Why I Coach

Hi Friends--

This morning I led dryland for one swimmer. 

One swimmer showed up at 5:15 to lift weights, run, and work her core. 

I'm sure the others in the group had good reasons for missing.  For some, it's day 2 of summer vacation and sleeping in feels like a gift from heaven.  For others, it's the second-to-last day of the school;  there's last minute stuff to do and no time to spare.  McKayla (fourth from left) falls into the second category--she's still got two more half days of sophomore year to go.  But there she was this morning--ready to workout.  She did the sprint runs alone.  She worked her shoulders and chest and biceps and triceps and obliques and hamstrings and quads, all by herself.  She didn't complain.  She worked up a sweat.  She asked for more shoulder work.  And at the end, she said she enjoyed it.

If someone would have told me two years ago that McKayla would be standing alone doing shoulder presses with me at 5:15 am on a school day, I would have laughed loud and hard.  McKayla is famous for her efforts to get out of workouts.  Last summer, she would beg for time to "sit around in a circle and talk about feelings."  But that was last summer.  This summer, she was the one to set up off-season dryland.  She's the first one to show up at 5:15.  She sends out reminder messages to the team the night before.  This is a new McKayla: a McKayla who wants to have a break-out junior year.  This is a completely motivated McKayla.

The best part of coaching:  watching my swimmers grow over the years--watching them set new goals and work toward accomplishing them. 

I have always believed in McKayla.  I love that McKayla is believing in herself.

You are a rock star, McKayla!  Great job this morning.

XO,

Coach Vicki

PS  I hope you can lift your arms tomorrow.  : )