Week 3 and The Week Ahead

HARD WORK
Remember, what you do EACH DAY in the water will determine how well or how poorly you finish the season. EVERYTHING we do is targeted to our final two meets of the year. TAPER BEGINS TODAY!!
You're off to a great start in this regard, but let's keep pushing ourselves.

HEALTH CONCERNS 
The idea of "everything we do" also impacts how you take care of your health. Colds have been going around this season and we've had guys out for a day or two for various ailments. We have to take care of ourselves. Though I know that you can work as diligently as possible to avoid them, but still catch a cold or the flu. However, it is an expectation, as a member of this team, that you do what you can to help your body out. Coats, hats, shoes and socks are all expected when you are outdoors. Sleep, diet, etc. are all part of our expectations as well.

OUR LAST MEET

We had a nice start on Tuesday vs. West Ottawa. Some great, eye opening by some of our 
Meet Splits - Click here for splits and results. These show comparisons to lifetime best times. Negative numbers in the right column indicates the amount of time that an athlete has improved in the swim (Diving is actually just the opposite). After our first couple meets, I will only make comparisons to season bests.

OTHER COMPETITIONS
We also held our first Aquaman Challenge of the season. You can see the RESULTS HERE

Following that our December Lane competition is up for grabs. With the Aquaman score added Lane 4 has taken the lead with Lane 6 close behind. Here is the current standings.

CHRISTMAS BREAK PRACTICES (Including Exam Week)

The lights, and music aren't the only indicators of the season. The annual Christmas break practice load brings a different type of anticipation. In other sports, you may expect a little break from the work. In our sport however, the training ramps up a bit. These next three weeks are great times to take the great conditioning work you have been doing and build on it with more technique work and laser focused intensity. These three weeks are some of the most important training of the season.

Here are the details of practice times, etc.:

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE - Exam Week

Practices this week Monday - Wednesday and Friday will run 3:30 to 5:30. 
Use your study time wisely and let your time in the water be your time to recalibrate and give your brain a break.

Thursday, Dec. 19 - Home Meet v Grand Haven
    - Athletes must be on deck at the Aquatic Center by 5:15. 

Saturday Dec. 21 - Practice 7:15 to 9:15: No Breakfast.

THE BREAK

- Our Christmas break schedule is updated on the calendar. You can find the link on this blog in the right side banner.
- I am still working on a spot for our Christmas Eve practice.

ALSO DURING THE BREAK
December 30 - Jenison Invitational
          * We will depart by bus from the Aquatic Center at 9:15am.
          * Pick up for Zeeland athletes will be about 9:30.
          * Swimming begins at 11:30 and diving (11 dives) around 12:00

December 27 - Pizza and Bowling following practice.
January 4 - Annual New Year's Relays (a fun intrasquad competition).

FURTHER AHEAD
Thursday, Jan. 9th Away Meet @ Spring Lake
- Bus leaves from the Aquatic Center@4:05
- Northside Pick up at Veldheer Tulip Farm (Quincy & US 31) @ 4:20
- Warm ups @5:00
- Meet Begins @ 6:00

TIMERS
We need lots of TIMERS that we need for home meets including this week's meet and a bunch of openings for our invite on January 18.  We typically need 8 timers for a dual meet but we will need 16 for our Invitational on January 18. Dave Huisman is your contact for timers.