Behind Every Mantra: Your Reason For Swimming
Why do you swim? Everyone has a reason; using that reason to amp up your motivation will help you develop your personal swimming mantra.
My Reason? Winning!
I wanted to win. Everything. I wanted to lead the lane at practice, I wanted to get my hand on the wall first every time.
However, a single mantra wouldn't suffice. I had several swimming mantras to complement different competitive situations.
Enter The Racing Mantra | Rabbit
Rabbit. Racing mantra. My college coach at the University of Arizona made me "rabbit." After several long talks, and many swim practices working on racing strategy, it was determined that I was most comfortable being the race leader. I liked to go out hard and lead from start to finish.
It did not always work for me (silly rabbit!). Especially racing a conference rival and future Olympian Kalyn Keller from USC. In season, at every meeting, I would lead and she would clobber me on the back half of the 500 free, my premier event.
My Negative Split Mantra | Push
Frank Busch and I spent the entire season working on negative splitting, the technique of progressively increasing pace, resulting in a faster back half than front half of any given swim. Huge challenge. Frustrating challenge. The training mantra developed here:
Push.
It was mind numbing for me to restrain myself from letting go on the first half of practice swims during negative split training. I wanted to just
Fly (yet another mantra). But with lots of hard work, tears, and some cursing I was finally prepared to challenge Kalyn.
My Mantras In Action
My swimming mantras aligned for my breakthrough race against Kalyn Keller at NCAA's in College Station, TX.
I began my race as the
Rabbit and I did
Fly. What was different? A surge of adrenaline and confidence, supported by countless hours of mental and physical conditioning aligned to
Push me to the wall before my rivals.
I knew this field of athletes wouldn't be played by my going out fast strategy; my opponents had developed their own strategy to counter my race leading and reel me back in. They knew I would do it. I couldn't surprise anyone here with my speed. This time I had a new mantra to help me close out my race. And at the halfway point I was ready to go. I fired up my legs and and told my arms to push it. I still flew and I got my hand on the wall first. No one reeled in this rabbit, not this time. It was my first individual national title and I swam the last 25 with a huge grin on my face, knowing I had it in the bag.
Time hasn't changed me; I still hate to lose. I am still far too competitive for my own good. My mantra keywords still flash in my head when its time to go. While I may not be an all-star anymore, I still like to
fly,
push, and be a
rabbit. I also like to just
Go.
Other Uses for Mantras
Swim Workout Recovery And Relaxation
Mantras can also be used to relax. Using
Loose or
Breathe during swim workout cool downs and stretching phases can be very soothing and help positively affect muscle recovery and heart rate.
Mantras And Housework?
Of course mantras can be applied to many other aspects of life. During house cleaning and laundry, a mantra like
Get It Done comes to mind!
What's Your Swimming Mantra?
Thanks for taking the time to read about mantras that have enhanced my swimming.
I'd love to hear from the athletes out there about what Mantras have helped you grow as an athlete and achieve your goals.
Until then, please save me a lane!
