Collection of Christmas Photos

My Christmas this year is the definition of whirlwind. We kicked it off with a senior level USA swim meet in Federal Way with 22 of our studs the weekend before Christmas.

Our Senior group we took to the meet- one of the girls on the team gave me a framed picture of them all. Seriously- favorite thing ever. 

It was such a long weekend and I am so happy/proud of them all for pushing into Sunday finals after a long 3 days beforehand. One of our boys Ashton-managed a 51.7 100 Back as his last event on the last day. I mean...what?!

It's kind of unreal to have so many senior swimmers dropping between 5-10 seconds on 100s and 200s...not to mention one of our guys- Patrick- dropping 30 seconds in the mile and getting 5th. 

Pretty exciting stuff. Go Channel Cats.

Seriously though. I love them. Alexis did this....for a good majority of her warm up. I have videos.

Todd and I the last night of the meet. Surprisingly I didn't lose it this weekend (looks like Todd did...)----its not uncommon for me hahahah. Perfect- not pictured is our awesome other coach Jen.

The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way is GORGEOUS. So lucky to have it within 3 hours.

PRETTY.

So I got to drive the pippin black Suburban all weekend. Look what I learned how to do....I've never backed in before. Go big or go home?

Only hard part of going to swim meets that are Prelims/Finals  is that you literally are busy from 7am-8pm with a little break between the sessions. Efficient workouts...are key. haha.

Seriously dangerous to have swimming on during a treadmill run. Perfect.

The last day we got kicked out of the hotel in the AM so we had....2 hours to sit at the pool before finals....perfect! 

I normally don't like to 'brag' about my swimming....but swimming in pools like this...just makes you want to swim. I was really excited... 6 x 1000 :30-:45 seconds rest at a pretty good pace....followed by 4 x 500 cruise after. Finished and was like...really- never once bored? Pretty pools put you in a time warp I guess.

I love my work...but after getting home at 1am Sunday... Monday (before XMAS) was back to work. SO TIRED.

And even with the holiday----I got EXTRA work. Which is SOOOO NICE! Since the swim team is swimming psycho amounts (10.5miles total yesterday) that means I got 8.5 full hours on deck yesterday between Masters, USA, and clients. Perfect.

But that also means---a lot of the red cups.

The weather in the Tri is SO COLD. This weird fog has set in....I guess it does make it a bit more Christmas-like.

The keets says....happy christmas

She was being a party popper. Family pic with my two loves 2013.

Decorated my apartment for the holiday. Love the lights.

My mothers tree. She was under there for at least 10 minutes. hahahha. I. am. no. help. 

COURT CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY. Todd and I....I convinced him to attend his first xmas party in 5 or 6 years (he's always out of town for swim meets)- they had Santa there for us.

My date Brooke and I. Pretty typical for the evening.

Mother was so excited for her new Speedfil-- "NOW I HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR A RACE!" -mother  (Quoted 12/25/13...hahah :)---)

http://invisciddesign.com/

The last 5 days have been exhausting....its been awhile since I've fallen asleep on the couch...but LOVED my Christmas day nap for 1.5 hour. 

I've been eyeing these new Brooks tights for 2 months now....my momma got such a good deal on them. SO EXCITED.....Infinity Capri...perfect. 

Oh and that candy cane choco is on point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TFS8r_SMI

And, for closing- if you haven't, DO. You want to know what I listen to when I run- check it.

Don't know what I think of this kid---or music video Ill be honest I lost interest about 45 sec in...but right up my alley- happy.

Onward to the best year ever- 2014 is the year of me (post soon). 

