Endurance....

Today was a session of learning how ones mind and body can connect on an endurance level in the pool of swimming up and down the lane 160 times and try to maintain a good steady pace and even though the body was feeling it and at times wanting to stop, the mind was...no keep going we want the eight kilometers...

The body will fatigue, the pace will become slower, the way to deal with this I found was with breathing, making sure I was breathing from my diaphragm, not my chest. Consistent deep breathing, and the words "Feel the Grind" clicked through my mind when I could feel my arms slowing down. (I have put up on a separate post Welcome To The Grind...this is one of the best inspirational video's for athletes. I find it helps put things into perspective when I am having a crappy day and just need that pick me up...
 

In order for me to make my dream and goal of swimming the Rottnest Channel Swim I need to do these long distance endurance swims, and make the body feel so fatigued that it knows that it can keep going, and that as much as the body feels uncomfortable and the muscles burn...and yes they do burn, knowing that there is a reason for all this.

These endurance swims are also used to work out the best foods and drinks to use for feeding. Its interesting to find even when you swim you think of things that would be good, so I thought of having watermelon, one of my favourite summer fruits and having the natural sugars and water from this fruit would be ideal, so one that must be tested.

I believe that with endurance in sports, life and all that we do, will bring so much learning about ourselves and others around us, and the situations we go through.

Have an awesome weekend.

Hayley xx