Horn Tootin' Time

I don't normally toot my own horn, mostly because I'm too busy getting run over in practice to have a reason to.  This morning was different.  We did a series of max speed kicking.  It ended with 3x50's with a board all out for time with as much rest as needed between them.  This ended up being about a 300 easy and an extra 5 minutes rest between each max 50.  The first one I went a 34.x and felt pretty good about it however the group was reprimanded for not being fast enough.  After a pep-talk/yelling-fest we tried it again.  I dug deep and touched in a 31.6.... a lifetime best time for a 50 kick with a board from a push.  I got a few confused looks from the other swimmers, especially considering I was swimming 3rd in my lane.  The next fastest swimmer went a 33.9, still a very respectable time.  Others were 34's, 35's, etc. The swimmers and coaching staff seemed to be visibly confused at my time.  It was sort of an epic moment for me.  I was smiling because I seemed to realize what nobody could seem to comprehend.  I just swam over 2 seconds faster in a 50 than any of the 8 other guys in the group. 

I had a perma-smile on during that next 300 swim as I considered what I just accomplished.  While we prepared for the last 50, the sprint coach ordered that I take the lead spot in the lane.  From a pride standpoint, nobody ever wants to be pushed to 2nd place because somebody else is having a good set so the coach asked that we split the lane and swim side by side.  I agreed as the other swimmer said "yea, so you can stop riding my wake".  It was a half funny, half serious comment.  We laughed it off as we got setup to race again.  I could feel my heart beating pretty hard, I was feeling the stress of the group watching me.  I think some of them assumed I left early on the last 50 to achieve the time I did.  I knew it was a legit time because head coach Mike Bottom was right next to me as I started.  My only concern was that I gave it everything I had the last time around, I was hoping I had something left in the tank.  As we pushed off, the other two swimmers in my heat got the jump on me, I was the last one off the wall.  This was on purpose, I wanted to ensure I left on the top of the clock (the :00) so there would be no room to question my upcoming time.  In only a few seconds I caught up and started pulling away from the other swimmers as I heard the sprint coach Mark yell, "Cmon, nobody wants to lose to Doak!".  I smiled and continued kicking my hardest.  My head was tilted to the left (just a habit) so I couldn't see my competition who were all on my right but I knew I was ahead, I could feel it.  As we neared the flags on the other end, I knew the other swimmers would take a few armstrokes into the wall (it's actually ok to do that on this team, within the flags), I chose not to, since I never do.  Armstrokes during kicking just feels like cheating to me.  I quickly looked to my right as I touched and didn't see anybody.  As I hit the wall the coach read out "32.9".  Shortly after me, the other swimmers touched.  One in a high 33, the other in a 34.  It seemed a little weird for a moment. Nobody looked at me.  I kind of felt like I overstepped my boundary.  There really wasn't a good way to handle it either... do I say "good job" to a person you just beat?  Wouldn't that come across a little mean?  I waited for eye contact from somebody but I didn't get it.  I pushed off and began cooling down.

After cooling down, a swimmer asked what I went.  I replied "32.9" and got a "good job".  I'm hoping I didn't tick anybody off today.  I just swam to the best of my ability and had a blast doing it.  I achieved a best time for a kick set in practice.  A 31.6 is a fairly respectable time for a 50 kick at my ability level. I'll take it :)

I caught the coach for a moment after practice and got a "good kick set today".  I replied "thanks, it's starting to come together".  I don't have many days that I can say I swam well within this group, today was one of those days.