Comments on: Day 92: A Weekend to Remember

By: Jul

Jul — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:21:00 +0000

First meet? Wow. That’s awesome! Congratulations – you did it!

Experiencing the rush of competing and swimming for your teammates? Check.

Realizing what you need to do next to improve? Check.

The time is secondary.

Can’t wait to hear more! You are inspiring me to get back in the water.

By: Matt from Bethesda

Matt from Bethesda — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:28:15 +0000

1) You didn’t let Jeff down.
2) Next meet will be much better now that you know what to expect.
3) I bet if you did a 100 for time, from the blocks, this week in practice that you’d beat the time you went in the meet.
4) Thanks for posting video of your swims and for bringing us along on this great swimming journey of yours.
5) CONGRATULATIONS!!

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:03:37 +0000

Paul –
Greetings from Kabul. I’ve been reading this blog from its inception and have enjoyed it thoroughly. My kids, both of whom are summer swimmers with Jeff (well, at least my son) also look at it on a regular basis. I’m struck by one very strong theme – the difference a really good coach makes, no matter the sport. Now, I believe that there are a lot of technically qualified coaches out there. Most are good people as well, The distinguishing difference is that exceptional coaches connect with their players/kids/swimmers/rowers in a special, encouraging way, such that when things get really tough that the kids will push through so that they do not disappoint their coach. (On a good team, they don’t want to disappoint their team-mates either.) In several of your blogs, you have said that you didn’t want to disappoint Jeff, which for me is the true indicator of excellence. I’ve always felt that way myself about him, though I watch from some distance but see the positive impact he has had on so many kids, including my son. The one thing I didn’t know about him was his singing ability – I will have to check on that. Keep up the great writing and keep at it in the pool.

By: A swim coach

A swim coach — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:31:14 +0000

Paul,

You stepped up and did your best. That’s all you can do at a meet. And you realize that a good performance in a meet is made up of hundreds of good performances in practice.

Now take that and go get it.

Great job this weekend and very nice to meet you. See you in November!!!!!

By: jeff

jeff — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:37:59 +0000

hey
what competition suit did you use?

By: durham

durham — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:18:07 +0000

that, and slow down on the chili dogs on the weekend….

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:49:47 +0000

Kick Kick Kick Kick Kick.

With some work on maintaining your kick throughout the race that’ll help you not spin your wheels as much at the end.

Congrats on the first meet! Keep it up. I’m looking forward to seeing the difference in the videos of your next meet, which I’m sure will be significant.