The 7 Emotions of Training Trip

Photo Courtesy: Julia DeGregorio

By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern

Training trip is full of warm weather, spending time at the beach, and plenty of cute Instagram photos, right? Oh, and let’s not forget the hours and hours of swimming and the hardest training of our lives. While college teams’ annual training trips are a ton of fun, they are also full of hard work and a lot of emotional ups and downs.

Day One: Frightened

US Olympic Training Center altitude open water camp 2015

Photo Courtesy: Tyler Fenwick

As a freshman, you’re terrified. You’ve heard stories from your older teammates about the hard sets, the fast intervals, and the insane amount of meters swum daily. You’ve been anxious for this all semester, and when it’s finally here, you don’t know what to do with yourself. Even as an upperclassman, you’re still nervous. You know from experience how hard training trip is, and you never know what sets Coach has been planning for the past year.

Day Two: Scared

wheaton-swimming-training-trip-floating (2)

Photo Courtesy: Kelley Baylis

You’re still anxious for the days to come because of the emotionally scarring day one. The first day was really hard, and Coach is definitely not letting you “ease in.” You’ve started to mentally prepare yourself for how much harder it’ll get. You may be telling yourself, “Ehh, maybe it won’t be that bad,” but in the back of your mind, you know this will be the hardest week of training you’ve ever done. And just when you think it can’t get any worse, you see Coach draw brackets.

Day Three: Settled

Photo Courtesy: Gabby Logozzo

You now know what to expect. You’ve stopped trying to guess what the next set will be: it’s pointless; no one knows what Coach will say. You’ve stopped saying silent prayers that it will be easy; you know that it won’t be. “Hope for the best, expect the worst” has become your new motto.

Day Four: Adjusted

Photo Courtesy: Jen Cournoyer

By now, the transition from yards to meters seems more natural. You’ve gotten into such a routine that you are now completely comfortable in your surroundings. You know exactly what you’ll eat and when you’ll eat it, and all of your naps have been scheduled. It seems like you’ve lived in the hotel your entire life, and the pool seems no different than the one back at school.

Day Five: Fatigued

Photo Courtesy: Kelly Lennon

You’re physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. As soon as you dive in for warm up, you feel like your arms are going to fall off. You’re not sure how you’ll be able to take another stroke, and you’ve probably questioned why you ever became a swimmer at least once every 50 meters. You miss your friends and family back at home, and getting their texts and Snapchats certainly doesn’t help. Some of your teammates may be getting on your nerves, and it’s impossible not to roll your eyes at Coach’s jokes at 5:30 in the morning.

Day Six: Accomplished

Photo Courtesy: Jen Cournoyer

You finally take a step back and realize all that you’ve done so far. Even through the pain, fatigue, and constant soreness, you’ve accomplished something amazing. You’re still exhausted, but you’re starting to feel like you’ve mastered training trip. The burning pain barely phases you anymore, but you’re over halfway and coming down the homestretch now.

Day Seven: Relieved

Photo Courtesy: Jen Cournoyer

It’s finally the last day. One week ago, you never thought this day would come. You’re glad to be soon returning to short course, and you are genuinely surprised that all of your limbs are still attached to your body. In between all of the swimming, you’ve bonded with your teammates, you’ve spent some time at the beach, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

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Bob Lennon

8 years ago

Kelly Lennon…day 5…great picture lol

Kelly Lennon

8 years ago

Reply to Bob Lennon

I like naps

Nancy Levin Allen

8 years ago

Brendan Teeters Dylan Allen. Thought of you !!

Pola Soczomska

8 years ago

Sonia Baran Zuzanna Wójcik Marta Brzozowska ?Wałczschwitz