Weekly Update: Week of November 3rd

Jackson Leonard

Weekly Update: Week of November 3rd

 

‘Thank You!’ : Team Sponsor Update

We’re thankful to announce Valor Elite Training as an official Gold level Team Sponsor for the 2025-2026 year! Valor Elite Training, located just 2.5 miles from EPIC, is led by FAST team member Tim Anderson and serves individuals seeking to achieve their highest potential through strength work, determination, and a relentless pursuit of their goals. Valor Elite’s Mission, “to guide and support our clients in building resilience, cultivating discipline, and harnessing the power of their minds to overcome challenges. We are dedicated to creating a community that inspires and motivates, ensuring that every member of Valor Elite Training becomes the best version of themselves” is directly in line with our own Mission, making their support ideal for our continued success.

FAST members interested in learning more about our Sponsorship, Partnership, and Charitable Donation offerings can find information, Sponsorship levels, and Donation funds to support by clicking the “Support The Team” tab on our website’s home page. 

 

Character Value of the Week:

Adaptability- Being flexible and responsive to changing circumstances

 

“The only constant in life is change.”

 

This familiar adage leads us into this week’s character value. USA Swimming’s National Team coaches and support staff have frequently stressed to club coaches the value of helping athletes learn to be more adaptable. Why?

 

In 2023, Team USA completed a preparation camp  in Singapore before the Worldbefore World Championships. On the final day of the camp, the athletes arrived at the airport… and U.S. Olympian, Bella Sims, arrived at the airport without her passport! While Team USA’s support staff scrambled to rectify the situation, Bella’s ability to be adaptable and flexible allowed everyone to continue their travels as normally as possible. While the travel plans eventually were sorted out, the situation was not ideal. 

 

By working on one’s adaptability from a young age, athletes can become more attuned to how to manage stress in adverse situations. In one of Coach Bob Bowman’s famous stories about Michael Phelps, he describes intentionally breaking Michael’s goggles before a major swim at an international competition. Michael was forced to adapt, find an alternate pair of goggles (or race without) within minutes, and overcome a challenging situation. That lesson would come back to serve him well in 2008 when his goggles filled with water in the beginning of the 200m butterfly…which he went on to win in world record fashion.

 

By finding or creating manageable adversity, we can teach swimmers to become more resilient and more adaptable in challenging situations. Even at the Olympics, the day will never unfold perfectly, situations will not be pristine, and resilient athletes who can adapt will succeed. The more practice someone has in overcoming adversity, the less frightening or stimulating future situations become!

 

Practice Adjustments:

Weekly Adjustments:

  • Friday AM, Nov. 5- normal Masters, normal practice optional for Arete/HS/SR

    • If swimmers in HS/SR/Arete want time in the water, Coach Jackson will be present for practice. 

  • No Friday PM, Nov. 6

  • No Saturday PM, Nov. 7

  • Monday, November 10th: 

    • No practice for those athletes who competed at PPA Finals

    • Arete swimmers: Post-meet shakeout (2000y) from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. @ EPIC

 

Practice Times: November 11th, 2025 ⇒ Mid-May 2026

As Colorado high school swimming begins, our practice times at EPIC will undergo slight shifts.

On select Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, high school dual meets will move our practice times around a bit. Sarah, our Business Manager, will directly email everyone tomorrow and post the PDF calendars to the website. Coaches will update the Google Calendars accordingly. Please make sure to double check for the changes!

 

Upcoming Events:

  • PPA Finals: 

    • Coach Doug will send an email shortly with all information needed for this weekend.

  • CUDA Pentathlon:  

        Family Commitments: closed

  • FAST Private Lessons: monthly availability

  • FAST Age Group & Senior Clinic: Racing Starts

    • November 30th, EPIC, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. 

    • Limited registration spaces remaining!

  • Swimming in College: Information for High School Aged Families

    • In-Person: Coach Woody, CSU

    • Virtual Panel: Olivia Asay, Div I swimmer at the University of Iowa

                     Katie Rogers (former Sectional level swimmer, UVA grad. & college club swimmer)

 Who should attend: high school aged swimmers and interested family members.

 Submit questions for the panel ahead of our meeting: QUESTION SUBMISSION

  • FAST Advanced Stroke Clinic: Breaststroke with Lucy Bell

         Partnering with: Nuun for goodie bag giveaways

  • December 21st, EPIC, 9:00 -11:30 a.m. 

  • Limited registration spaces remaining!