 2009 was the debuting FAST Blue Tankers’ year in the sun. After a grueling four days exacerbated by Typhoon Ondoy, we finished second place—the highest podium finish at the time. As our team captain Chico Gueco put it, “Second place never felt so good!” And he was dead on.

Sean and Adel gave us much needed reinforcement as Janjan, Jonas, Evan and Jan went to work earning points and winning medals. But it was not just our stars that carried the burden. Everyone stepped up his swims with almost everybody qualifying for the final heats with personal best times to boot. We owned the relays winning all but one—the 800-meter freestyle relay. Yet, that was a victory in itself since Adel chased down UST’s anchor swimmer for the dramatic silver-medal finish. Lost in that race was the fact that UP broke the record in that relay; Adel’s intense chase down overshadowed that feat. But nothing can match the drama of the 200-meter freestyle relay. In a spectacular anchor swim, Jonas chased down both UP and UST anchors—both of whom dove a half-second before him—for the gold medal. The margin of victory was only a couple of milliseconds. It was truly a blessing to have been part of that relay (I swam the first leg). The drama and intensity of that moment is beyond words. The race may have lasted only a minute and 45 seconds but I think I speak for Jonas, Jan and Chem Ocampo that those moments will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

I came home with 3 medals that year—all of them gold and all of them won in the relays (in addition to the 200 free relay, I also swam the butterfly in the 200 and 400 medley relay). Minus the 50 meters butterfly, I got my personal best times in the 100 and 200 fly but of the two, the 100 fly holds a special place in my heart; my 1:02 more than exceeded my expectations for that meet.

Though the aftermath of Ondoy spoiled our triumphant homecoming, the FAST Blue Tankers were no longer the dark horses. We were now title contenders.

My Final Year

2010 was my 7^th UAAP Swimming Championships—my 3^rd in the seniors. It was also my last year in the Loyola Schools as a senior BS Management student. The real world was waiting for me but before I walked into her arms, I still had one year of swimming left to do.

But the team I was returning to was no longer the same. Janjan, Jonas, Jan, Chico, Bruce and Aldo were gone. This made our chances of moving up the rankings let alone defending second place very slim. But Evan was still around as were Sean and Adel. We also had national swimmer Lawin Dacera coming in so there was a glimmer of hope. Lest I forget, we acquired the versatile Islau Dapat from Elizabeth Seton High School and freestyle specialist Benjo Ramos from De La Salle Zobel. Incidentally, Benjo, an accomplished and outstanding swimmer in the UAAP Juniors, is the younger brother of Jonas Ramos.

Within the team, my teammates saw the void left by the graduates as an opportunity to shine. David Santos—our resident gentle giant—had improved exponentially over the summer so much so that his times in almost all the sprint events can crack the top eight in the UAAP. Freestyler Karlo Lim was still as consistent with his middle and long distance swims as ever, making him a mainstay in the 800-meter freestyle relay. My batchmate Anthony Co, much like David, improved greatly on his breaststroke abilities that he had a legitimate shot at making the UAAP team (and he did by the way).

My teammates elected me as team captain that year. For once in my life, I had my own team. Sure, I was captain in the Juniors when we won our second title but this time was different. I had the freedom to lead them as I saw fit and had the experience to back it up.

Anyway, I knew from the get go that winning the championship that year would require a miracle—and a big one at that. Our aces Evan, Sean and Adel will do their part and Lawin, Benjo and Islau will shoulder their load. But Evan and I were leading a young team—most of who had never swam in the UAAP before. Also, I was leading a support crew that, while reputable in our own right, did not have the depth of the previous year. Experience was not on our side but talent and potential were. These two are dangerous weapons in swimming if harnessed and utilized correctly, after all.

In the end, we wound up with a miraculous 3^rd place finish. We could have gotten second but we had to fight off a hard-charging La Salle squad during the last two days of the meet. That last stand made it all worth it. We may have finished 3^rd but we won a lot of victories too. Evan brought home 3 gold medals and two UAAP records in the 50 butterfly and 200 freestyle. These feats earned him MVP honors—a well-deserved title for the man who had been our top point-contributor for five years. Lawin won Rookie of the Year after a gold-medal performance in the 1500 freestyle. Sean won the 100 breaststroke to go along with the two medley relay gold medals Islau, Benjo, he and I won. Another consolation is that we beat the defending champions DLSU to the podium as they finished 4^th. Personally, I was proud of that fact.

For my part, my last UAAP could have been better. I did not qualify in any of my individual events including the 100 butterfly, my specialty. Because of a stupid miscalculation in the preliminary heats, I went out too slow in the first 50 that I ran out of room to charge back in the second lap. I just needed a 1:04 low to qualify but I timed 1:05 mid. I did, however, redeem myself in the 400-medley relay. I was not really given my split but judging by how my swim felt, I am guessing that it was a 1:01 high to a 1:02 mid.

So endeth my UAAP swimming career. On the bus ride home, I reflected how my final year panned out. Inasmuch as I wished that I ended my competing years as a champion, I consoled myself with the knowledge that I got to see the bright future that was definitely about to materialize. Sean, Adel and Lawin were the aces now. They proved that they were ready for the responsibility it entailed. Islau, Benjo and David were definitely going to be back hungrier and faster the following year after experiencing UAAP Seniors swimming. I may not have led the boys to the championship, but I knew that it was only a matter of two, maybe three, years before the boys win the big one. That was enough for me to call it a competitive career.  

The year after, I graduated from the Ateneo Loyola Schools with a degree in Management. The boys, I am told, now captained by Adel, again won 3^rd place that year despite being severely undermanned. They were never as joyous, I was told.

And the year after, well, that is history.

Or they made history, I should say.

What the 2012 Championship means for us Alumni

A full decade—that is how long it took to make the FAST Blue Tankers into champions from perennial cellar-dwellers. This is the reason why this championship means so much to myself and the FAST Alumni of my generation. We swam through the struggles, frustrations and endless disappointment for so long that it was our grand desire to win a championship during our time (remember my aforementioned second regret? This is it). We never did but we got close enough to realize exactly what it took to be a champion.

