Another rough week

Over the past week I've enjoyed some very good coaching as well as two of the hardest practices of my life.  Monday I got sick, most likely from pushing myself too hard with work and swim.  Then yesterday I injured my neck yet again.  I've been doing this thing to my neck since my freshman year in high school.  I'll do a dive or breathe quickly swimming freestyle and it will tweak some muscles in the bottom of my neck which takes about 2 weeks to heal.  In the mean time it's difficult to turn my head and makes sleeping nearly impossible due to the pain.

Yesterday I asked Coach Mark Hill if I should rest a day before my Milan Masters Meet.  He had an interesting point of view.  His opinion was to not let up at all regarding training.  If I were to rest and swim poorly, I would be emotionally affected.  His recommendation is to still swim a hard practice on Saturday, stay emotionally unattached to any swims on Sunday.  Therefore, if I swim well, I can say "great, I swam awesome".  If I don't swim very well, my reaction will be "oh well, I'm broken down so it makes sense".  It was an interesting point of view which I agree with.  It will give me additional race experience and I won't care if I swim poorly.