T2 Aquatics' swimmmers had an outstanding Senior Championships meet last week in Plantation, FL. We quite a few best times, some extremely high-level swims, and we finished well in the point totals: 2nd place overall combined team, 1st place for the women's scoring, and 3rd place for the men's scoring. Now that this meet is behind us, we must move quickly into the next step -- preparing for fast Spring/Summer swims.

Here are some tips to help athletes and coaches get back on track after a "Championship" meet:

1. Reset your short term goals. What is it that you can do in training to move yourself past where you currently are? Often, prior to a Championship meet, you train your last 10 days just a bit differently than normal (i.e. you do different type of work -- more in line with preparation than with "training") -- and so, because you have changed your training for 10 days, and then you have raced in a three day meet, you must realize that you have not "trained" (so-to-speak) for about two week's time. You can improve many of the training sets you completed 4-8 weeks ago because you are NOW A DIFFERENT SWIMMER than you once were 4-8 weeks ago. Just as your training affects your racing, your recent racing success can affect your training in a positive way!

2. Find a way to get better outside of the pool. Given that you are maintaining good training habits IN the pool, if you can find something OUTSIDE of the pool upon which to improve, you will greatly increase your chance of making an overall gain. At T2 Aquatics, we are going to strive for a better and more consistent dryland program with our senior level athletes. You can ALWAYS improve something, and this is my choice as coach: I believe our next progression will come through getting stronger, quicker, and tougher. What will you choose?

3. Find an edge. You have to get hungry for success as an athlete, or it's not going to be there for you. Success is only there for those who need it. Wanting it and hoping for it are never enough to continue improvement in a sport like competitive swimming -- success comes from that place inside of you that needs to feel victorious.