The Diary of Matt Lenton, Australian Open Short Course 2005 Melbourne

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Australian Open Short Course 2005 Melbourne

My name is Matt Lenton and this is my diary of the Australian Open Short Course championships. 

5/8/2005

We began the trip boarding an 11.15 flight to Melbourne with a fairly uneventful flight. The only high point of the flight was being able to steal dion’s new book for a quick read, and naturally with there being a high point there has to be a low – that being spilling water all down the front of my jeans and sitting in a wet patch for the rest of the flight. We finally arrived, grabbed our luggage and got our car. With every trip, what should be a fairly straight forward drive to our apartments, turned into an hour and a half detour taking in the lovely sights and sounds of uptown Melbourne. Following this Steve went for a massage and I went for a quick swim at the Melbourne Aquatic centre. Dinner at a local restaurant, home into bed after a quick bed time story from Dion by 11.

6/8/2005

Good Morning all! Was woken up by a rather rude Dion Mepham by what sounded like someone throwing half a house brick at the door. After groggily coming to, the team had a quick eat then filled out to the pool. I got myself a massage and did my warm up. The massage completely loosened me up and I was feeling good, and it showed in the pool during a few sprints. We got our passes and programs. After a quick look through (I never pay much attention to these) I realized this would be the toughest short course yet. But I’m feeling good, better than I have before and am ready for the 50 free. Generally before a big race I need to be in my comfort zone. Eat the right things, have my music the way I want, sit where I need to, have my good suit on, and have had a sleep and so on. I’m realizing that I won’t have this all the time and my competition sure as hell doesn’t care if I’m feeling good or not. Its all about getting up racing and getting the win, whether your in the mood or not.
After our quick pool session we picked up Luke – Steve’s brother – a member of Guildford blues, our former swim club. We did a quick shop – meaning we acquired about 2 full trolley’s worth for basically an afternoon snack. We rested in the arvo while I sorted out some nutritional things for the rest of the week. Then back to the pool for some more starts and turns and VIP parking. Back home I gathered my thoughts on what was to be the rest of the week. Letting everyone worry about what I’m gonna do rather than the other way around. Steve (with Dion’s full backing as it appears…) appears focused, but with many athletes (including myself) it might take just something small to put you off your game. Dinner and into bed fairly early as tomorrow marks the start of competition – the 100m butterfly.

7/8/2005

After a horrible night sleep (I’m now rooming with Luke, who sounds like a pack of herding wilder beasts when he snores), I was politely woken by a caressing Dion, a much better improvement than the previous day. Myself and Luke had 100metre fly this morning and were prepping ourselves from the word go. Completing our warm-up, we moved down to the pool deck and completed our races. Luke went 57.29 in heat 2 and I went 57.12 in the third heat. A PB for both of us, I was happy with the way I swam it and I feel I can easily drop time off that with minimal work. After the race, Steve and Luke left us to see family in Melbourne. This left Dion and myself to discuss the finer points in life – favourite footy teams, girls, beer and so on.  After a movie and more in depth discussion we decided we might have a punt on the pokies at the local. The local was only 3 mins up the road, we just didn’t know it was there. We drove through out Melbourne for 2 hours until we found the right place. After losing 15 dollars without a bite, and watching Dion win copious amounts I was well and truly getting annoyed. With my last 5 dollars I teamed up with Dion only to get all the lost money back plus – and Steve wasn’t there to get any of it. Gold.

Back to the apartment where the other boys were waiting for a quick feed and off to bed. Tomorrow is the 50m free heats. Feeling good about it. I’ve kicked Luke out of my room so hopefully I’ll wake tomorrow full of confidence and wanna race…only time will tell.

8/8/2005

Woke up this morning feeling good after a solid nights sleep. I had an energy breakfast before heading to the pool. In previous comps I have gone in with the attitude of just cruising into the semi’s, and this can’t last for long. All the boys completed our warm ups and headed down for our races. Luke swam 24.09. I was next up going 22.86 placing me 12^th in the semi’s. Steve PB’d and went 22.51 to qualify 4^th fastest. After cooling down we checked our races, conversed with Dion and made our way home for lunch. After a few games of poker and a nap, myself and Steve readied ourselves for the race ahead. I find that if I have any thoughts about taking it easy, I won’t fully commit to the race and going in to this semi, I was still holding back a little. I was in the first semi and Steve in the second. After a great warm-up where I’d had the best start I’d ever had, the scene was set for some quick racing.

Up on the blocks and in lane 7, the swimmer next to me moved and I rocked back on my heels expecting the starter to hold up the race. But to my annoyance they let it go and I swam well, just the technical side of the swim wasn’t good- start and turn (which in a 50 is all that matters!). I recorded a 23.00 and later found out that Eamon Sullivan and Matt Taggeret had moved even before the guy next to me had!! Everyone seemed to think that they should have been disqualified, and admittedly it did affect my race, but I don’t want to blame others for my mistakes. I had a poor swim and took it to lightly expecting a place in the finals. I finished 12^th.

But the highlight of this evenings swim was Steve. Steve had a great swim going another PB time of 22.40 breaking the WSA record and placing himself 4^th again going into the final. All our banter and mucking around aside, training alongside Steve and watching his work ethic and perseverance only proves to me that he had this and future success coming. I wish him all the best for tomorrow night and hopes he does well.

