From SwimmingWorld Magazine website... By Brad Jones, Swimming World Contributor One common trait that you will consistently see in successful senior level swimmers is that they have complete ownership of their swimming. Over my years of working with high school kids on the Bellingham Bay Swim Team, I’ve realized that the idea of ownership is frequently used but often misunderstood. Read more >>

From the USA Swimming website... By TrueSport Setting goals can be fun—or it can be a big challenge. Should you set goals that you know you can achieve, or make a season goal that's going to be a huge stretch? As an athlete, you likely want to win games or excel in competitions, but you also know that you can't control how the rest of your team plays, or which competitors show up on the start line. Does that mean you shouldn't set that goal? Read more >>

From the Swimming World website... By PETER MARTIN Among the most important things an athlete can do is set goals, and with these goals come standards. Proper training, sleep, and nutrition are vital necessities for success in any sport. But balancing these priorities can be challenging when jobs, schooling, and other obstacles come into play. Read more >>

From the Swimming World website... By ALYSSA BLAIR Like any sport, swimming has its own set of words. Here we have compiled a list of some of the most commonly used and commonly confusing terms and phrases swimmers use that non-swimmers may not understand. Read more >>

From the Swimming World website.. By Cathleen Pruden Full disclosure: I am a 400 IMer and I absolutely love it. It took me a while to come to terms with my fate as an IMer. I struggled with the fact that I didn’t have a “prime” stroke. It wasn’t until being well rounded started to get me cuts to meets (because when you’re younger, I swear the 400 IM cut is more generous than any other) that I started to appreciate my situation. Even better, learning to love my strength...

From the Swimming World website... By KRISTEN WAGNER Dear Coach, I would like to begin this letter by asking you a question. A simple, one-word question: Why? Why did you pursue this career? Why do you wake up at the most ungodly hours every day, just to inevitably scream at your swimmers for breathing off the wall? Why do you devote countless hours of your life to the fate of our swimming careers? Why do you care? Luckily for you, these are questions that I already know the answers to....

From the SwamSwam website... By Joey Puglessi Each swim season seems to begin the same way as the last. From goal setting, scheduling, getting back in shape and beyond, we plan on a smooth transition from the last season. All too often, we forget to consider the uncontrollable circumstances or events that could impact a season. Injuries, illness, mental health concerns, and other unexpected obstacles can greatly alter the course of a season, or multiple seasons. Read more >>

From the Swimming World website... By EMILY THIRION Sometimes, we all need a reminder as to why we are grateful to be swimmers. So when you feel like you’ve reached your absolute limit, here are some reasons why we are thankful for the sport. Read more >>

From the SwimSwam website... By Sophia Vale I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been avoiding mushrooms for a really long time. Over 20 years to be exact… The more I cook and the more I see people incorporate mushrooms into their recipes, the more I have started to wonder if I am missing out on something. So, in an effort to bridge the gap between my kitchen and the fungi world, please join me for a bowl of Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Soup! I promise, you’ll hardly even notice the...

From the SwimSwam website... By Sophia Vale Falafel, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is a popular Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dish made of chickpeas and/or fava beans and tons of fresh herbs. Balls or sometimes patties of the ground beans and herbs are traditionally deep fried and served on pita bread as a sandwich or as part of a mezze platter (think “Mediterranean charcuterie board”). Because falafel is made primarily out of protein-rich chickpeas (in the case of this recipe), it is a popular substitute for meat in vegan and...