The off season has almost come to an end, only a couple more weeks that include Christmas and New Year's eve and the training for season 2012 begins again. During this off season I kept on swimming and with my student swimming squad we decided to race at the Dutch National Swimming champs, since these also were Fina Olympic Trails a big representation of 'famous' swimmers was present, even for the relay in which we had entered (4x 100 medley, 4x 100 Free style and 4x 200 freestyle). For the Medley relay the team was set, but for the 4x 200 we had to swim our own trails. So about 2 weeks ago we all entered an event with the same time so we could all race each other, fortunately I did qualify myself for this event. So I was in the 4x 200 relay, but for the 4x 100 there had been a little talk, since 3 of the boys are really quicker than me, but number 4 and I are quite the same. But since we entered into the final heats for both the freestyle relays the call was quite easily made, he would swim the 4x 100 freestyle and I would watch and in the 4x 200 the roles where reversed.

But during the off season, the Dutch federation always seems to organize the Dutch Pool LifeSaving Championships as well, so under-trained and not prepared 'we' (the most members of the squad that went to the Europeans) entered the event. Only to find out afterwards that it had been used for the selection for the German Cup, gladly I still did swim good enough to qualify for the team.

At the German Cup in Warendorf, I did swim alright and had a blast. But for me Warendorf was not about the racing, as most of you know in Europe there have been some changes to the program for the European LifeSaving Championships and the sport committee did advice the ILSe board to go in a certain direction. But only recently (second weekend of November), there had been a meeting on the world stage ILS, and here had been decided that untill 2016 no changes will be made to the program for the World LifeSaving Championships (the Rescue event). Even though many would deny it, secretly it was the goal of some membernations of the ILSe to influence the ILS to also change it program for the Worlds. But since this has been decided the current plans and ideas seem useless. In Warendorf I had to explain this to the other athletes that are involved or interested in this, by this my side program on the Pool deck was for me more important then my swimming program in the Pool.

Now all I can do is hope that the ILSe changes its mind, and that some members of the ILSe board overstep their own shadows and follow the line that the majority of the athletes wants and what is suitable for the rest of the World.

This time trainingsession:

Running, a long and easy run in the morning (before breakfast= BBR). It does not only kickstart your day, but it also adds to your physical condition and strengthens your body!