Love, Erin

On turning your dreams into reality

This article I wrote for the Channel Cat Coaches Corner took me entirely too long. There you go:
DONE. But I can't say I wasn't on Facebook a bit..... :)

There is no doubt a buzz of excitement in the swimming world as the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, is returning to the pool.  After taking media by storm post 2012 Olympics, Phelps announced his retirement to pursue other interests. So why, merely a year post announcement would this accomplished athlete come out of retirement and toe the starting blocks? I would like to say it through one of my favorite poems by Jeff Rushton:

“Success is not the triumph over regress,

Success is the power to suppress,

Success is not the money or the fame,

Success is, knowing you are still the same,

Success is not the power or the pride

Success is not a gift or gain,

Success is accepting and believing in your name,

Success is not a point or goal to seek,

Success is believing you have never reached the peak,

Success is”

Jeff Rushton

Michael had a goal, and after years of pursuit, achieved this goal. Upon defining “success,” every champion has in them the need for an ever-changing definition of perfection.  As “success is believing you have never reached the peak.” So you ask yourself, “okay I’ve got the dreaming and the hoping down, how do I go about the pursuit?”

Let’s start with setting a goal. Have you sat down and defined EXACTLY what your goals are? Are you looking to final at IE Champs, or swim for a Division 1 College? Are you wanting to lead your lane in practice or maintain 5 dolphin kicks off of each wall at a swim meet? Are you wanting to win a gold medal at the Olympics or secure a specific time standard? These are all questions that you should be asking yourself. “What am I looking to accomplish?”

A good start would be to pull out a piece of paper and write down one specific thing you can work on right NOW. This can be as simple as maintaining streamlines off each wall at practice, or completing an entire session without stopping. Is there something that the coaches have been repeatedly bringing up in practice that you could apply to your stroke? These are daily goals that you are fully capable of taking charge of RIGHT THIS MOMENT.

Second step is to envision yourself one year from now. Is there a meet you would like go to or lane you want to move up to? Visualizing yourself a year from now, are you winning your heats at swim meets? Write these dreams down.

Third step is counting five and ten years from now and repeating this process. There’s no right or wrong way to daydream of future achievements.

After having this all written down, take a few more pieces of paper and write them down as “I will achieve _____ by _____.” By correlating a date with your dreams, you are setting up a plan towards achievement. This gives you a timeline. In order to transform your dreams from an idea into reality, you must first start with believing in the possibility. Take these pieces of paper and put them places where you will see them every single day. You can put them by your bed, on your mirror, or on your fridge. These are places you will frequent, and will give you the reminder of what you are working for, especially when the going gets tough.

Which brings us to the last, and final step toward achieving these great feats: the hard work portion. If becoming an Olympian came as easy as hoping and dreaming (and wanting something very very badly), we would have a very long list of people on our USA  Olympic team. This is where you transition from the work you are putting in from your heart, to work you are willing to put in with your muscle.

You must take advantage of every opportunity to take a step toward these goals. When practice gets tough, and you have the CHOICE to skip a flip turn, miss an underwater pull, or float into the wall on a sprint, you must fight the urge to take the easy route. For, in order to continue this improvement, you must find flaws in performance to guide you to further success. As they say, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

By choosing to stay strong when the workouts get tough you are creating good habits that will come naturally to you when you get up and race. The last thing you want to be concentrating on when you are in a close race with your biggest competition is “Now how did that backstroke to breaststroke turn go again?” These habits start to create with every backstroke to breaststroke turn in warm-up, drill set, main set, and warm down. Do you get to get out in the middle of your hardest race at a meet to go to the bathroom or fix your goggles? Practice training hard so that you can race hard.

Focused swimming is fast swimming. Every success starts with a dream. Dreams are achieved through successful goal setting, a passion for the activity, and a willingness to work ridiculously hard to achieve this dream.  Swim on, Channel Cats!!

LOVE, ERIN

On being honest with yourself

I actually found this post in my saved documents on my computer. Read it and felt I wanted to share it. 

As a girl, I was daddys little girl through and through. I didn’t care much for the idea of shooting at things but if it meant spending time with my father, I was up and out of bed at the crack of dawn dressed head to toe in my camp gear ready for a hunting trip.