The reason why we value this championship as much as you guys do is because most of you were swimming with us during our years of frustrations. You understand what winning it all means especially when we were so close a few years back. It is through you boys that we see the fruits of our labor all those years ago. We dare not call ourselves champions; we may have deserved it but we never earned it. Through your valiant and fast (pun intended) swimming, you have proven that you are better than us. And nothing is more fulfilling than seeing your formerly younger teammates—teammates you have mentored, competed, trained and occasionally gotten drunk with—surpass the bars of excellence and standards of greatness that you have set during your time by tremendous leaps and bounds.

Thank you for honoring us old timers, boys. Thank you for besting us.

Congratulations! You have all been immortalized in the annals of Ateneo sports history. FAST has been called a lot of things during my time. Thanks to you guys, FAST will forever be remembered as Champions!

Born to Swim, Built to Last! One Team, All FAST!*

*Credits given to Anjo Querol and Benjo Ramos for coming up with this very first FAST cheer back in 2010. Thank you guys!

Take Your Mark!

For College, Go Ateneo! (Part I)

Every time I hear about top high school recruits fussing over which college to play for (it is a sad reality that the question is always "Which college will Athlete A play for?" instead of "Which college will Athlete A study in?") I am always reminded of Spike Lee's "He Got Game". If you watched the film, try to remember the scene where Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by a surprisingly commendable Ray Allen) is told that the decision of which college to play for is the "most important decision of his life" or something like that. I never really experienced such a thing but I can understand where the recruiters are coming from. At least, I think I do. 

I would like to believe that despite their obvious intentions of having an extremely talented basketball player join their ranks, there exists this genuine compassion for Shuttlesworth's growth outside the basketball court. I would like to think that they are selling the education Shuttlesworth will have access to in as much as the possible contributions he can give to their basketball program. Of course, you can always watch the movie to see if you feel the same way. My point is that recruiters have to--and need to--emphasize the type of education and school culture their recruits will have access to and experience if he or she pledges to attend their alma mater. 

Whether he likes it or not, college will most likely be the last four or five years a swimmer has before hanging up his trunks. Being a professional swimmer in the Philippines is not a realistic career option for obvious reasons, the most compelling being the lack of support from governing bodies and swimming's lack of following in the country. That said, collegiate swimmers cannot simply float around in college since the lucrative life of a professional athlete is not waiting in the wings. 

In light of this reality check, here are a few reasons why high school seniors--both top recruits and average swimmers alike--should study in the Ateneo Loyola Schools.

The Vitruvian Man

1. Culture Curriculum.

A few weeks ago, my family and I watched Rivalry: The Musical. The running gag of the entire play was that Ateneans always use flowery and highfaluting words whereas La Sallians give it straight to the point. "What's the point of quoting Shakespeare when you can give it straight?" quips the La Sallian protagonist. As funny as that joke is, the question is valid. 

There is no denying that in the Ateneo, you will have more units of core subjects--which are mostly liberal arts--than major subjects. It is enough to drive one insane, truth be told.

Why do we have to take the basic subjects of English, Literature, Filipino and Natural Sciences in our freshman year when our friends in other schools are immediately taking their majors? Why do we take Sociology and Anthropology? Why do we have to study psychological disorders like Paranoia, Schizophrenia and Anti-Social behavior in Psychology 101? Why do we have to suffer through the endless readings and papers of our 9 units of History? What use will my 12 units of Philosophy and 12 units of Theology be if my career goal is to build my own company and be a millionaire by 30? And what the hell do these core subjects have to do with my swimming? And why, oh, why must I suffer through the dreaded Theology 131 orals with Fr. Dacanay? I must be crazy!

The answer is simple, young sirs and madams. To quote my high school Art Appreciation teacher, "We study the arts to have culture." Culture, young ones. That is what the Ateneo Loyola Schools is uniquely offering--the opportunity and venue to have a well-balanced character hinged upon the appreciation of the liberal arts which will compliment your mastery of the specialized disciplines your majors entail.

An Ateneo education will train you to see beauty in its purest form, in every form. 

If you put in the work and just put to heart all the poems, readings and verses, you will surprisingly find a lot of connections with what you are doing in your majors. 

Being a business major I was really interested on how Sun Tzu's Art of War, however controversial, was very much applicable in business. When Shakespeare was asking himself if he should "...compare thee to a summer's day?" I never realized that the wonder this sonnet was emoting can also mean the awe that washes over you when you successful pitch a campaign to a very jaded panel in a marketing defense. When Descartes said that, "I think therefore, I am" I took it as a reminder to carefully consider things first before making a crucial business decision in our thesis project instead of solely going by my gut with guns blazing. 

My point is this. An Ateneo education will give you a chance to grow as a person thanks to the holistic approach the curriculum is founded on. That is the value-added; that is what makes an Ateneo education unique. 

While the running joke in Rivalry holds true--that an Atenean will quote Shakespeare and a La Sallian will give it to you straight--my rebut is this.

Anyone can be blunt; it's very easy to do. But to precisely interpret and quote the likes Shakespeare, Marlowe, Henley and Whitman?

It takes culture to pull that off.  

Excellence is Magis; doing ordinary things extraordinarily

2. Excellence is a must.
Inasmuch as it is their ideal, excellence is not exclusively Jesuit. I am sure that this trait is espoused in every college in the world, not just in the country. But in the Ateneo, excellence is demanded not just in academics, but in every facet of one's life.

But what is excellence to begin with? How can one give a sound definition of a word which seems easy to understand but very difficult to explain. For the purposes of this post, I'll define excellence by introducing the Jesuit ideal.

Excellence is Magis; it entails one to do more than what is necessary by doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways. It means going over and beyond the normal. Simply put, excellence means doing more. 


Like in most schools, it is easy to just go with the motions in the Loyola Schools. With more than 3000 students roaming the campus, the temptation to keep one's head down and simple get by can be overwhelming at times. However, as much as you will want to sail along, you will find that you just can't. When everyone around you is working tooth-and-nail to maximize their potential--whether it be academic, athletic or extracurricular--that drive for excellence will eventually rub off you.

You will see your classmates toiling without promise of reward and you will ask yourself how they can do that. You will then challenge yourself to live up to the inspiration your classmates have given you to be excellent in everything that you do.

In the Ateneo, excellence is a must. No, wait, let me rephrase that.

In the Ateneo, striving to achieve excellence--not necessarily being excellent in everything and anything--is must. After all, the path you tread and steps you take to achieve excellence is what the Ateneo is keen on inasmuch as it values on the honors you bring.  




