This, My Comeback

“Wow” was all I could say after my first workout in well over five years.  Not that I hadn’t been in the water or swam a lap here and there, but this was my first true, set filled workout and it was tough.  But I feel I would be jumping that gun here if I didn’t give my, you, my readers a bit of background.  I don’t know how well you all know me so I will write this as if you have never heard of me and one of my web design guru friends has told you that I have a great, content filled blog (which I am sure you, my web design guru friends are doing- haha)

My Name is Brandon Montgomery, I grew up in the Great State of Texas. I spent some time in Grand Prairie, then moved to Allen, then finally Wylie.  I really enjoyed all three (at least what I can remember of them).  But it wasn’t until I was in Allen that I met my friend Brett and his mother who were driving forces in my life in the pool.  I wasn’t great at baseball or basketball (ask Brett, the kid struck me out I think every time I have faced him in a game, although I do think a won a game of stick ball or two) but for some reason Brett and his Mother really thought I should take a shot at this “competitive” swimming thing.  Something about having big feet and hands for an 11 yr old kid would make me a great swimmer.  So it was a sunny early morning in Allen, Tx that I tried my first stint in summer league swimming.  I believe that team was called Coast.  I did pretty well, I made it to their regional where I did a flip turn in the middle of the pool thinking I was at the wall (I knew I should have worn those goggle things everyone else did). After Leaving that meet I took about a week off it was at this time that Brett’s Mother, really started stepping up her talk Brandon into swimming routine, so much so that shortly after that, I found my self staring at the largest pool I have ever seen.  It was 50m long, outdoors and it seemed like it would never end.  I was convinced that I would drown half way down.  But it was at this pool in Plano, Tx that I got my start.

Steve Matere (sp) was his name, he was a “portly” individual with a walrus like goatee (so I had decided at age 12). He walked out shook hands with Janet and asked who this “gangly” kid was, and why she had brought me.  She said (and it was one of the nicest things anyone had said about me that I had heard), “This kid has huge hands and feet, if he ain’t a swimmer then I don’t know what a swimmer is.” Steve asked me what I could swim, I answered… …um, everything.  He laughed, quite a jolly laugh if I remember correctly, and asked if I wouldn’t mind showing him.  I jumped in at the shallow end, put on the goggles I had borrowed from Brett and started my freestyle.  “Good LORD!” was that pool long, my arms felt like they were ready to fall off when I got to the other end, “You want me to do, what!?” Could you believe that the walrus looking guy was asking me to swim another length of the pool this time a different stroke, what next, Fly!? Sure enough upon completion of my second leg fly was in order.  None to pleased was I about this, what was that woman thinking bringing me to this insane man.  But I tried it and I am pretty sure he felt my pain because about half way he stopped me and asked me to finish up with backstroke.  I did gladly, although I am sure no technique was used, and I am doubly sure I pulled on the lane line a time or two.  “He will start on Maroon.” was all he said, then walked away to coach his other swimmers.

My first practice I walked into the pool, I want to say it was Plano Senior High, but I can’t remember.  I was a member of Cops now and the fall season was just getting under way.  There he sat, walrus man (who I later found out was called Steve Shamus Matere) in a white lawn chair screaming and a hollering about this that and the other.  Eesh, not exactly the jolly man I met the other day, but I was determined to give it my best shot, I walked out to him and asked me he wanted me.  I soon found myself in the second lowest (and youngest) group on the team.  Here I was a grown 12 year old and 6-7 year olds were beating me and Brett’s brother Josh (also younger) was in a higher group and would have been destroying me. Very embarrassing, but I stuck it out and Steve- not sure of his last name, but he did have a lisp- coached me up pretty fast, once I had the technique I moved up to Gold, now we were cooking.  I was at least only 2-3 years older then these kids.  As I progressed in my skills and ability to handle workouts they got longer, harder and far more satisfying.  I went to an A/bb/C (or something like that) meet and ended up scoring really well, a few golds here and silver and a bronze and I was hooked.  I loved this sport.  I didn’t have to rely on anyone or thing other then my self to improve or win, it was all up to me how awesome.  Next, it was Chris’s turn.

