A Day in the Life: Matt Lenton, Day 4

Today was the second day in a row that my car was able to grace the back of a tow truck. I woke up to head to practice only to find my tire flat to the ground and my car riding on its rim. So after having it towed and walking an hour back to my apartment, it was time to head to my next appointment. I'm a big believer in becoming used to things before you race. In saying, that I like to sometimes practice in racing suits and try to replicate racing situations any time I can. Many people like to shave down right before their event, and when it comes time to race they are unfamiliar with the feeling of the water rushing over their bodies. So today, I went into get waxed (Yes, waxed, despite some ribbing from a few of my loving teammates) as it gives me time to adjust and really feel good in the water. After a treatment that even Bill Gates would find expensive, I came home to support the IU men's basketball team as I cheered them on from my couch. (IU knocked off Illinois, 65-61, in the game.)

A bit of stretching later and I was on my way to the pool.

This afternoon's set was an 800 easy any way I wanted, followed by 3 x 50s working every aspect of my race just at slower speed. I then had 100 and 4 x 25s both free and kick where I worked underwater turns focusing on butterfly followed by a set of 8 x 25s descend. I used a flipper and really worked on front end speed off the wall holding perfect head position into my breakout stroke. After that my coach 'Wild' Kyle Hastings and I did a few starts before doing a 200 cooldown.

Straight after practice, the captains held a dinner for all the men where we were able to enjoy some fine dinning and each other's company before heading upstairs to have a more personal focused meeting before the job for next week.

Captain Paul 'Crazy Horse' Sigfusson and Ryan 'Mad Dog' McNeil both delivered their speeches on what was needed and expected for next week's meet. They also showed a few inspirational videos and one particularly team-orientated one that reminded us of what it takes to get to the top. After the conclusion of the video, the entire team voiced their own opinions of what they'd like to do before Ben 'Gunslinger' Hesen took over and rallied the troops in an effort to create some enthusiasm.

After the meeting, we all stormed out the front doors with a purpose and with direction with each and every one of us understanding what is needed of us to win next week.

Heading home, the nerves began to jangle, but not in a nervous afraid way, but in a way that only a swimmer knows when he is fully backed and supported by his teammates 100 percent. The feeling I've been searching for my entire career.

The rest of the night was spent relaxing and watching movies with Steffan 'Weasel' Troxel and Brittany 'The Rock' Epperson.

Soon after, I headed to bed wondering just how the other teams are going to feel when we storm the Ohio State pool and make it the place where we come to race, the place that we make our home, the place where we are determined to honor our seniors and return home with yet another Big Ten title.

Till tomorrow,