Training Update

Hey y’all! I’m here in Austin, Texas training my tail off and absolutely loving it. I’ve been back in the water at Texas for a month and a half now. France seems like forever ago. My body is on a roll and my mind is feeling like a million bucks!

In years past the fall has been a pretty trying time for me. Generally I get very broken down in training and struggle all the time in workouts. This year I am killing many of the workouts and, for me, training like an animal. There are a few factors playing in my favor. First, I think getting back in the water at the University of Texas and already in a modest level of fitness has really helped me adjust. Second, I’m on the light side in terms of weight. Right now I weigh about 180 pounds. My heaviest in training has been about 192-195 (at that heavy of weight I’m very strong but I’ve decided it’s too heavy). At the Olympics in Beijing I was about 183. Maybe it doesn’t seem like much but being a bit light I feel so much more agile and fit. My strength is not quite where I want it to be quite yet but I’m working on that four times a week! Third, I’m having fun with the guys at workout and leaving everything in the swimming world behind me when I leave the pool. I go to the pool and weight room to work, when I leave it is my play time. At times in the past I would get a bit caught up about swimming and it would pester my mind…no more!

My diet is still pretty regimented but I’m allowing myself to cheat here and there. You’ve got to let yourself have pleasures along the way. You deserve it! Last week after a crazy week of workouts I made an incredible steak (which I learned to do in France), potatoes, salad, a mind-blowing chocolate dessert, and ice cream. If y’all had seen me eat it you may have thought I was crazy…my excitement for the steak and dessert was out of control!

Train Hard. Eat Right. Swim Fast