Insights from swimming long distance

I do 1500 m in crawl in the swimming pool one – two times a week.

Why this distance? I chose it when I was preparing to come back to France from Bali. It was one of the lowest points of my life. And as my main goal was stretched in time (and between countries), I had to have this feeling of victory at least in some areas of my life. My life coach proposed this placebo effect strategy. And it worked.
Despite the fact that this is ‘just sport’, it showed me a lot about myself, my reactions, emotions, character.

Here are some insights that you might find interesting: 

1. Why I do 1500m in crawl without stopping? Because every time I do it, it challenges me, it teaches me things. There is so much space for doing it better – that high elbow, dolphin kick, etc.
Choose a goal that will do this for you. In the end, the goal itself is less important than what you become on the way towards it.

2. I do this distance for many years. Yet every time I go to the swimming pool, I experience resistance, fear and self – doubt. They work in the loop: I resist because I am afraid because I doubt that this time I will not make it. They disappear all at once when I do that first arm stroke.
How you feel about something has nothing to do with doing it anyway. If you are waiting till you feel ready, you may never start. 

3. Because I do not stop till I make 1500 m, I need to find the way to finish this distance even when there are plenty of people on the lane. It means sometimes I have to overcome someone. I do not wait for the free lane, for a comfortable situation.
There will be many obstacles on your way towards your goal. They are not there to stop you – they are there to develop your creativity, to train your spirit and to show you what you are capable of.

4. Sometimes people overcome me. As someone competitive in sports, I used to get irritated by this. But then I noticed that by the time I finish, a lot of people already are out of the swimming pool long ago. They probably had different goals: 200m, or 1000m etc.
You might have this illusion that someone else’s victory is your problem. In reality everyone has their own specific goal, and it has nothing to do with you. It’s you against you.

5. My morning trainings on empty stomach are sometimes tougher than when I eat before. And my last 500m are the toughest ones – sometimes I just want to give up, to stop. But the thing is: my first 1000m are to train my body, my last 500m – to train my spirit.
Use any chance to strengthen your character. Achieving a goal is not a straight line. It’s zig-zags, dotted lines, circles, or things that have no geometrical name yet. So your character will be tested.

6. Whenever I feel like “I am the best”, I choose a lane next to the association of professional swimmers 🙂 These guys are the beasts! Gorgeous unstoppable beasts! Apart from all the aesthetic beauty, which I enjoy and appreciate, I do it to humble my ego.
If you find yourself the smartest person in the room, it’s time to leave that room. If you want to progress in something, surround yourself with those who are masters in that thing.