Forged In the Dark

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Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

By Jamie Kolar, Swimming World College Intern.

It is 5 a.m. Your alarm goes off and you roll over, groaning that you have to get out of bed. Dragging yourself out of your comfortable warm bed is the beginning of what is about to be a long day. It is a grueling task that really never gets any easier, no matter how many times you do it.

This is our normal. Swimmers everywhere know the discipline and time management skills it takes to get up before the crack of dawn and go to bed after a long day of swimming, school and homework. These long days turn into weeks, months and years. It is one of the staples of the swimming culture.

While we may not jump for joy at the thought of getting up at the crack of dawn every day, we do not hate it either. Sometimes, we just become neutral to the idea and practice. However, there is a danger when you put yourself in neutral mode. When you operate in this mode, you often get caught up with what you have to do and forget about all the things that you get to do.

Next time your alarm goes off at the crack of dawn, keep these things in mind:

You Get to Watch the Sunrise

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Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

Anna from Frozen had it right: “The sky is awake, so I am awake!” Every time you get to get up in the early morning you get to watch the sun light up the horizon. How amazing is that?

Some people have to plan their day around wanting to watch the sun come up, but we get to do it every day. You get to see the beautiful colors in the sky that can only be seen by a select number of people. These colors symbolize the beauty that will come throughout the rest of the day, yet they somehow get overlooked by the sleep in our eyes. Take note of the sky, the sun and all the potential beauty that the day holds the next time you are watching the sun come up.

The Silence

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Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

There is a certain solace that happens when you get up before the rest of the world. Everyone around you is asleep, there is no movement and the world is quiet. Again, there is something beautiful about the silence that only takes place at this time in the morning. It is the world telling you that you are a part of something special. This time is short, so take advantage of it while you can.

It is What We do in the Dark That Puts us in the Light

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Photo Courtesy: Kara Sekenski

This video is one of the most accurate representations of swim training with Michael Phelps. This one-minute video does not do justice to all that happens when the sun is down; it does not even begin to cover it.

A lot of work gets done before the golden rays of the sun light the sky. It is not always easy. It is not always fun. However, it is the work and time that is poured into the sport we love that allows us to be the best that we can.

What is your favorite part of training in the morning?

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Heather Raley
5 years ago

Many many days, the “have to” far outweigh the “get to”. But, all worth it.

Sarah Joy Haley
5 years ago

Maureen Tom Haley

Maureen Tom Haley
5 years ago

Beautiful sunrises from God! ??

Laura Bastin
5 years ago

Tay Thomas

Jean Pierre Velez
5 years ago

Nicolas Mateo Velez

My Beach Things
5 years ago

Aww

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