The Psych Sheet

Olympic Swimmers Inspire, Share Tips

When I asked my daughter and her friend what was the best part of the Mutual of Omaha BREAKOut Clinic held yesterday in Castle Rock, both agreed it was the thrill of hanging out with Olympic medalists.

Beijing relay superstar Jason Lezak, butterflyer Kim Vandenberg and 2004 Athens relay medalist Gabe Woodward arrived unaccompanied and spent four hours with some 100 Colorado swimmers sharing their stories, passing on technique tips and imparting their love of the sport.

Perhaps most refreshing was the access participants had to the swimmers. Lezak, Vandenberg and Woodward spent more than 45 minutes signing autographs for every attendee and generously posing for photos – even letting them hold their Olympic medals! Afterward, they donned their suits and took to the water for nearly two hours of various drills.

Granted there was little one-on-one instruction with such a large group, but everyone was still able during the course of the afternoon to get up close and personal with the athletes. And although swim ambassador and former Olympian Josh Davis, who normally leads the clinics, was unavailable due to illness, Woodward, who has his own swim school, did a great job of filling in.

Among my highlights  -- parents were allowed to sit in on the session -- was just watching Vandenberg’s beautiful freestyle and unbelievable dolphin kick (she’s one of the fastest American women in the 200 fly) as well as Lezak’s precision start and streamline. I also enjoyed their overriding message of having fun and believing in yourself.

“The first step is believing it is possible,” Vandenberg told the group.

Three-time Olympian Lezak gave a frank recount of his career and how he went from being the No. 2 10-year-old in the country to just a mediocre swimmer on his team, and later struggled with swimming while in college. He also gave a detailed account of his three Olympics, from the humiliating relay defeat in Sydney in 2000 to the glorious win last summer in Beijing, which he attributed in large part to the relay team’s attitude of being “one team, one unit” and swimming as a team.

The afternoon ended on a high note as participants swam in heats against one of the Olympians.

I, too, left feeling inspired. In fact, at this morning’s master’s practice, I focused on keeping my head still like Kim’s and streamlining off the wall, and for whatever reason, my stroke felt better!

Did you attend Sunday's clinic and take pictures? I'd love to share some of the photos. Simply email them to me, and I'll post a photo gallery. What did you or your kids think of the clinic? I encourage you to leave comments.

 

Take a Dip With Olympian Jason Lezak

Beijing relay superstar Jason Lezak will be in Castle Rock this Sunday as part of the Mutual of Omaha BREAKout Swim Clinic, which includes pool time. There are still a few tickets remaining for the event, slated for 1-5 p.m. at the Castle Rock Recreation Center.

The clinic features dry-land and in-water instruction, a Q&A, photograph and autograph session plus a discussion on how the body, mind and heart affect swimming.

Joining Lezak are Christine Marshall, 23, who won a bronze in Beijing as part of the 800M Free Relay team, and Gabe Woodward, bronze medalist for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in the 400M Free Relay.

Cost is $60 and registration is limited to the first 100 swimmers. To grab your spot or for more information, contact Laura Alfano at 303.941.0582 or by email: lauraalfano@msn.com.

Local Swimmers Abort Channel Crossing

The dream of an English Channel crossing by a relay of local masters swimmers was abandoned before it ever got started after continued uncooperative weather conditions.

Marsha Anziano, 64, Kathy Garnier, 49, Mark Johnston, 48, Chris Nolte, 52, Susan Nolte, 47, and Nicole Vanderpoel, 44 had flown to England Aug. 22 with hopes of attempting a Channel swim during their “window” from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3 when they had secured a boat, as is required, to accompany them on the swim. But the pilot informed the group yesterday that wind and sea conditions were unlikely to improve by Thursday.

With pressing family obligations, Vanderpoel and Garnier made plans to fly back to the States as soon as possible; the Noltes set off to tour Belgium while Johnston and Anziano stayed behind to continue swims in the Channel harbor off Dover until their official window closes on Thursday.

I have to say I was quite saddened when I read the news on Johnston’s blog this morning. What a terrible disappointment to have trained so hard and planned for something for nearly two years only to have wind and waves thwart your dream.

At the same time, it was a wonderful reminder that even swimming, like life, isn’t solely about the race, but far more about the journey (training or experience).

As Mark wrote: “It's been fun, challenging, interesting, and a learning experience. learned things about myself and about others. If you're curious, I am not waiting for next year or thinking about attempting it again.  The journey has truly been the adventure, and oddly, I am satisfied.”

Considering that I’m often myopic when it comes to goals – focusing solely on the end result -- it was a valuable reminder to savor the voyage.

