How To Win Kona Before The End Of The World

Tower 26, I’m On My Way…

This has been my home for the last 2 months - Pali High pool. I came back from Kona knowing it was time to get after swimming. I swam the 2.4 miles in 1:13. When I was figuring where I wanted to train, and was reading about Tower 26 guru Gerry Rodrigues, this sold me:

1. There are no shortcuts;
2. There are no secrets;
3. You have to show-up; with a positive attitude;
4. You must believe in yourself;
5. You must have a goal;
6. You must be patient; and
7. You must apply yourself diligently in mind, body and spirit.

When I showed up, I said I had a good motor, but no disciplined swim training. Then I said I wanted to get back to Kona in 2012 and swim sub-hour. He told me that was ambitious, then we got to work. Three days later, he told me to get a pair of numbers - timed 1000 and timed 100. That weekend, two months ago, I swam 15:59/1:21. I remember reporting back with at least a little pride, like I had somehow proved something…that I wasn’t exactly a dead fish. Relatively, of course. I’ve been working hard the last 2 months, but of course I always work hard. The difference with my swim vs. running and biking is that I’m not good at the swim — and it’s damn hard working hard at something you’re not good at. Still, I’ve endured and enjoyed my time in the pool.

This afternoon, after riding 2.5, I showed up ready to show my teach we’re moving up in the world. We went through a series of moderate warm ups before I brought my 1000 to a 13:57 and my 100 to 1:10. He asked me several times if I counted right. I did, and assume that’s a good chunk of time to remove in 2 months. It’s been hard earned, and I’m damn proud of it. And I’ll enjoy these gains for another 10 hours or so, until I wake up tomorrow, ashamed and hungry for more speed, for more gains, and then it’s back to work. Because we still have a long, long way to go. Great teacher, good student. A good day.