...to be continued


Take your Mark!

    

Merman on Dry Land: My Ateneo Aquathlon Experience

Ateneo Aquathlon Poster ft.  Kim Uy and David Santos

I have always been fascinated by multi-sport events. Whether it is an Aquathlon, Duathlon or Triathlon, I cannot help be amazed with how these events really test the limits of both the body and the mind. For this reason among others, I hold endurance and multi-sport athletes at a very high esteem; their willingness and relentless attitude to finish these grueling races as fast as they possibly can is a testament of the indomitable spirit of man. 

Setting the Stage

Last Sunday, March 4, I participated in the Ateneo Aquathlon organized by my former team the Fast Ateneo Blue Tankers or FAST (yeah, I know what you're thinking but that is what the team is called). After helping plan and organize this event ever since I was in high school, I decided to join the race to support my former teammates as well as to see if I can still hack it. But of course, I had a big problem to worry about.

The swimming was not the problem. I am a swimmer after all; regardless of the Classic's 600 meters or the Lite's 400 meters, I was confident that I would end the swim as one of the top finishers. Besides, the Loyola School's swimming pool is my home court, so to speak.

My problem was the running. 

As cavalier as I am with sports, I was under no delusion that the 5 kilometer run of the Aquathlon Classic was a manageable distance. Running, after all, has never been my strongest suit even when I was still a competitive swimmer. Taking that into consideration, I signed up for the Aquathlon Lite, the shortened version of the Classic which is specifically designed for beginners and newbies. Though the Lite's 3 kilometer run is still quite long for my standards, I figured that it was a lot easier to complete than the Classic's 5 kilometer course. Or so I thought. 

My former teammates found it amusing borderline hilarious that I did not join them in the Classic. But I knew my limits. Inasmuch as the Classic appealed to the athletic-snob in me, it was ludicrous on my end to even attempt to run 5 kilometers. After all, I am a good 25 lbs. overweight. 3 kilometers it is then.  

Merman at Home

When I arrived at the Loyola Schools Covered Courts, I was overwhelmed with the density of the participants hanging out in the receiving area. As I approached the registration booth, I noticed that both spectators and racers were congregated around a contraption in the middle of the Courts 5 and 6. To my surprise and amusement, the people were gathered around the mechanical bull ride which is quite popular these days. I have to give it up to FAST for bringing in that attraction; watching people try to conquer that bull resulted to hilariously entertaining moments which made my waiting time really bearable. 

After registering and getting bodymarked, I spotted some of my former teammates who just finished their Aquathlon Classic. I spent a few minutes chatting and catching up with them before excusing myself to get changed and warmed up. After about an hour or so, Aquathlon Lite Boys was called. A few more minutes were spent for the briefing and heat segregation before we were queued along the starting area.

Coming into the race, my strategy for the swim was to get as much separation from the pack as possible. I am a swimmer after all and I was sure that very few of the participants can outswim me--in my home pool no less. Besides, I needed the lead since I am one of the worst runners you can ever encounter.

Much to my dismay, however, I was put in the second heat with 14 other people or so. I situated myself at the front of the bunch when the first heat was started, confident that I can catch up with them with little trouble.

When we were started, I immediately kicked off the floor and began my swim as aggressively as possible. I caught the tail end of the first heat almost immediately and tried my best to overtake them without getting too physical. By my fifth round, there were very few people in front of me so I settled to a cruising pace, relying more on my arms than my legs. I finished the first 200 not yet winded so I decided to push my luck in the second round by quickening my pace a bit. Zigzagging my way through the pool traffic, I finished the second 200 meters with my arms throbbing like hell before I got out and grabbed my gear in the transition area. After struggling to put my singlet on, I immediately exited the pool all the while hoping that I had built enough cushion in the swim.

Merman on Dry Land
What's bittersweet about running around the Ateneo is the fact that the campus is on top of a hill. As much as I dreaded jogging around the campus during my varsity years, running up and down the hilly areas benefited my cardiovascular fitness immensely. But of course, the running part is easier said than done. 

That said, and considering that I have never been even a satisfactory runner, my plan for the run was to walk uphill and jog downhill. As for the flat stretches of road, which were very few I might add,  I would just have to wing it.

The 3 kilometer route entailed one to run down Masterson Drive all the way to Moro Lorenzo to retrieve a lap marker. From there, one needs to pass by Bellarmine Hall, the Ateneo School of Government, Xavier Hall, back down Masterson Drive before finishing at the covered courts. I was already thinking about the route as I exited the pool which turned out to be a big mistake.

Somewhere between swimming the 400 meters and struggling to put on my singlet, I forgot about the steep uphill once I had to traverse once ran pass the pool gates. Needless to say, I struggled mightily to conquer that hill; Not 200 meters from the pool gate, my calves were already cramping up and my gut hurt like crazy whenever I gasped for air. I walked from that point on. I needed to catch my breath and try to avoid the muscle cramps as much as I can. As I tried to walk briskly, I knew that my strategy just went out the window. There was no way I could jog the entire course given the way I was feeling.

It was not until I passed the Church of the Gesu that I felt good enough to jog. I did just that and got my first lap marker from the Marshals before making my way back. As I turned the corner leading to the ISO and ASoG, I knew that I could not finish the reminder of the route non-stop so I sort of reverted to my old plan of walking uphill and jogging downhill. It was still a struggle for me, especially when I got to the last uphill near the Batibot Tree (or the Tennis wall). By the time I reached the corner leading to the finish line, I mustered every ounce of strength I had left so that I could at least end the race running.

When I crossed the finish line, I felt a great sense of accomplishment wash over me. I was tired beyond measure but I accomplished what I had set out to do. While the thought did not relieve some of the fatigue, completing my first Aquathlon in over 3 years is something I can proudly look back on. Granted, what I competed in was not really the full event and I finished 30th out of 35 participants. But given that I do not run, am overweight and have not really competed in anything after the 2010 UAAP, I will take 30th place any day. Besides, I was one of the first finishers of the swim leg; if anything, that proves that I am still a capable swimmer.