I remember one specific trip to the tree farm. It was autumn and the weather had just decided it was going to start to brisk up. I remember it being a game, seeing if I could spot the 3pt buck (or anything) before my dad. Secretly, I thought to my twelve year old self- “god, I hope we don’t actually see anything! I wouldn’t want something to have to die …its too pretty of a morning” The sun was just rising, and we were slowly puttering through the dusty back roads. My dad kept saying “keep your head low and look under the brush…if you see something quietly let me know.” Well to keep a long, (and…im sure boring) story short—we didn’t see much of anything- but after we decided to head back to town he let me hop out and pick a couple huge Washington Fuji apples off the tree and we shared them while driving along the plateau watching the sunrise.  Between the crisp sweetness of the apples and bright sunshine-- the etching of the birds flying up through the brush to the power lines will stay engrained as a big part of my childhood. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend this moment with anyone else.

I’m pretty sure this memory is the sole reason why I love autumn so much. It reminds me of hunting season and spending time with my dad.  It’s actually one of the last memories I remember having with just me and my dad. Days changed. Years passed. Lives changed…and well moved on.

It’s been a rough couple of days. I’ve had a lot of time to sit and reflect on who “Erin D Holmes” (in case you were thinking it were another Erin Holmes). I have no intentions on this post being a “Woe is me” piece. I just am trying to make sense of this jumble in my brain, to put it to good use.  No use in wallowing in some temporary misery- because that is not me. Find something practical, Erin. There is something practical here.

I looked in my work schedule and laughed out loud. “What a joke, Erin. You are a better trainer and instructor to let that happen. You have more self respect than to go out in public looking like that. Call your friends.”

Why is it so hard to take your own advice? Especially when its so easy to dish out the “correct” route for decisions to others? I could sit around all day and tell people to stay away from the sugar and Starbucks and to drink more water….but where is my water bottle….and where did these gummy bears come from?

Its so much easier to be a talk-er verses  a do-er. (sounds a little familiar…)

Now what does this whole Erin’s dad have to do with ANYTHING? I think there are a lot of purging of the past that needs to be done (Erin change #1). 

Isn’t that what you always learn in Health class? The twenties are the years to magically “find yourself,” as if this self is just waiting to be released from a box deeply hidden inside yourself.

This is also a time when a lot of people are making plans to accomplish big things. These things need to be viewed as a lifestyle change verses a “new years resolution.” I think it would be a more permanent change if you felt it were something to be applied everyday. Ramble ramble (Erin change #2).

I have a lot of new years goals.

My most important:

Be the change you want to see. Be the example. Take control of your own destiny. (#3,#4,#5)

I.am. A. hallmark. Card.

and I will conquer the world.

Love, erin

I'm thankful for thanksgiving and coaches

Thanksgiving always gets me a bit emotional- (as if I'm not always emotional enough hah).

 I love the time to take a step back and reflect on really how privileged I am. Heres a quick post on my Thanksgiving outing with the family and also my reflection on how thankful I am to have my family- and coaches- always supporting this strange journey I've got going.

My Grandma's house has got to be one of my favorite places in the world. The early mornings are usually misty and quiet. I always like to think I am straight out of one of the Bronte sisters' novels.

"Grandma's house"- which is actually a fish dock nestled in a little outlet of the Columbia river----about an hour Northwest of Portland. 

My mother and I got to spend Thanksgiving morning on the HS track that she grew up on in Clatskanie, OR. We planned a super quick trip to the west side to see family- and of course couldn't miss the opportunity to run somewhere new and fresh (not to mention BEAUTIFUL). 

My mother didn't get to join me in my workout- but was quick to volunteer walking the track to keep me company. She seriously is superwoman. 

Her small town track was PERFECT. Loved having trees as a backdrop for a change. The air on the west side of the mountains just feels different. There's a bit of a cold bite to your face, rewarding you with a chest full of mountain air. Running on the west side always makes you fee cleansed- both physically and emotionally.

It was SUCH A BEAUTIFUL morning for a speed workout. Everything just seemed perfect- the sun, the air, only if my legs were with me on this one....hah theres always next time :)

Afterwards, we went down to the local coffee shop and chatted with the owners for a bit. Something about small towns helps time slow and appreciation grow. People start to look different, and conversation seems to deepen. I sometimes wish the world would just slow to this pace, to see how beautiful everyone and everything can be.

