(You can also view this post and more at the AthleticFoodie blog.)

Since March 14 I’ve been in San Diego training at the US Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Chula Vista. USA Swimming organized a training camp for professional athletes like myself so we could get a change of scenery, and also train with some different athletes. This camp comes at a perfect time as many of the college teams we train with are preparing for the NCAA Championships, and are not training very hard.

In 2008 I spent 10 days at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, C0. In 2009 I spent two and a half weeks at the OTC in Chula Vista, CA. Each training center has it’s unique attributes. Colorado is at altitude which makes training there definitely harder, especially at first. In Colorado the pool is on the OTC campus, whereas in Chula Vista we train at a pool about 15 minutes away. Both training centers have high quality dining halls, which provide almost all the normal healthy things I would eat. As you might expect, the pool in Colorado is inside, while in Chula we have the awesome opportunity to train under the beautiful California sun. Both centers have great weight rooms and physical therapy centers to promote strength and recovery. All in all, each training center is awesome and provides a close to perfect environment to train in.

As I’m sure many of you can attest, our lives always seem to have something else tugging at our attention. Sometimes it seems there are always errands to run, dinners to cook, calls to make, emails to write, meetings to attend, and more. Part of the true beauty of training at one of the OTCs is that we are basically in our own little cacoon, that has a sole focus on training. My objective here is to maximize training and get my shoulder 100% healthy. At the OTC meals are prepared for me. We’re driven to practice. The weight room is a two minute walk from my room. I’ve been getting my shoulder worked on 100 yards from my back door. The campus is quiet, intimate and a wonderful place to take a deep breath and really focus at my goals at hand.

Permanently living at this training center are a number of Olympic track and field athletes, rowers, bmx bikers, archers and kayakers. Traveling through on training trips are teams like our swimming crew, USA rugby, field hockey, softball, soccer, amongst others. As an athlete it’s always helpful and eye opening to speak with other athletes about their training and how they’re preparing themselves for peak performance. There’s no question everyone does things a bit differently, and there’s no exact science for anyone to achieve maximum performance. However, learning from other athletes, and experimenting with new training techniques is always an exciting thing to think about and explore.

So far the workouts have been tough. I’m in a phase of training right now where I’m looking to get super fit while also gaining strength. Since about January 1 I’ve been nurturing a shoulder injury that I’m feverishly trying to rehab back to 100%. This camp has provided me with great opportunities to work with physical therapists and trainers who can help me on my road to recovery. Although my shoulder is only at about 85%, I’m making progress, and hope to be back close to 100% by the time I leave on March 29.

Part of me truly wishes I could live at a training center like this and let all my other worries and responsibilities melt away. I’m refreshed by the simplicity of life here at the OTC. In part it makes me wonder just how good I could become if I had nothing else to worry about but training. Alas, no worries or responsibilities is not really a reality. However, I think this experience can show me, and hopefully others, that we can all probably simplify our lives in some way so that working towards our dreams is less hectic, and more focused. For instance, at the OTC there is nothing to do at night. Left with nothing to do, I’ve turned in for bed as early as 8:20pm. So much extra rest translates directly into higher output training. If I can successfully tune out insignificant distractions at home, and transplant this routine into my life regularly, there could really be huge benefits for me. I understand going to bed at 8:20pm is not normally a possibility for most people. Therefore, ask yourself this simple question…what could you alter and/or or take out of your life that would have an immediate and positive effect on you fulfilling your dreams? Think about it. My guess is there are things we can all do to help promote the realization of our dreams!