Hey guys! So to make a long story short (too late!), the reason why I'm writing this is because often during swim practices, my mind wanders and I often begin to think of how my dedication to swim really helped me with strengthening my relationship with God. So today, I thought of this story, and I expect it's going to be a long one by the way, and thought I'd write it down. I hope you all enjoy!
Thmp! Thmp! Thmp!
I can feel my blood pumping inside my swim cap to the steady rhythm I'm trying to take my stroke to. Right, left, right, left. You can do this Andi. I approach five yards to the wall, and my best friend as well as counter for the 500 free Lindsey shoves the lap counter under labeled 15.
Three fourths of the way there I tell myself. You can do this girl!
Every time I take a breath I hear the roar of the swim parents sitting up in the stands. It's like the match to a fire. My parents are up there, and they want me to get this cut time almost as badly as I do. That only makes me kick harder, pull harder, breath less. I'll do anything to make mom and dad proud.
I do a flip turn at the wall and KICK hard off of it. My hands from a perfect streamline I've been working on all season. Then I break the surface. 100 yards to go. This is my moment. I do a five stroke breakout before breathing. My legs begin to claps like jello, but that only makes me pull harder. I need this cut time like I need food.
Before I know it, I'm five yards to the wall again. The counter which has now been flipped to 17 is under and being shaken hard. I spring off the wall and GO! I've got to get this cut otherwise my season is done as soon as I finish my cool down. I have to make it.
Noticing I'm only a little behind the girl the next lane over, I pull even harder. It's do or die time here. I've got to get this cut.
Thmp! Thmp! Thmp!
I reach 55 yards and a bell sounds. I'm in first! I'm winning! This only motivates me even more. If I can win this, I can positively make this cut. I'm sprinting faster than I've ever gone before. Right, left, right, left. Water runs past my skin and repels from my kneeskins only making me move all the more faster. You've got this Andi.
At five yards to the wall again, Lindsey shoves the counter under again and shakes it so fast that it's a good thing it's a red block rather than a 19 to represent that I'm only 25 yards away from the finish and the cut time.
But the victory isn't mine yet. I've still got to get to the wall again, and I feel like I'm dying inside. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to keep going. Every pull, every kick, every breath all goes in to making me move and move fast. I've got to get this cut.
Then it happens. I hit the wall.
I pull my goggles off and look to the stands. Mom and Dad are on their feet cheering. I took first. For a second I think I have the cut time. Then I look at the scoreboard.
I missed it by .25 of a second.
I hope you all enjoyed so far. I based this chapter off of an experience I had a few years ago. I thought I had the 500 free cut, but I missed it by half a second. It really stinks having that happen, but it happens to all swimmers. Fortunately, it wasn't the last meat of the season though. I'll have a playlist up for this on my YouTube soon. It's going to be based off of the songs I like to listen to at swim meets, but if you have any real upbeat Christian songs you'd like to suggest, go ahead. Also, if you have any questions on swimmer terms, ask away in the reviews, and I'll answer them at the start of the next chapter. Have a great week. See Ya!
#God's Not Dead!