Finishing up the run. Love the sun.

Being Thanksgiving in a small town my mother and I got on the topic of being thankful for our coaches throughout our youth.

The youth in small towns like Clatskanie seemed to have two routes to be taken- sport- or mischief. I know for a fact, that with how much energy I had, without swimming I could have gotten myself in some big trouble.

We got to talking about how much our coaches had impacted our youth. My mother said she still views her basketball coach from HS the same as she had almost 20 years earlier- a great mentor and positive adult role model. She still keeps in contact with him via Facebook (oh technology).

I then got to thinking about how much my coaches have impacted my life. 

Im so thankful for my long time coach Todd Stafek- (with the swim team that I've swam for for 17 years and counting). Todd has not only taught me how to swim, but how to fight, to work towards extending my limitations. He won't let me give up on something just because there's a possibility that I might fail. This has gone for everything in the pool, and as setting me up to be a positive contributing person to society. I now get to work on deck with the legend on a daily basis (3 hours to be exact EVERYDAY....haha)

                

My coach Hillary Biscay taking the WORLD CHAMPION title in Ultraman yesterday in Hawaii. She not only smashed the women competition, but only allowed this one man to beat her----2OA. She really is the Smashfest Queen leading from day one only to extend her lead the following three days. 

I also am very thankful for my coach Hillary Biscay. The last couple of years have been made a lot more positive with her whole hearted mentoring. Literally the best thing I could have done with my triathlon pursuit was hiring Hillary. She's been with me through one of my most unstable and uncomfortable life changing years- and has kept my chin up and looking forward towards the bigger picture the entire time. She inspires confidence- while challenging me to feats I would have never dreamed of attempting on my own. I can't wait until my turn to make her proud. I proudly wear my smash visor on every run I take off on.

I am also thankful for my turn to be this mentor for these outstanding kids. The Channel Cat kids are such an amazing group of young people- they truly enhance every day I get to work with them. This is a shot of them during our hour long dry land session- after they had just got done swimming close to 8k. Studs. 

On an un-related note: the cat and I enjoyed cheering for MD this weekend. NC State smells.

AND I figured out how to take panorama photos on my phone. Kinda cool. 

My sister sent me a picture of a painting I had done for her in HS. I forgot how much I had liked it. I really would like to find more time to paint.

That AND read! I am having an obsession with Fitzgerald currently. I just started Tender Is the Night and I am instantly in love. 

He's got such a beautiful way of saying the simplest of feelings. "He looked at her and for a moment she lived in the bright blue worlds of his eyes, eagerly and confidently." On F.Scott you speak straight to my heart.

And to finish....

This is definitely what I love about my family. We probably spent close to 10 minutes trying to get a shot of us all in the air at once. If I were super gutsy I would post the video...we are not the most graceful of bunch, us Viuhkola's. 

Eventually, we got this one.

And this one....almost.

And, PHEW finally. Love my family. Super thankful to be a Viuhkola.

And the puppy. 

Love, Erin

A Story On Confidence

Some background: the state qualifying includes either

A.) Obtaining the qualifying time standard (which they make these fast enough that only a handful make- state is limited to 24 athletes per event per division. 

B.) Placing first or second at districts. 

C.) Now they will take the top seeds AFTER districts if both A/B don't fill that 24 athletes per event- which is the "wildcard" taken from state (this is how I took my FIRST ever state relay my second year as head coach)

SAM: on having a confidence in goals

One of my Kennewick HS Swimmers came up to me last year at the start of the season and told me she wanted to qualify for state. With a calm confidence in her voice, Sam read to me the state cuts she was aiming for, and we discussed goal splits and improvements we could make from the last season to get her there.

SO having this bold of a statement from my "non-swimmer" (doesn't swim year around- only 3 months out of the year) I witnessed a refreshing set of confidence.

State last year with the girls.

