As a competitive swimmer, 100 fly was my race, and I loved racing Ella.

As a competitive swimmer, 100 fly was my race, and I loved racing Ella.

We kept ending up in the same heats, and it was almost always close between us.

One particular meet, I was well-rested, it was my first race of the day, and I felt ready. Ella was in the lane right next to me. We hit the blocks, took off, and by the last length we were neck and neck. I kicked everything I had and out-touched her by a fingertip. One of my best times ever.

On that same day, the 200 IM was a different story.

Fly and backstroke are my best strokes, so I'd go out hard and build a lead. Then breaststroke (not so great 😬) and the field would start creeping back. By freestyle, my worst stroke, at the end of a long race? People were catching me, sometimes passing me.

If someone passed me and we were still close, I could find another gear - dig in and race to the wall.

But if it became clear I just wasn't going to win? I'd ease off. Swim strong but conserve what I had left. Because I had other races that day.

I shared this story with a client the other day when I noticed something in his story. He was burning the candle at both ends, spinning all the plates... And he was certain he needed to go all out in everything.

So I asked him to take a look at the “races” he was putting all his energy into. Did he truly need to go all out to the wall with every one, or could he still finish strong and conserve energy in some areas? What races were his 100 fly and which ones were more like his 200IM?

He actually laughed at the question and said back to me, “and maybe which ones should I not even be on the starting block?” 😁

What about you? Any “races” you’re going all out where you could afford to slow down or even coast a little bit? (Send me a note if you want to keep it between us 😉)

Image: Early swimmer Sarah B. (the littlest one on the right) with my first coaches and a few swimmer friends.