Swim For Your Coach? Val Van Horn Pate's Success Unveiled, EP 222
What would it feel like to swim the fastest time in the country in the 200 Fly at age 60-64? Discover the exhilarating journey with Val Van Horn Pate, an exceptional swimmer who just achieved this remarkable feat. She spills the beans about her experience, her mindset, and strategies that led to this triumph. Feel the thrill as she recounts the ups and downs of her ride, offering an honest insight into the ecstasy of reaching the end goal.
This episode takes a deep dive into Val's training schedule under the incredible guidance of her coach, Mark Kutz. She shares her unique perspective on swimming as a spiritual experience, a freeing sensation that provides an escape from everything else. Whether you're interested in swimming, sports psychology, or simply want to understand the drive to push one's boundaries, Val's story will inspire and motivate you! So, come onboard to uncover the secrets behind this swimming sensation's success.
Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com
More on deck. Inspiration here from the last chance Meet in Nova, Short Course Yards, Richmond Virginia. I'm here with Val Van Horn Pate, 60 to 64 age group. Val just swam the number one time in the country in the 200 fly, which is not even her best event. But, Val, what did that feel like?
Speaker 2It wasn't quite as painful as the last time I swam it, because I was swimming it a little bit smarter and I worked a lot harder on preparing for it. So it felt pretty good until the last 15 yards.
Speaker 1What was going through your mind when you were feeling that last 25?
Speaker 2Well, I kept hearing Mark yell kick, kick. So I was trying to kick, but I was just trying to make it to the wall.
Speaker 1And you get to swim for the great Mark Kutz, the Nova Masters coach. What are some of your favorite sets that Mark gives you to do this to? Under five Anything.
Speaker 2Mark gives us is great. Swimming for Mark is probably one of the best things that I've ever done in my life. I love swimming for Mark. I mean it just creates an environment that is second to none. I mean you've got 20-year-olds coming in, you've got people like me coming in, you've got inexperienced swimmers and they all want to be better and they all strive for what Mark believes we can do. So I mean his sets are Monday Wednesdays are longer, kind of grind out more sets. I love those. The Tuesday Thursdays are more sprint sets and I've learned a lot from doing those. They probably aren't my favorite because I'm not really a sprinter, but it's been a lot of fun. We get to know the team members quite a bit. When we're kind of waiting on the blocks and then broken by a Friday, I get to everybody really excited to see what pace we're doing out there, whether we can challenge ourselves or not. He challenges us every single day and you have to be ready and that's what I love about it.
Speaker 1So what, in general, is your training schedule?
Speaker 2I swim four days a week Monday, tuesdays, thursdays and Fridays for an hour and a half.
Speaker 1Any weightlifting or other activities that you think adds to your swimming prowess?
Speaker 2I weight lift twice a week just because I'm 60, and that's what I'm supposed to do for my bones and to stay healthy. So I don't really enjoy that part of it, but I do feel like I gained some strength from doing that.
Speaker 1So do you think you'll be swimming any more? 200 butterflies.
Speaker 2After today, yeah.
Speaker 1I enjoyed that. Awesome, awesome, ok, val. The last question we always ask on the Champions Mojo is when you dive in the water. This is more of a spiritual question, not a technical question. When you dive in the water, what is the emotion that you feel?
Speaker 2Hmm, I love the feel of the water. I feel free, and especially when I'm swimming fly, I love the freedom of the feel, of the recovery over the water and the smoothness of it, and so I think, with swimming fly, in particular, when I dive in, that's how I feel is I feel free and I feel like there's nothing else on my mind. It's just a way of getting away from everything.
Speaker 1Beautiful Thanks Val Appreciate it. Thank you, kelly.