I stole this from the Kennewick Head Coach, Micah and this year's district team. Phenomenal.

Sam is one of those athletes that I will never forget. From that day on, she was on a mission. She got the work done- and not only completing the practices given to her- but with this determination and positivity that inspired you to believe anything was within her reach.

Last night I watched Sam qualify for State in not only the 50 Free, but 100 Free and take home the District Champion title.

Although a bit of me was sad that I couldn't have been a part of her process getting her to this level of competition this year, I am reminded that my job has been done. This girl was behind the blocks with an amazing set of confidence that she had prepared herself for. She swam herself among the year round swimmers, to win the 50 Free and respectfully place 2nd in the 100.

I so knew she could.

BLAIR- HAILEY-ALEXIS: on overcoming fear of competition

The Murphy family will always be a big part of my swim coaching career. Hailey, the spunky freshman swimmer I coached my first year, could not be more different than the quiet, reserved coach that I am. She would be behind the blocks with this loud, colorful personality ready to RACE.

The Murphy girls, and their father Sean (who I get to coach in my masters)

So forward 3 years, and I hear that the two younger TWIN sisters are joining the Kennewick squad- I am fully prepared for the season to be a whirlwind of....well energy.

What I loved about Hailey was her confidence behind the blocks. All you had to say to that girl before her race was- "Girl, you go do your thing. Go play your card," and she would race to no end- she DID NOT like to lose.

So upon nearing our first swim meet with my freshman twins, I was relieved to find out that the Alexis seemed to follow in her big sisters footsteps. She got behind the blocks with the confidence of a seasoned senior, and in that little freshman swim cap- she tore the pool up. There was so surprise upon getting her state cut, which she told me was happening, no question.

Blair, on the other hand, was a girl of my own heart. With a blank (almost worried) look on her face before races she took me straight back to my HS swimming career (which included A LOT of tear filled goggles).

The twins and I

On the verge of tears, she would dive in, swim her race (which knowing her potential was...well...a practice swim) and come over to the coaches table absolutely defeated. You see, this girl trained as fast as her sisters, had PHENOMENAL times in practice (best times even), absolutely BEAUTIFUL technique, but would get behind the blocks terrified. She gave up before it even started.

Watching Blair swim her races last night you wouldn't have recognized that athlete. She was behind the blocks with that same blank look, but even from the stands you could sense a different demeanor. She was there to get her state qualifying- and DAMN watching her come back the last 35 yards of her 200 IM was absolutely inspiring. She was about 2 body lengths behind after the breaststroke and absolutely did not give up. This was a new Blair.

She not only qualified for state in TWO relays, but RACED her way into State in two individual events by getting second in the 200 IM and 500 Free (two of the hardest HS races you can have).

Actually my favorite quote from the weekend-
"Hey Alexis, what's the district record in the 100 Breaststroke?" -Me
"I don't know, lets look." -Alexis
"Alright 1:05:50. Get it girl." -Me
"Alright, well now I have to." -Alexis

Those girls.


RACHEL: on flat out hard work

I would love to see rachel's attendance record for the the months leading out of the LCM summer season. I am pretty confident it would be 115% of practices made.

 I say this because she was one to be swimming the Monday after her last big swim meet- (the first day of her 3 week "summer break")- and asked if I could write her out dry land practices to be done on her own. What's funny is she is missing dry land practices because after swimming with the club team for two hours, she rushes over to her high school practice to swim with them for an additional hour to hour and a half EVERY DAY. Oh, and this doesn't mention getting home between 7:30-8:00pm and fitting in homework, dinner, dry land, and a social life (?). (I know how hard it was KAHS was that 5:30-7:30pm practice time all four years I swam for them......)

Let's just say this girl trains hard.

One of our dry land sessions last year

Another of our dry land sessions.

Rachel was another girl had some racing to get done at Districts to move on to State- and we were all biting our nails in the stands. Rachels confidence held behind her training. No one had put in those hours- watching her swim her 100 fly (and place 2nd) a huge relief came off everyones shoulders. She earned that- and not only that- but she raced hard (with a BEAUTIFUL 3rd turn/underwaters) to defend her district 100 Backstroke title.

