Coach Boyle Blog

Something we spoke to last night with good advice on how to handle discomfort.  And our athletes were well past lactate threshold:)

For those who dont know, I used to be one of the individuals who takes blood lactate at the end of a national team athlete’s race.  Based upon the subsequent results we would tell them they were sufficiently warmed down or not.  The laborious process, coupled with knowledge I brought to the job, made the task inconsequential in my eyes.  The two were not significantly enough related to warrant the cost (financial and beyond) of the testing.  Lactate testing has tremendous value…but in my eyes this was not the place.

As an athlete I almost always loathed warmdown, especially in practice.  My coach gave me the typical ’400 warmdown’ and I heard Charlie Brown’s teacher.  Later he would tell me that he only expected me to do half and was just trying to get something out of me.

So maybe there is a bit of anti establishment in my coaching methods or perhaps I intuitively knew a few things as an athlete, researched it as a student, and apply it as a coach.  To those who know my mentality…its probably a bit of both.

Nonetheless, to this day, I always smile a little smirk when someone tells me they have to clear their lactic acid.  An inside joke that Dr. Gladden allowed me in on.

About 3 years ago I gave up trying to explain science to others that didnt want to listen because of an entrenched mindset.  Yet Ill explain to all who come with an open mind because a world renowned professor in the field once took the time to write to a fledgling graduate student that accepted scientific research takes about 2-3 years until its applied.  Seems like the NY Times is hitting that timeline right on:)

Have faith in your vision and remain strong in your adherence to it.  There is honor in the responsibility to pursue excellence even when its not a fad.  Remember to question myths in pursuit of the truth.  And that personal growth, no matter how difficult it is to accept, comes from an earnest commitment to that truth from those with knowledge and experience beyond what we currently possess.  Seek it out.

Perhaps the greatest coach ever

to compete, get in shape, dream.  Whatever the reason for an individual, they drive the outcome by creating the commitment with personal goals that end in satisfaction when rooted in and adhered to with purpose.  And the subset of an individual’s reasoning is assisted by the greater groups drive to support.

Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work

Early exercise pays off…who wouldve thought it:)  Good news for all…great news for this years Prep and TIDE athletes.

I dont like to admit it.  I dont like to even give its presence credibility.  I am but a simple swim coach.  And because I may not have my head in the sand or prone to gross hyperbole nearly as much as Nick Saban (Bama shot), I will err on the side of caution with practice.

Folks if you are feeling ill, I applaud your work ethic to persevere, but encourage you to read the following article and make informed wise decisions that benefit the long term of a swim season and an athletic career.  Not to mention ones own health and well being.