“Chris McCurdy and Jerry Hidenriech are putting together a team, I am having my boys switch and I think you should as well, Julie.” Next thing I new, I was swimming out at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Tx, on Senior 2 (second highest level in this team) on a team called ATAC.  I had my friends Brett and Josh, and I was meeting new people and great swimmers all the time.  I swam with one of the Hardest working swimmers I had ever met (she was on Senior 1) Jana Brock.  She could train and would train harder then anyone I had ever seen.  We all trained hard and it was an outdoor pool YEAR ROUND.  I know people think TX is always hot, but the winters get pretty chilly.  It was INSANE, but a great experience, plus we all had great year round tans! I had a ton of fun and probably learned the most I could about technique, Chris was a great coach, hard but fair.  But eventually  I think the daily commute was just two much especially when it was starting to be twice daily.  It was discussed and I was told that I would be moving to Metroplex Aquatics with Brent Mitchel.  His resume was pretty solid, coached at swim Atlanta (one of the most successful teams in the sport) before that he had swam at Florida.  He swam breast-stroke which had become my main stroke so it was a perfect fit, we were both competitive, fiery and a little sports nuts (countless argues over who was better 49ers or the Falcons).  He tweaked my technique and really taught me to taper, and focus.  He was the only person who could calm me down after a loss or bad swim.  To me he was the best fit I could ask for and any success I have had in the water is all due to him.  He also had to deal with the fact that I hated failure so much that I would find ways to not do my best, so I could say it wasn’t my best performance and therefore had it been said best performance I would have won.  It was a terrible mental battle and he helped me win it many times.  And that pretty much gives you my swimming history… …oh right, why I quit to begin with, wow so many reasons.

I think I was a little burnt out, having been in the water for about 6/7 years and doing two adays and not having much of a life I just needed a break, so when a youth pastor (who shall remain nameless) came to me and asked me to step into a role of being mentored for the ministry, I jumped at it, you can’ t argue with religion!  I have always regretted that move, even to the point where I got back into the water at the age of 19 to try my hand after a 1/1.5 year lay off.  But I could never find my rhythm, I knew I missed it and that I loved it, but I just couldn’t focus.  It was then that I finally walked away for good… …well what I thought was for good.  I am typing here, roughly 2 hrs after the completion of my first comeback workout and now I must explain why I am trying for a third time to be a good, no I will be honest, I am trying to be a great swimmer.  I am not going to settle for being okay, or a master’s swimmer only.  I am going to through my whole heart into this and see what comes of it!  I am going to strive to be a competitive swimmer once again.  (my Goals I will share with you all later in this already way to long post)  But the reason I am coming back is because I know, if I had truly tried and truly committed to swimming that I could have been amazing.  I had someone I swam with back in the ATAC days say, “he has so much natural talent,” Why do I have that talent? Why let it go to waste?  So when the opportunity came and I saw a chance to get back into the water, I jumped on it and I am going to train hard and smart, eat right and doing whatever it takes to give myself the chance to succeed.

My first workout was painful and slow and it reminded me of the time I joined COPS.  I was nervous to start, what if I couldn’t do it, what if I was really to old?  But I did it and I finished it and finished well, almost puking in the process.  My arms felt like jello at first and then like lead (which doesn’t do well in water), but I finished.  It was only 3000 meters in about 1 hr, but I finished.  I made all my intervals, some by mere seconds, but I finished.  And after I was done, I felt right, I felt right when I started, when I put on my suit, when I put on my goggles.  I know I am supposed to be in the water using my talents and abilities.  I loved it, as painful as it was, it was infinitely more pleasing.  When I told my Fiancee and my Parents that I was attempting a second comeback and a third stint into swimming there reactions surprised me.  They were elated, ecstatic and over joyed.  It was as if they new I needed this and were just waiting for me to realize that I missed it.

The situation is this, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has decided that they are going to put together a swim team to compete in Open events.  The times are fast, real fast, but I have had those times (some easily) in the past.  I have until June 30th to submit my resume which means I have to find a swim meet some time in mid June in order to have a sanctioned times sheet.  I have picked a few target events and I will narrow that to two main events by late this month.  I am unsure if I will make the team and even if I don’t, I will press on and re-submit my application as soon as I have met their time standards.

My near goals:

1. Make the USMC Team: A- 100m Breast-stroke, B- 200m IM(individual Medley)

2.  Improve on those times and give myself a fighting chance at Olympic Trials

3.  Get to the 2012 Olympic trials, and do well

They are high and far reaching I know, and I have a long, hard journey ahead of me, but I believe that if I train, eat and do what is necessary to succeed then I will.  If something goes wrong and I am unable to then at the very least I will know I truly gave it my best effort and I can lay it down and not feel remorse, or regret for what could have been.

I ask that those who know me pray that I will keep focused in this adventure and not get discouraged, but when I do, that I will just push through and move beyond.  I will try to keep this blog updated with my progress on a weekly basis (time permitting) and I will keep you abreast of what I am thinking and feeling emotionally and physically as I take on this challenge.  I still have no name for this, but I feel that this, My comeback will be a story to tell some day.  And there I believe is my title, “This, My Comeback.”