SO EARNED.

ALYSSA: on not fearing the unknown....or anything at all

Alyssa is not your typical HS girl. I had the privilege of taking this girl to Senior Sectionals last spring (as a little 14 year old).

I distinctly remember my first Senior Sectionals. I was scared shitless. That swim meet is competitive. It is intimidating. I thank my big sister Cassie Hamilton for helping me deal with my nerves before every single race (which I got to do with my little sister Natilee just a few years later).

Natilee and I now. Still my little sister  haha.

So taking this girl to the meet as a lone swimmer, I was a little nervous how all the nerves would play out.

After warning the girl to be aggressive in warmup and don't let anyone essentially dictate her warmup- "if someones in your way go around....or over them" was my advice. I was in shock watching this girl swimming down the middle of the lane for her butterfly pace, smacking people (because this girl doesn't break stroke), cutting off people, and keeping on her goal pacing.

I could learn a lot from a girl like Alyssa. She is not afraid of anything. Which shows why her best events include the 200 Fly, 400 IM.

McKENZIE: on a constant state of goal awareness and relying on this when it matters

McKenzie is the girl who comes to practice and I almost find it weird if she doesn't ask to have her strokes watched.

I love athletes like this. They work hard, and WANT to succeed.

McKenzie and I this summer. PS this girl's kick. OMG. This girl's kick.

Mckenzie is one of the most coachable athletes I have worked with- you mention something you would like to see in the race- and damn, you see it. Combining an amazing work ethic with a willingness to concentrate on technique has lead this girl to a 4A District title in the 200 free--not to mention an amazing ability to lead her team by example.

Her confidence lies in her trust she places on her coaches which leads to an amazing confidence in herself. I am so excited to watch this girl grow the next year, she is definitely one to watch.

ClAIRE: on keeping the confidence flowing through a performance that didn't reach goals

Clare and I running up Badger

I always say that 500 swimmers are some of my swimmers with the biggest hearts. They put their heads down. They train. They don't complain.

This is Claire.

Claire was seated 3rd in BOTH of her swims yesterday and was one on the radar to procure her first state qualifying. She had put in the time. She had the heart. Now just to get the race underway.

After a HEART WRENCHING 3rd place in the 200 free where she was out touched by a mere .10 of a second she made her way up the stairs to tell me her plan for the 500 free. She wanted to get that 2nd place. There was no mention of her 200. There were no hard feelings. Very matter of fact- that she was ready for that 500.

The 500 came, and though a great swim for Claire she secured her 3rd place spot. Being a coach of MANY of the swimmers at the District Championships (from multiple teams) it's so hard to be so happy for one swimmer, and heartbroken for another.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for a wildcard for this girl. She so earns it.


COURTNEY: on reaching goals and creating new ones

The last girl I need to write about is a freshman who I got to work with over the summer before her first HS season. Courtney is another one of those put your head down and work girls. She has this amazing kick, and even more amazing work ethic.

As a freshman, she came up and told me how nervous she was going into finals to be anchoring the Kennewick 200 Medley relay that was seated first for finals. She had three strong swimmers ahead of her, but as a freshman she knew she would be the one down to the wire bringing it home.

She dove in, swam her heart out, and brought Kennewick to their first District Relay Title. 

After her swim (and hopefully a warmdown--i didn't see much warm down action goin on.... haha) she was excited to share with me her excitement in going to State as a Freshman, but was quick to bring up her plans for next season.

Within minutes of her success, she was asking me about her next steps towards her next goals----an individual event at State next year. I assured her we will be working hard for that, but to enjoy the rest of her earned success this season.

I could seriously go on, and on, and on. These kids continue to enhance my life- and totally inspire me to always be working towards something a little better than I am today.

Onward to STATE Channel Cats. You go get em.

The cats fine, I needed a puppy picture this week. Boo and I say Happy Halloween.

Love, Erin