Traditions.

In my experience torturous traditions, but traditions non the less.

In my club swimming days I fondly recall swimming outdoors on New Year's Day swimming 99 x 100's in 1999 and 98 x 100's in 1998 and...you get the idea. Long course, steam rising off the pool in billowing tunnels and slick ice on the deck. The good days.

Where do these traditions come from? Are the holiday's just another device of torture coaches take advantage of? Maybe, maybe not. As a coach now myself I can look back and see how just trying to do something different and mix up the monotony of training could be misconstrued as torture!

So 2014. 14 x 100's? The kids would appreciate that! We can do better. More fun and more return.

2014 Cap Relay: The leadoff swimmer needs to wear 14 caps. At the end of their leg (feel free to insert any distance here) they climb out remove the 14 caps and the next swimmer in line puts them on prior to racing their leg. Hilarity insues, trust me.

2014 14 x 50's:All off the blocks in seeded heats, swimmers pick their stroke. Award points to places finished and have "event" winners at the end of the set with some kind of reward.

1400 For Time: Why not? It's not nearly as daunting as 99 x 100's or a T3000.

2014 Relay Marathon:14 x relays, coach picks teams for a goal of optimal competition and equal line-ups. Tally which team wins the most of 14 contested relays. That team is done with practice first.

I would love to hear suggestions and ideas for more unique ways to challenge swimmers in a fun way.

Happy New Year and keep swimming!