Nationals 2011 was a relatively good swim meet for me. I made 2 finals, in the 100 and 200m butterfly, so technically I achieved my goal for 2011. Of course my times could have been better, and I could have placed better than 8th in both races, however baring in mind my struggle with injuries and job in the last 2 years, I can be only happy with these results. With the competition just behind my back I was thinking about quiting swimming a lot. That same week was quite an emotional up and down roller coaster I really didn't know what to do and had a lot of doubts. Until a friend of mine, Trevor Algatt, reminded me with a very cute poem, which I still keep for future rainy days, that I could be just tired. Big thanks to you, Trevor! You really saved me a lot of regrets. So I decided to keep on swimming until I am really ready to quit happily, without any what-if's. But first I took 2 weeks off and saw the chlorinated water only about 3 times in that period. However I continued to go to the gym regulary. What can I say, I am just another (hyper)active person, who cannot sit still for too long. I am really enjoying the TRX and the Kettle Bells right now. It took me one week to get used to this training again and one more week for me step it up - more reps, more sets, heavier weights. It came so far that I took the challenge of one of the personal trainers at the gym- Gerald. Let me tell you about Gerald. He is easily 25cm taller than I am, weights about 25kg more than I do, has a body fat percentage of about 4%, his biceps is about the size of my thighs and he can jump like a kangaroo. Yes, I tried to kick this guy's butt. A short while after session begin I was soooo happy that he had time only for 1h, because I was so "hating" him already. But would I admit it in front of him? No way!!! I didn't make a sound, I didn't frown, I was actually successfully smiling and joking and even continued exercising 1 more hour after he left. In fact, I partly did kick his butt, depending on the exercises, and I still pushed my limits in the next hour- afterall, the efford must be continuous throughout the training, right? But on what price? Very shortly after this session I had muscle ache even on muscles I thought I am not using and I wasn't really able to controll my arms and legs for an entire week later. Why the heck am I so competitive? Why couldn't I just do what suits my fitness level instead of pushing so far out my comfort zone? I could have many excuses for not trying hard, starting with my sex and size, and no one would even question them. But would I do that again? OH, YEAH! The pain was absolutely worth it! :)
PS: Follow Trevor on twitter @trevoralgatt
