Slam+poetry+podcast

media type="file" key="English podcast.mp3" width="240" height="20" Dream. Challenge. Achieve. “Splash.” “Swish.” “Plop.” I feel the rush of the cold water swim through my body as I dive into the pool. The water awakens me like a spiff of fresh air. I see the tiles on the bottom of the pool pass me like i’m going 50 miles/ hour. I start to hope that i will have a good practice, But i know that it’s in me to make it good. Warm-up is over and it's time for some kick. Bend my knees and don’t let my feet come out of the water. I think to myself, 90% determination, and 10% ankle- flexibility. That’s what kick is and anybody can do it. This is probably the 215th practice of the season, But just like every other practice, its different. As I swim, I feel giant waves as big as tsunamis pushing me into the lane ropes. I get water stuck in my throat and I stop in the middle of the pool. After I’m done coughing like I have tuberculosis, I continue on. It makes me angry and frustrated. I put it aside and I just keep going. I switch strokes into fly and as i push off the wall I feel a little bit of nervousness. I feel those little butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I feel them because I fear that my stroke won’t feel good. When I breath, I see my teammate on the other side doing the same stroke. I see our arms coming in close and “BANG”! My arm hits my teammates arm and I feel that soaring pain in my bone. We don’t stop, we both keep swimming. I count my strokes and my coach asks my count. I say twenty-nine and he nods. When I get out of the pool, the butterflies come back. It’s now time for the main set. 3x400IM and then a 100 Back 2x400IM and then a 100 Back 1x400IM and then a 100 Back Just that set is already 2700 metres. I don’t fear this time, I plan and think it over instead. How am i going to start? What if I don’t make the pace time? When I dive into the pool this time, it does not awaken me. Instead, I feel like i’m stuck and there’s no way out. The first three are death, I barely make the pace times. I get about three seconds of rest and I have to go again. The next two are better, I race and I have fun. I see the guy infront of me more clear which makes me excited. My fifth one surprised me and motivated me more for the last. I went a 5:26. My best ever in practice. This was one of my best sets, When I look at my coach I see a smile on his face. That smile means a lot of things, One, hes proud of me. Two, I was the fastest girl. Three, he knew I can do it. Why do I swim??? Because I love it and It feels so good whenever I finish a 6.5km practice. Things like this keep me going at it. It makes me feel like I beat the pool, the clock, and my mind.