The Journey to Provincials: Strength, Mindset, and the Power of Showing Up
This year at Masters Swimming Provincials in Edmonton, something clicked for me in a way that it never has before. It wasn’t just about the times on the clock, the distances I swam, or even where I placed that came with the effort. It was about the mental strength I carried into every race, every stroke, and every moment leading up to the event.
As a woman in my late 40s, I know firsthand that training at this stage of life comes with its own unique challenges. It’s not just about showing up to the pool; it’s about listening to my body, understanding when to push, and recognizing when to rest—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. It’s about balancing my passion for swimming with my career, my family, and my coaching business. And it’s about knowing, deep down, that the time I carve out for myself isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.
The Road to Provincials
Training for Provincials wasn’t about perfection. It was about consistency. Some days, I felt strong. Other days, I was tired, distracted, or just didn’t have the same fire. But those weren’t failures; they were learning days. Days that taught me how to adapt, how to trust the process, and how to keep moving forward even when things didn’t feel ideal.
As someone managing ulcerative colitis, I’ve had to develop a deep awareness of my body’s rhythms. I’ve learned that rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing. Sometimes it means taking a walk outside, reading a book, or listening to a podcast that inspires me. It’s about finding balance—giving my body what it needs so that when I show up at the pool, I’m truly ready to put in the work.
I swam multiple events at Provincials, but the three key ones—the 1500m freestyle, the 800m freestyle, and the 400m freestyle—demanded a level of mental and physical endurance that went beyond just being in shape. In the 1500m, I wasn’t sprinting. I was pacing, building, holding my focus over time. And that’s where the mental game really came into play.
The Strength in Mindset
This year, I was the most mentally strong I have ever been in a pool competition. And that strength didn’t just appear on race day—it was built in the weeks and months before, in the training sessions where I pushed through fatigue, in the moments when doubt crept in, and in the countless times I reminded myself: I’ve done the work. I’m ready for this.
And that’s something I want other women—whether they’re training for their first event or their hundredth—to know. Mental strength isn’t just about confidence; it’s about preparation. It’s about believing in yourself because you know you’ve put in the effort. It’s about having moments of doubt but choosing to swim through them, to be curious about them, to trust that you are stronger than they are.
Lessons Beyond the Water
The mindset I carried into Provincials wasn’t just about swimming. It’s the same mindset that applies to any big goal, any dream that takes time to build. Whether you’re an athlete, an entrepreneur, a student, or someone chasing something that truly matters to you—know that it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication, drive, and the willingness to show up, even when it’s hard.
For young women out there with big dreams: keep going. Trust the process. Surround yourself with people who believe in you but also challenge you. Find a coach, a mentor, or a support system that will push you while giving you the space to grow.
This journey to Provincials has reinforced something I’ve always known but now feel more deeply than ever: the success we see on the outside starts with the work we do on the inside. The training, the preparation, the mental resilience—all of it matters.
And today, I celebrate not just the races I swam, but the journey that got me there.
