Ryan Woodruff, Lynchburg YMCA
2018 was a fun and busy year here at the Swimming Wizard blog. I posted a workout almost every day, started a weekly e-mail “the wake-up swim” that now has over 500 subscribers, and published my first e-book, “The Quotable Swimming Coach.” I am thankful for those who have followed along, and appreciate the positive feedback I have received.
Here are my favorites from my year of reading, watching, listening, and learning. My aim is to become a better coach and human being, and it’s fun to look back on what I have learned to share it with you. A few of the links below are affiliate links. This means that if you wish to support my efforts to bring you new ideas, sets, and workouts every day, buying the books that I am recommending will kick a small bit of change my way without any extra cost to you.
If you like this list you may also be interested in my lists from 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2012
Enough bluster — onward to the list!!!
Books
Conscious Coaching: The Art of Building Buy-In by Brett Bartholomew
The Champion’s Mind by Jim Afremow
Endure; Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson
Articles
You Have No Competition and Great Things Take Time by Nick Maggiull, Of Dollars and Data Blog
Podcasts and Videos:
I enjoyed the Rich Roll Podcast (also mentioned in previous years), particularly the interesting conversation with Australian legend Michael Klim and the epic, inspiring story of shark-attack survivor Paul de Gelder.
The documentary Free Solo about Alex Honnold’s death-defying 3,000′ vertical climb up El Capitan has been wowing audiences this fall. Honnold’s TED talk about his feat was an interesting peek into his psyche and preparation for the climb:
Tweets
To finish, I would like to share an excerpt from the book, “Rocket Men,” the story of the astronauts on Apollo 8, the first manned craft to orbit the moon and return to Earth. NASA accomplished this incredible feat 50 years ago this month. Author Robert Kurson’s account of the astronauts’ view of “Earth-rise” is very moving, particularly given the challenges we face and the events of 2018.
Here’s to a happy 2019, everyone!
The Swimming Wizard 
I recently listened to Alex Honnold’s TED Talk. It was great.
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