Challenge Accepted
FAST marketed their Aquathlon this year as a challenge to be conquered. If anything, crossing the finish line, regardless of time, is enough for one to exclaim at the top of his lungs that he has conquered the FAST Aquathlon. I felt as much and it was truly a gratifying feeling. However, as I conquered  Aquathlon Lite, a new challenge came with it. Perhaps it was just the athletic-snob again but without thinking twice, I accepted it.

Next year, I will race in the Aquathlon Classic. More than anything, it is a matter of honor that I finally turn in a time which I will not even cringe just thinking about. By no means will it be easy; I still have to get comfortable and exponentially improve on my running. On top of that, there is the business of maintaining my aquatic fitness to near competitive form. Swimming is my strength after all; I would be an idiot if I do not leverage on that.

With that, "Challenge Accepted!" as the younger generation says these days.

To my former FAST teammates, congratulations on a successful event!  I am proud that you were able to hold a well-organized race! More power and good luck on your future endeavors!

A special shout out to the Aquathlon Organizing Committee of Santi Chua, May Tiu, Paui Pena, Max Austria, Karlo Lim, Islau Dapat, Benjo Ramos, Adel Barlisan and Makki Araneta. Great job, boys and girls!

Lest I forgot, I would like to commend the Marshals posted along the run route. Nothing is more uplifting than hearing you guys cheer us on while we run under the intense heat of the sun. That simple "Go!" or "Kaya pa yan!" gave us the much needed energy-boost to push on and forget the fatigue, even momentarily. Thank you so much boys and girls!

Take your mark!

A Taste of Things to Come

Woah! It has been a long time since I last posted something in SoUSS. Sorry about that, folks. Between work, graduate school and swimming (or at least trying to given my schedule), I haven't had the time to write some new material.

Pretty soon, I'll be up and running again; writing new stuff about swimming.

Anyway, I have been writing this swimming novel called "The Swimming Diaries: The Comeback" these past few months. While I still have a long way to go to finish it let alone have it published (hopefully), I'd like to give you guys a taste of things to come.

The story is about Jim Salva, a sophomore Management student in the Ateneo Loyola Schools. After quitting the varsity swim team during his freshman year, he decides to mount a comeback to competitive swimming with the hopes of helping the Ateneo Blue Tankers win their first UAAP swimming championship. As he struggles to regain peak competitive form, Jim must find a way to either set aside or confront the issues which led to his quitting the team the year before.

Click here to read the prologue and first chapter of TSD: The Comeback. (It is still a rough draft so pardon any and all grammatical errors.)

Ryan Lochte on Training, Racing and London 2012

Olympic Swimming Legend Gary Hall, Sr. talks with Ryan Lochte about training, racing and his chances in the London Games. Young swimmers, pay close attention to the part about the importance of racing especially during the toughest parts of your training programs. 

Take your mark!

Hall Sr. interviews Reezy

Looking Back on 2011: Renaissance of Swimming

2011 witnessed what I like to call the renaissance of technical swimming. Some may argue that this rebirth started a year ago in 2010--when the high-tech full bodysuits were officially banned from competitions. However, to use the metaphor of the phoenix, 2010 was the death of the fully grown bird and its rebirth as an infant. 2011, on the other hand, was the phoenix's first flight; it's baby steps to reclaim its former glory. With all that has transpired last year, no other metaphor could be so apt. That said, here is my top five epic and memorable swimming moments of 2011. 

5. Brendan Hansen wins the 100 and 200 breaststroke in the US Nationals
When Brendan Hansen announced his comeback to swimming, he did not receive that same fan-craze or media-frenzy that Ian Thorpe got when he announced his. However, being a highly decorated swimmer and former World and Olympic Record Holder, USA swimming was more than pleased with the idea that one of the most dominant breaststrokers who ever lived will be attempting to gain more Olympic glory. Especially when USA's breaststrokers have not quite been able to pick up the slack Hansen left when he quietly retired back in 2008.

Some have doubted his endeavor as impossible borderline hopeless but after USA's Nationals, Hansen showed the world that his current swimming prowess matches his mental focus in possibly making the US National team. With impressive wins in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke and with times near his best, the last surviving member of the original Texas Trio stable is still a force to be reckoned with.

"Hello, boys! I'm back!" 

Brendan Hansen Wins the 100 meter Breaststroke

"And I'm here to stay! London 2012, baby!"

Brendan Hansen Wins the 200 meter Breaststroke 

4. The Australian 4x100 meter freestyle relay gold medal performance
The 4x100 meter freestyle relay is regarded as one of the glamor events in swimming. There is little room for error so much so that a moment's hesitation could mean the podium for a team fast enough to make it to the final heat. While the winners are somewhat predetermined because of the very nature of the sport, miracles and surprise finishes tend to happen. Amazingly, miracle and surprise finishes have been a stipend in the 4x100 free these past three years. That said, it is easy to expect that the Shanghai World Championships would have one coming. The only question is which team would deliver it. Personally, I never expected the Australians to do it.

Coming in the event, all eyes were of course on the Americans. Boasting a team composed of three of the four world record holders (Michael Phelps, Garret Webber-Gale and Jason Lezak) as well as the gold medalist in the 100 free in the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships (Nathan Adrian), the Americans had it won on paper. However, the Australians proved to be the ones fast enough to dethrone the defending champions. Led by the blistering 47.49 split of youngster James Magnussen (that was actually the fastest 100 free in a textile suit, by the way!) as well as the strong anchor leg of veteran swimmer and former 100 free record holder Eamon Sullivan, the Aussies blew away the competition and swam atop the podium. What is more exceptional is that Matt Targett, Matt Abood and Eamon Sullivan all  swam 48 seconds mid to low to aptly complement the exceptional 47.49 of Magnusson.

And the Americans? They settled for third after a neck and neck race with arch-rival France. The French got their revenge for always finishing second to the Americans, I guess.

"Eat Our Wakes, Mates!"

Team Australia Dominates and Decimates!

3. Aussie youngster James Magnussen blitzes to the 100 freestyle gold 
After his superb starting leg in the 4x100 meter freestyle, the pressure was on for James, "The Missile" Magnussen. With a field that is packed with veteran freestylers the likes of record holder and defending champion Brazilian Cesar Cielo, Canadian Brent Hayden and Frenchmen Alain Bernard and Fabian Gilot as well as American sprint-sensation Nathan Adrian, Magnussen had his work cut out for him. A relative unknown in the international scene, Magnussen was the only swimmer under 48 seconds after the semi-finals, earning him the top seed. If the rookie felt the pressure, he surely did not show it; while he did not leave the field behind off the blocks, he methodically caught up with the leaders in the closing lap to become the first Australian 100 meters freestyle world champion.