With the sprint crown firmly attached to Steve’s head, I’m still a little upset and rather angry at myself for not taking it seriously enough, and when things like this happen doubt begins to creeps into your mind. Am I good enough? What are these other guys doing? Should I be doing something different? Having achieved a large amount of success when I was younger at Age (5  aus titles in a row), I’m feeling as though I’m loosing that animal instinct and rawness I had when I’m younger and beginning to tell myself that it’s okay to come 10^th ,12^th whatever when in fact its not. I know in there somewhere I can do it; it’s just a matter of psychological getting over all the little niggly things and doing it. Now it’s just a matter of settling myself down and focusing on my 50 fly (which will be no easy task!) tomorrow morning and making the semi’s – and this time I wont be holding back!!

9/8/05

Woke up this morning in a better mood and a different outlook on things. The realization that the business end of the meet was coming for me and Steve was apparent. After a quick breakky and drive to the pool, Steve was first up in the 50 back qualifying for the semi’s in 26.31, but elected to sit it out and focus on the 50 free final later that night. 2 very short events later, Steve with myself and Luke, backed up with the 50 butterfly. Steve went 25.72 and Luke went 25.82 putting Steve 2-nil in the neuwert swim comp. I on the other hand went 24.78 and qualified 6^th fastest for the semi final. I was pretty pleased with the swim although there were definitely things to be improved. This helped to put me in a better frame of mind, getting rid of the disaster from the night before. Driving home we stopped for some subway. Getting home we watched ‘You got me at hello’ and had a few more games of poker before everyone had a quick nap before the finals.

Up at 4, I began doing some stretches and shadow kickboxing (I was trying to prep myself for a fight, and tonight…I was entering the cage...). This helped me loosened my legs as well as making me feel confident for what was about to happen. I chucked my head phones on (heavy music followed by some more relaxing tunes is a must!!) and grabbed my pre-race snack and headed for the door. Steve was doing much the same. Getting to the pool, we both got our warm-ups done and gave ourselves our last prep before racing. I was in lane 3 semi1 going 24.53, a PB WSA record and qualified me 6^th again for the final – making me even happier.

Following this Steve had the 50 free. Watching from the sidelines was tough and don’t really wish to be there again. Steve was lane 6 next to Callus. Having a blistering first 50 Steve was well placed heading into the wall, but unfortunately caught the bow wave and slowed him up slightly, and in a 50, that’s all that needs to happen to go from 1^st to 6^th, which is exactly where he finished up – 22.45. A great swim, and more importantly experience, but I’m sure this is only the start for the big German. After his race, Steve was lucky enough to attract the roving eye of ASDA (the sports drug testing agency) and naturally being his first time, he took ages.

Getting through that we stopped for petrol on the way home, where it was brought to light that the average human head weighs 8 pounds. Arriving home, Luke had dinner ready, and after a quick read everyone settled themselves for a nights sleep.

10/8/2005

Woke up this morning still a little tired. Today was the 100 free for me and Steve and the 100 IM. After breakky we got to the pool for warm-ups and our swims. I was too tired and to be honest was looking forward to the end of the meet. Just the early mornings, constant warm-ups cool downs and swims were slightly getting to me. In the marshalling area it appeared the same way for just about everyone else. Feeling a little unmotivated, I swam 51.75. Steve on the other hand swam himself into another semi placing 15^th with a 50.26. But 15 minutes later Steve again backed up in the 100m IM qualifying for yet another semi later that night – a good effort especially backing up like that. After Steve’s little routine of showers and ice baths (which he loves to take his time with) we went a feed and made our way home.

Rocky 4 and the lion king later, we all had a sleep before getting ourselves ready. Before what im about to say, I was feeling pretty blase’ mon about the swim ahead of me. It was later (after some thinking) that it was brought to my attention that much of the swimming world (especially WA) regards our swim program and possibly its swimmers as a bit of a gimmick or joke. Something that doesn’t sit well with me at all. We train  hard, and to have someone, be it coach or athlete, question my or our intentions, regardless of whether we joke about it or not, is unacceptable and I find highly offensive. Dion also tried a few motivation (or aggravation tactics with me, generally I race well when I’m aggressive) to prep me for my race. To be completely blunt, I was well and truly pissed off. And angry. And I’m sure it showed in the car and on pool deck.

The trip to the pool generally takes some time (45+mins) and after that car ride and sitting in the pool arena makes I feel lethargic and fatigued. So tonight I tried using the ice baths. Jumping in and out of them and into the shower to make me awake and alert. And you could even say it worked. I went into the race in a better more relaxed frame of mind. The fly went reasonably well. I came fifth, which I’m happy with but the time, 24.58, wasn’t as good as I wanted. I kept up through the first 25m , but missed the wall, and its all over by then.

Before my fly Steve had his 100m free semi. He went 49.98 missing the final by 0.05 of a second. He then backed up 4 events later in the 100m IM qualifying 3^rd in 56.13, in what could be WSA first real medal chance at an Australian open champs. After more ice baths, showers and a rub down for me, we bundled off for a burger and home for more money wasting poker (it’s a lost art, I lost 11 bucks tonite L ) then off to bed.

11/8/05

The last day of comp. Woke up after a sleep in for quick breakky. We spent the day relaxing and sleeping. After a game involving rather sharp objects, it was prep time and Steve began to ready himself for the task ahead. Dion spent much of the day looking for different things leaving us boys at home. I was happy to be finished and looked forward to getting home. We got to the pool where I had a quick swim and a massage. We also spoke to Brett Hawke about some future training. Steve was up for the 100 IM and was narrowly pipped for 3^rd by 0.02, touching the wall in 55.79 near his PB. With everyone itching to get back we soon headed off home ready for a night out and as they say Jim, Chuck, Barry and TB set themselves for a big night and the rest is history.

12/8/05

After a cruisey morning, and a few panadol, it was time to clean the apartment and make our way to the airport. We boarded the 3.10 flight to Perth and another trip was finally over.