Episode 14: Back to Swim!

How much time off should a swimmer take between seasons—and what happens when they lose their feel for the water? In Episode 14, Renee and Rochelle talk honestly about returning after summer break, rebuilding confidence, racing less and balancing school, club swimming and college transitions.

They also catch up on Pan Pacs and European Championship headlines, the proposed return of the International Swimming League, Ali Truwit and para swimming, college recruiting trips, back-to-school nutrition and more.

In this episode:

🌊 Getting the feel for the water back after time off
🧠 Why the return to swim can be more mental than physical
⏱️ When racing less may help swimmers see progress
🏫 Balancing high school and club swim
🌍 Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Katie Ledecky, Jack Alexy, David Popovici, Léon Marchand and more
💸 The ISL comeback and the swimmers still asking to be paid
🏊‍♀️ A New Jersey parent-relay fundraiser idea
💪 Ali Truwit, para swimming and the Stronger Than You Think Foundation
🎓 Sending a swimmer off to college and recruiting-trip advice
😂 Swim Mom Confessions and favorite things

CHAPTERS

0:00 Welcome back—and London’s 2012 Olympic pool
2:41 How much time off is too much?
4:49 Racing less and seeing more progress
7:44 High school swim vs. club swim
10:48 Pan Pacs predictions: Ledecky, Douglass & Walsh
12:48 Pan Pacs vs. Euros—and the races swimmers need
19:35 Junior Pan Pacs and rising stars
23:04 The ISL comeback and unpaid-swimmer controversy
31:24 Why swimming needs more prime-time attention
33:25 The New Jersey parent-relay fundraiser
36:26 Ali Truwit, para swimming & Stronger Than You Think
42:09 Sending a swimmer off to college
46:42 Recruiting-trip advice
49:39 Meet Mobile tips for new swim moms
51:20 Back-to-school nutrition and the home fueling station
54:00 “Oreo-gate” and school-snack debates
56:59 Balancing school and swim
58:27 Swim Mom Confessions
1:00:33 Swim Moms of NJ shop
1:02:42 Favorite things
1:07:10 Closing

Tell us in the comments: How much time does your swimmer take off before a new season?

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