I cannot wait to see how Magnussen will fare in the London this August. I am going out on a limb and say that there is a high probability that the 100 meter freestyle event in London will be Ground Zero caused by the Aussie Missile.

"The Missile has superseded the The Thorpedo!"

James Magnussen Wins the 100 meter freestyle, the first Aussie to do so

2. Ryan Lochte sets the first post-high-tech body suit long course world record...defeats Michael Phelps twice!
After Ryan Lochte shocked the world by getting near his 200 IM world record in 2010 during the Pan Pacific Championships, experts agreed that it was only a matter of time until Lochte becomes the first man to set a world record post-high tech body suit era. Almost a year later, at the World Championships in Shanghai, Lochte did not disappoint. Even with a motivated and semi-Olympic fit Michael Phelps racing against him, Lochte out-dueled the Greatest Swimmer of All Time in one of Phelps' signature events in world record fashion. As if to prove a point, Lochte again out-swam Phelps in the 200 meter freestyle.

What is amazing about Lochte's feats of beating Phelps is that he used Phelps' strengths to dethrone him in the world's stage! In the 200 IM, what spelled Phelps' demise was Lochte's powerful breaststroke leg. Historically, the backstroker Lochte always caught up with the butterflier Phelps in the second lap (the backstroke) and would begin to fade come breaststroke. This time around, Lochte distanced himself considerably from Phelps in the breaststroke, giving him enough of a cushion in the freestyle to challenge and defeat the world record line. In the 200 freestyle, Lochte employed a much more powerful underwater dolphin kick at all three turns, preventing Phelps from chasing him down in the final lap.

With London merely eight months away, I cannot wait for the Phelps-Lochte duel Part III. As Phelps continues to train harder with rejuvenated motivation and focus, Lochte will surely have a lot on his plate come the London Games. After all, their rivalry is as great as their friendship.

"Jeah! Got you, Michael!"

Ryan Lochte defeats Michael Phelps and breaks his 200 IM World Record

"Reezy out-swims The Baltimore Bullet"

Ryan Lochte wins the 200 meters freestyle...defeats Michael Phelps again! 

1. Sun Yang breaks Grant Hackett's ten year old record in the 1500 freestyle!
The greatest swimming moment in the international stage would be fall of Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett's world record in the 1500 meter freestyle. Set in 2001 at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Hackett's record in the longest and most grueling event in swimming was the only record left unscathed even after the advent of high-tech swimming suits. Dubbed by Olympic Champions Ous Melluoli as an "epic" record, Hackett's 14:34 seemed unbeatable. That is until Chinese swimmer Sun Yang came to the picture.

After flirting with the record in 2010, everyone in the swimming world, including Hackett himself knew that the epic 1500 freestyle record would soon tumble. In front of a home crowd, Sun Yang shifted to a higher gear during the last 25 meters of the race to dramatically and emphatically break the ten-year old record of the Australian swimming legend.

Judging by how strong Sun Yang finished the final lap, there is no doubt in my mind that he could have gone 14:33 high had he shifted to overdrive earlier. Judging by how he was "straddling" the world record line in the final 8 meters, I am sure that he could have not only broken but smashed the mile record. However, even if he broke it by 1 second or 1 hundredth of a second, the fact that he broke the longest active world record which survived the high-tech bodysuit era is legendary enough.

"The Hometown Hero bags the Gold in the Mile!"

Sun Yang wins the 1500 Free and cements his place in swimming history

2011 was truly a memorable year in the international swimming scene. I expect 2012--the London Olympic Games being the most important meet of the year--to be more memorable filled with epic swims, dramatic chase downs, surprising finishes and tumbling world records. 

Happy New Year and Take Your Mark!

Swimming Leadership Part II: How Do You Lead?

"Finding Inspiration"

While the movie is not about swimming, one of the many poignant lessons I took home after watching Invictus is how to "inspire ourselves [and our teammates] to greatness when nothing less will do." Witness the conversation between two great South African leaders--Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar--and listen to their views on leadership and inspiring your teammates to be better than what they think they can be. 

"We Need Inspiration"

The Full Conversation of Two Great SA leaders.

Take Your Mark!

Finding God in Swimming

Religion is one of the few things which I simply do not have the patience or diligence to understand. Having been brought up a Roman Catholic and receiving a catholic education my entire life, I still find myself wrestling with certain aspects of my religion. While I am not entirely a devout man, I fervently  believe in God; every time I swim, I could feel His presence. 

Quoting Eric Liddell from the movie Chariots of Fire, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Minus the running part, that is exactly how I feel. Whenever I swim fast, I can almost see God smiling with delight and glee. After all, He made a swimmer. It is only right that I glorify Him through the blessing which He has given me. Yet, I feel His presence and pleasure not just when I swim fast but rather when I am simply in the pool, swimming.

Whenever I push off the wall for a sprint-endurance set, the sound of rushing water filling my ears, I could hear Him whispering, telling me to swim faster and use every ounce of my strength to get my target times. During the split second wherein I am suspended in the air after launching myself off the starting block, the calm I feel is His presence slowly washing away the anxieties I feel and replacing them with competitive fire. When I am so fatigued in the 200 meters butterfly, I hear His soothing yet commanding voice telling me to hold on and continue fighting, tooth and nail, to reach the wall. Whenever I look over the time panels and find out that I did not get my best time, I can feel His comforting arm drape over my shoulders as if telling me that I need not be too hard on myself; I swam, fought and raced with every bit of grit I had and for Him that is already something to be proud of.

On more than one occasion, I have doubted my religion. In fact, with everything that is happening around my community, I am afraid that I am losing my religion. Yet, as I grapple with the doubts and reservations I have, my faith in God is adamant. He has been with me as I swam competitively for 12 years. I am sure that even after hanging up my LZR Racers and Fast Skins, He will always be with me, silently pushing me to keep on swimming fast or at least try to swim fast again.

Finding God in all things has been one of the lessons I learned way back in grade school which I have always carried with me. It is only appropriate that I found God in swimming.