Local Swimmers Set to Cross the English Channel

When six masters swimmers affiliated with Colorado Athletic Club Inverness either as coaches or team members set off for London a week ago to swim the famed English Channel, they felt the only thing standing in their way was the unpredictability of the swim.

So far it has been the wind, and they haven’t even started their swim!

All six, Marsha Anziano, 64, Kathy Garnier, 49, Mark Johnston, 48, Chris Nolte, 52, Susan Nolte, 47, and Nicole Vanderpoel, 44, are accomplished swimmers with several Top 10 masters swims amongst them.

But what makes an English Channel crossing – about 22 miles if everything goes as plans -- such a challenge is the unknown – weather, tide, waves, cold (avg. temp is about 60 to 65 degrees), jelly fish, wind and vessel traffic. Crossings have stretched to 33 miles because of the tremendous tides.

From left: Mark Johnston, Susan Nolte, Chris Nolte, Marcia Anziano, Nicole Vanderpoel and Kathy Garnier. (Photo courtesy Swim Dogs Channel Blog).

Because of its ever-changing weather, those who swim the Channel book a boat (which must accompany the swimmer or swimmers) for usually a week at a time. The idea being that during that “window,” favorable conditions will occur.

The Colorado group’s window began last Wednesday, Aug. 26 and extends through Sept. 3, but so far, it has been far too blustery to attempt a crossing. Instead, they’ve been playing tourists in the not so exciting town of Dover and engaging in daily training swims in the harbor.

Their idea for an English Channel relay (they will take turns swimming for an hour) was born about 2 years ago. Some of them had teamed together for a Maui Channel relay a few years ago and other members had swum a Lake Tahoe relay.

“We kept saying what if we did the English Channel,” recalls Johnston. After “calling each other’s bluff” a Channel relay swim became their goal. They booked the boat more than a year ago. (The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, the official Channel crossing group, is already booking swims for well into 2013). Then they began training in earnest in late April with a dip into 50 degree Cherry Creek Reservoir. The 50-yard or so swim gave Johnston an excruciating “ice cream” headache. Since then he’s worn earplugs, which has remedied the problem.

They spent the summer doing numerous open water swims and acclimating to the cold by swimming at some of the state’s chilliest venues, including Turquoise Lake. Plus, they put in their regular pool workouts as master swimmers. And from the looks of it according to their blog at Swim Dogs Channel Blog (Johnston is co-founder of the Swim Dogs team), they’ve had a lot of fun.

Their final training swim before heading overseas was Aug. 20 at Wellington Lake.

If you are interested in tracking their boat, the Anastasia, click here,  go to select "English Channel" under "area", and check “tug, pilot” boat under "notation and display options", and then hover your cursor over the blue boats to identify which vessel is which for real-time results.

By the way, there have been several other Colorado residents who have attempted and succeeded swimming the English Channel. Two summers ago a relay of then 12-year-olds -- Sara Nash, Maggie Cyr, Kianna Lee, Wyatt Oerman, Tim Soderlund and Erik Biernat – were among the youngest relays ever to have completed the feat. 

Never Underestimate the Power of Believing

More than a stage for the world’s athletic prowess, the Olympics, like no other venue, is where the impossible is possible. And in my mind, it all boils down to one thing - the power of believing. Call it confidence, mental toughness, the ability to race or positive thinking. Essentially, it is an athlete’s unwavering belief that he or she is going to win a race, nail a routine or perform to perfection.

Monday at the Olympics provided the perfect illustration. On the one hand you had the U.S. women’s gymnastic team faltering in their preliminary competition. You could just see the doubt creep across their faces. Juxtaposed was the men’s 4x100M free relay.

Jason Lezak’s swim was utterly amazing. Despite diving into the pool a half second and more than half of a body length behind world-record holder Alain Bernard, the 32-year-old, three-time Olympian somehow summoned the drive to out touch the Frenchman at the wall. There’s no other explanation than in the end Lezak wanted it and believed, and I mean truly believed, he could do it. (In a New York Times interview, Lezak did admit to a momentary lapse of confidence during the race, but during that same race, he regained his conviction.)

What sets athletes like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Michael Phelps apart is their certainty in their abilities. During this Olympics, Phelps has shown it time and time again, and it’s what makes Phelps so remarkable.

So as you sit down with your swimmer to watch Phelps's unprecedented performance and you point out all the little things that make him special like his great turns, quick start and spot-on technique, don’t forget to mention the real difference – his undeniable belief that he will win. 

For me, that’s been the take home lesson from his performance.