Hard work is the one, inescapable factor that success in the pool requires.
You can be talented, have the best genetics in the world, and have the best coaching and pool facilities on earth…
But if you aren’t willing to work your butt off, it’s all for naught.
And for most swimmers, what holds many of them back is that they are unwilling to leave their comfort zones.
To challenge themselves and their self-perceived limitations.
To leave the safe bubbles they have created for themselves.
If you want to swim faster than you ever have, you need to be willing to do things you have never done.
(And yes, that will require breaking out of your little safe bubbles…)
Here are three lightning-quick ways you can use to start the process of pulling yourself out of your comfort zone:

1. Be adaptable.

Our comfort zone is one of familiarity and safety.
It’s the people we surround ourselves with. The habits we have. The attitudes and behaviors we carry along with us over the course of the day. The circumstances we expect to encounter in training and competition.
Thrive on being the type of swimmer that adapts.
That can perform in any circumstance.
That doesn’t expect the training and competition environment to be perfect, and in fact, performs best when it is not.

2. Face your fears in steps.

Often times we get parked in our comfort zone because what lurks on the other side has us feeling anxious and fearful.
What if we try to stretch out and end up coming short?
What if our abilities don’t match up to what we dream for ourselves?
Identify what it is that has you staying in place. And then take small steps to get unstuck.
They don’t have to be ground-shaking steps, but substantial enough to get energized and feeling confidant enough to keep moving forward.
And most importantly…

3. It won’t hurt nearly as much as you think it will.

We tend to build up the unknown in our minds…
That tough set. Hell week. Coming up short on our goals.
And yet, when they come to pass, we find ourselves wondering why we had tortured ourselves mentally in the anticipation of the experience.
In other words, we are fine. We are okay. We managed to survive.
When you feel the resistance pulling you back, think back to all of the times where you worried yourself to the point of inaction, went through with it anyway, and came out on the other side relatively unscathed.

Have faith in the fact you are far tougher – both mentally and physically – than you give yourself credit for.

When you are ready to take your swimming to the next level…

And face your fears on a daily basis…

And conquer that best time..
Taken from a article by Oliver Leroy (Canada)