Take Your Mark!

How to Win a Swimming Championship

The biggest frustration I ever had in my swimming career was not being able to hoist up a swimming championship in the UAAP seniors division the way I twice did in the juniors.  While the sweet second place my teammates and I landed in 2009 will be with me forever, winning that elusive championship could have been the pinnacle of my on-again, off-again relationship with swimming. But that is for another time. This entry will be about something else--something any swim team could find useful in their quest for aquatic supremacy. 

Winning a championship requires what I like to call "collective individualism" or in the words of my former coach, "team success through individual excellence". Simply put, every member of the team needs to work on being an exceptional swimmer in his own right to the very best of his abilities. Everyone needs to adapt a confident attitude which will foster this aura of being intimidating instead of being intimidated. Most of all, each and every member of the team needs to be confident in his own swimming prowess so that no one will be too reliant on the elite swimmers. 

But how does one do these things, you ask? Below are three points which may be helpful.

1. Train the way you compete.

The fault of many swimmers these days is that they tend to take the importance of training too lightly. It is quite disturbing that most swimmers resist pushing their limits whenever a set seems too difficult to accomplish. Instead of accepting a new challenge, they cower away and mediocrely swim the set just to finish it. Their excuse: there's always tomorrow...

Guys, there is no tomorrow--not if you want to be the best that you can be! Besides, there is no point in attending training if you do not have any intention of simulating how you will be competing. Why do we train, in the first place? We train because we want to get faster; the only way to get faster is by making fast-ness natural to us. What better venue to make ourselves naturally fast than practices--the place wherein we are allowed to make mistakes and test new techniques or stroke mechanics until we come close to perfect with regard to it.

Train the way you compete, fellas. Treat your trainings as an aquatic laboratory of sorts. Envision how you intend to compete and try it out when you train. If you plan on performing long underwater dolphins during the meet, do exactly that in every set of the training if it is applicable. If you plan executing a flip turn during the back-to-breast transition, practice that consistently. If you plan on using a track-start before you dive, track-start during training so that you are absolutely comfortable in that position come the meet. If you plan on wearing a swimming cap, by all mean, wear a swim cap in training!

As the age old saying goes, "practice makes perfect." The thing is, you have to ask yourself what it is your are perfecting in practice. Are you perfecting your slacker skills by cutting corners and taking it easy? Or are your honing your competitive skills by perfecting every aspect of your swim while training?

2. Swim while everyone else is resting!
While others rest, prepare. Need I say more?

One of the things I used to lament back then was how late my teammates started training seriously to prepare for the UAAP. I am honestly astounded that they expect to be in top form with only three to four months left before the meet that I almost scoffed at their misplaced confidence. While some of them actually do regain and surpass their peak performances with such a small window of preparation, most seem confused as to why they put up such disappointing borderline embarrassing times. Many a time I just kept my mouth shut; how could they be so obtuse to not know what they did wrong?

As I mentioned in one of my earlier articles, the competition does not start or end with the meet. Competition is 24/7! It is true that off-season trainings are not as intense as the ones during the season, they do serve a purpose of maintaining stroke integrity and keeping swimmers as fit as possible. I am not saying that you should continue the rough trainings; by all means, any swimmer is entitled to a well-deserved rest after a grueling season. What I am saying is that you might want to take advantage of this period to get ahead of the game, so to speak. Especially when you are playing catch up against competition which is faster and far more trained that you, use this downtime to close the distance separating you from the them.  

3. Fight (Swim) like a Champion!
We all remember the Pacquiao-Marquez fight a few weeks ago and how controversial the decision was. Regardless of how the pundits and would-be experts analyze the fight, the mere fact that the challenger was not at all challenging the champion was Marquez's downfall. Sure, he gave Pacquiao a hard time and might have even won the fight had me knocked him down once. But the fact is, he was not launching an all out assault on the champion. And he dare say that he ought to be champion when he was not acting like one?

Fellas, to be a champion you have to act like a champion and not just talk like one. Swim like a champion by being an aggressive competitor in training and in meets. Never back down from anything no matter how daunting workouts are or how fast your competitors are reputed to be. Challenge yourself and your teammates everyday to be the best swimmers that you can possibly be.

So you see, it all boils down to every member of the team doing his part exceptionally. In contrast to club swimming, varsity swimming is much more complicated since not everyone can just join a team and compete. There are certain academic requirements which have to be met for any athlete to be part of any team as most of us know well. Hence, varsity teams do not have the luxury of simply recruiting all the top talents and dominating the field since said talents need to prove their worth--and more importantly earn their keep--in the classrooms as well as the in the pool.

However, keep in mind that regardless of how the recruits fare academically, you can be certain that they will perform splendidly once they plunge in the pool and amass team points crucial for the championship. You ought to do the same, don't you think? 

Winning a championship in swimming starts with the swimmer. You and your teammates have to believe that you are more than capable of winning the championship. Beyond believing, you guys have to be willing to put in the requisite amount of work a champion is called to deliver. Believe adamantly and swim exceptionally--it is as simple as that.

Take Your Mark! 

5 Things Varsity Swimmers Need to Know & Understand

Ever since I entered college, I noticed that most swimmers younger than myself (as well as a certain number of senior swimmers) seemed to have developed amnesia with regard to the fundamental responsibilities of a swimmer. Well, amnesia may not be the right word to describe it since I do not think most of them were ever told that such responsibilities existed. But I did hope that they would have deduced such realities after a few years of swimming varsity. 

In either case, I think it is time that young swimmers are reminded of the things below. It would be such a pity if you guys do not put to memory and, more importantly, understand them. Trust me--these five things will help in the long run.

1. Not all the time should the Student come before the Athlete.

We have heard it all before in Coach Carter. "These kids are student-athletes. Student comes first," as Samuel L. Jackson eloquently phrased it. I am not disputing this. It is the obligation of every varsity swimmer--or athlete for that matter--to prioritize his education over his athletics. After all, turning professional is not an option for a Filipino swimmer for obvious reasons.

However, I have seen swimmers using the student-athlete excuse to chronically skip training. Kids, prioritizing academics over athletics does not mean forsaking your swimming obligations altogether. Prioritizing means striking a manageable balance between studying and swimming. The life of a student-athlete is hard to put it mildly. And while your coach, captain and/or teammates allow you certain latitude to skip training in order to study, please be reminded that you have voluntarily joined the team. Meaning to say, you accepted the difficult, complex and sacrifice-ridden life of a student-athlete in all its entirety; you embraced all of a varsity swimmer's responsibilities and obligations with open arms when you joined the team after passing try-outs. Let me stress it again; You joined to team voluntarily. No one forced or coerced you.

Except for certain unavoidable occasions, never use academics to skip team activities such as training and meets. Everyone, even the brightest, of your teammates is experiencing the same amount of difficulty you are going through so you have absolutely no right to complain or give excuses. And while you will have to skip athletic commitments for academic obligations, there will come a time wherein you ought to do the reverse. Whether it be cutting classes for meets, taking exams earlier or even load-reving from a class of the best teacher to the class of the terror teacher since the former coincides with training, you will have to see these through.

Boys and girls, sacrifices go both ways. So keep the student before the athlete alright; just do not be too uptight about it.

2. Listen to and RESPECT  your coach.

Integral to swimming success is your relationship with your coach and/or coaches. We all desire to have the perfect coach--one who is always understanding of our shortcomings and will never give sets we cannot accomplish. As lofty as such dreams are, we know that we rarely encounter such coaches. Often we get the composite coach--the combination of the dreaded one and the benevolent one in certain aspects of his personality. But of course, relationships with our coaches are dynamic.

In the team I came from, I am honestly astounded by how younger swimmers view our coaches. Most of the time, I had to restrain myself from coming down on numerous youngsters because their attitude  toward our coaches are downright disrespectful. While most of my teammates dismiss such attitudes as childish behaviors of, well, children, I cannot reconcile such things as gentlemanly, Atenean even. And let us not even begin to discuss the online social network bashing...

Guys, RESPECT ALL YOUR COACHES! You are allowed to have favorite coaches in as much as coaches are allowed to have favorite swimmers. That is a fact of any athlete's life. But respect your coaches indiscriminately nonetheless. You may not like them but you have to respect them, for their authority if not anything else. 

Keep in mind that your coaches (well most of them) only want what is best for you. They are hard on you because they believe that you can become a better person through sports.

Do not be scared if your coach comes down on you. Not too much anyway because that is a sign that he still wants to push you; that he still believes in you! Be scared when he ignores you completely. That is an indication of a total loss of confidence and trust. Believe me, I know.

However, if you really cannot swim for a coach you do not like and cannot bring yourself to respect in any way possible, find another one who you will swim for. There is nothing wrong about that. In fact, I highly recommend it. 

3. Never mind that no one watches your meets or even cares that you are a varsity swimmer.
Coming from a school whose administration, faculty and staff absolutely worships basketball and football as much as the student body, I understand completely why grade school, high school and college swimmers are very much frustrated when their achievements go unnoticed. Imagine swimming for your school for four grueling days trying to win a team championship by winning individual medals and breaking records without receiving so much as a thank you for your efforts regardless of the end result.  Would not you feel upset, frustrated even angry at that?  And when you hoist up your trophy at the end of the day, you do not even see the direct representatives of the student body--the varsity cheerleaders--because they are off at Araneta cheering for the basketball team full force. Get my point?  (For my opinions about the aforementioned, click Burst My Babble Part 1 and Burst My Babble Part 2)

In my years of swimming for my school, I have learned that while such a reality is dreadful, you are setting yourself for more than you can possibly imagine if you dwell on it too much. Lobby hard  and fight for the recognition you deserve and do it the right way. Other than that, just swim. Leave it out on the pool because at the end of the day, your achievements are only as important as what you make them regardless if your school recognizes your or not. 

For you grade schoolers, take it from me. Do not quit swimming to shift to the popular sports so that your peers will regard you as an athlete. You are an athlete, young man! And trust me, while your basketball batchmates bask in limelight now, their numbers will dwindle with every year level you progress since there are fewer and fewer leagues wherein basketball teams can play in high school and only the UAAP division in college. Only a few of them are good enough to make it to the UAAP Seniors Division so come college, the only league you will see these guys is the IAC (kind of like your Intrams in grade school). But if you stick it out with swimming, chances are you will still be enjoying the perks of a varsity member in college. (If you are wondering what some of the perks are, well, Ateneo College is co-ed!)

Here's another food for thought. While your basketball batchmates only play in one league be it PAYA, PRADA, PSBL and the like, you will be swimming in all of them! So technically, you are a member of at least two teams! How's that!

So keep swimming, young men. Keep staring at that emotionless black line and endure the proverbial chlorine-smell and tan lines. It will all be worth it in more ways that you will ever expect.

4. Competing does not start and end with the meet.
During my time as team captain for the college team, I cannot remember a time wherein I did not stress this. The competition does not start and end with the meet; it begins the moment you wake up everyday and will only end once you finally hang up your swimming gear. Competitive swimming is a consummate sport. The key to success is to keep swimming even when you are not swimming.

But how do you swim without swimming? Easy. By going the extra mile. Apply Magis in your sport! In my experiences, you accomplish a lot of your technique improvements and stroke corrections when you are not swimming. In every waking second, think about what will make you stronger, faster and better. Be as cerebral as you possibly can out of the pool because when you are racing, more often than not, your instincts take over. Also, take advantage of technology! Watch Youtube videos of the legends like Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe, Ryan Lochte, Grant Hackett, Kosuke Kitajima and other elite swimmers to learn from them and see what you can possibly adapt.  

Guys, never believe anyone who tells you that you need only to defeat your opponents during competitions. That is a total misconception. While the goal is to defeat your opponents during meets, the only way to do so is by defeating him in every aspect of the sport. It is true that you do not control what your rivals do but regardless, make sure that your goal is to outwork him in training by acting as if you are already competing. Outsmart him by eating the right food. Overpower him by religiously attending gym and land training sessions before pool workouts. But as creative and as unorthodox as possible!

5. Enjoy every second of swimming; have as much fun as you can.
Enjoy swimming as much as you can, young ones. Swim every swim as if it is your last and enjoy the company of your teammates as much as you possibly can. As amazing as life is, it is also unforgivingly unpredictable. So love swimming, even if she plays hard-to-get.

A word of warning though. As much as I advocate having fun, please keep them in the proper perspective and in line. When it is time to get serious, do not fool around. Focus your attention at the task at hand and have fun afterward, once you and your teammates finish the set. Surviving hellacious sets are always fun and entertaining to look back on. Especially when one of your teammates is a sport when he is the butt of all the innocent ribbing and jokes!

Boys and girls, I hope that these five things are clear enough. If you have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to leave a comment!

Take Your Mark!

Regaining Aquatic Fitness

Any former competitive swimmer can attest to spending as much time away from the pool once their careers are over. Most, especially those who have been swimming ever since they had baby teeth, have become too sick of being tan and proverbially smelling like chlorine that they literally put their suits and gear in a cardboard box and stow them away in the deepest recesses of their closets. Who could blame them? For ten plus years, they have swam lap after lap after lap twice a day, seven days a week preparing for competitions almost every other weekend. While some are given renumeration for their hardwork--athletic-scholarships in high school or college--the monotony of swimming makes it difficult to constantly be loyal to its responsibilities and obligations. Fast-forward a few months after retiring, you look at the mirror and see the physical changes your body has made. Gone are the washboard abs, barrel chest, chiseled shoulders, bulging biceps and V-shaped body. Replacing them are the dreaded fats you never had to deal with only a few months before. Then, you realize that you are at a crossroads of sorts. You can continue rebelling from what you have done for so long and slowly watch your swimmer's body disappear or you can reconcile with your sport and work your way back into shape.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in the same situation. While I generally did not mind my muscles turning into fat and my "V-ody" slowly disappearing--after all, I was retired--I realized just how difficult my future would be if I continue my post-swimming career foolishness. Cutting the long story short, I realized the many health risks I was setting myself up for and decided right then and there to do something about it. Without thinking twice, I took out my gear and headed to the pool to do some laps and gauge my current physical condition. After that painful morning, I created my personal swim program which would more or less get me back into shape. After my first week of said program, I can honestly say that I am on the right track.

I do not want to divulge the specifics of my program but I will offer some advise which will help you craft your own program.

1. Know what you want and set your goal.

The last thing you want to do is to swim blind. Before you put on your suit and goggles, ask yourself what you are swimming for and why you are swimming again. Whether it is to lose weight, enjoy the water or mount a comeback to competitive swimming, the key is to know what you are after. When you do know it, set your goals. Be sure to make them SMART too (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, REALISTIC and TIME BOUND). Draw motivation from such goals because it is all on you this time around.

2. Remember what type of swimmer you were.

"Once a swimmer, always a swimmer," I always say. No matter how much you fight or run away from it, you will always be a swimmer. The sooner you embrace that fact, the faster you will regaining aquatic fitness. That said, remember the kind of swimmer that you were--in training and in competitions. Recall your strengths and weaknesses; were you more of kicker or a puller? Did you have excellent underwater techniques? Did you thrive breathing less or more? What was your stroke count in your specialty stroke or S1 and freestyle? 

If you kept a journal during your career, you might want to take it out and read through it to refresh your memory. Remembering what type of swimmer you were will help you determine what you need to work on which leads us to...

3. Gauge your current physical condition and reconcile it with what you used to do.

Before thinking of and putting your workout on paper, find out what type of condition you are in. Go to the pool and swim a normal competition style warm up. I suggest you do a 400-300-200-100 combination of swim-pull-kick-swim. After which, do some time trial sets for your 50 and 100 freestyle and S1. If you are daring, time your 100 and 200 IM as well. You will have a pretty good idea of where you are standing after that. 

While you swim, take note of the things you cannot do easily anymore. Once you dive in the pool, your movements are automatic no matter how much time you spend away. As automatic as some of your movements are, notice what you strain to do this time around. Be it your trunk rotation, catch, stroke recovery, tumble-turn or any specifics, keep them in mind. You will have to factor these in when you make your own workouts later.

4. Take it easy then work yourself up.


When I swam for the first time a couple of week ago, the worst mistake I made was thinking I could pick up where I left off. I knew from experience that I could not do that but the snob in me was too determined to convince myself that I was still capable of all the things I used to do. The result? Sore muscles all over and a pretty nasty headache.

No matter how much of an elite athlete you once were, keep in mind that you spent quite sometime away from the pool. As our coaches always said, even a day away from swimming makes it difficult to stay on track on the path to achieving your goals. What more if you are gone for more than a couple of months?

Take it easy your first time out. Get your comfort and water-feel back before even considering subjecting yourself to tough endurance and speed swims. Unless you are planning to jumpstart your path to competitive swimming, slowly and easy is the name of the game.

5. Do not shortchange yourself.


The difficulty about swimming alone--if you do train alone now--is that you rely solely on yourself. There is no coach to watch you on the pool deck nor do you have teammates to compete with or even have the comfort of someone suffering the same workout. That said, the temptations are greater. When you feel fatigue, an almost insatiable desire to no longer push yourself to finish the sets in. It will take great amounts of maturity and focus to rise above such temptations when you train alone.

The thing to remember is to never shortchange yourself. I will not tell you to cut down on your workouts; as a former athlete, you ought to understand well enough the consequences of such actions. But what I will tell you is to never settle for anything less than what you think and know you deserve. At the end of the day, the only fool you are kidding is yourself every time you give in to the temptation of slacking off. Which leads me to my last advice.

6. Always remember what you are swimming for.


Never forgot why you are swimming again and what you are swimming for this time around. Whether it be because you are mounting a comeback or losing a few pounds, always keep in mind your reasons every time you take the pool. Remember them especially when the temptation to quit is strong. It may be easier said than done but keep that fire alive and burning white-hot. That drive to accomplish whatever it is you set out to do will be your best friend during your quest to regain your aquatic fitness.

Keep track of your progress too. Write about it, keep it in mind, post it on your wall; do whatever it takes to record what you are going through. Trust me; this will be more helpful to you in more ways that you could possibly imagine during that long winding road to get back in shape.

I hope that this post can help all of you former swimmers wanting to return to the pool anytime soon. If you have any comments and suggestions about regaining that pool fitness, leave a comment and I'll get back at you as soon as I can.

On a personal note, I am on my second week of my own swimming program. It's been tough but I feel that I am on the right track. With the right amount of dedication, discipline and diligence, I think I will be able to make this work.

Take Your Mark!