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Athlete Journal: Travis Holley, Entry 13 – 7/4/12

This week Travis worked on something he hasn't done since high school - SWIMMING. It's highly likely to appear at the CrossFit Games, so no matter how unpleasant, it must be done.

travis holley, crossfit, crossfit central, coaching, journal, training journal

Written by Last updated on Nov 22, 2021

Read our other CrossFit Athlete Journals:

Ingrid Kantola and Michael Winchester

Travis Holley – Athlete Journal 7/4/12

(Read Travis’s Bio here)

GOOD NEWS!!!!

I know how to swim!!! Hahaha.

We leave for Cali one week from today, so I figured I better get on my swim game….or lack thereof. To tap into my aquatic abilities, I hired Aaron Arehart to be my swim coach. This guy is built for the water – long and lean, he cuts through the water like a hot knife through butta’. Not only that, but he is a excellent coach who has an amazing ability to take complex ideas and break them down into simple, easy to understand skills and drills. The end result: Within one hour of getting in the water, I swam a full length of the pool with decent technique! My coach said so! Hahaha.

Now, this may not sound like a great accomplishment to a lot of you out there, but for me it was HUGE. You have to understand, the last time I was able to “swim” was in a high school P.E. class in 1999! After that class, I was able to “swim” well enough not to drown, but if you asked me to move from Point A to Point B quickly, it was NOT going to happen.

With all of the mini-triathlon-type WODs popping up on CrossFit.com, it is almost certain that there will be some water component to the team competition. The likelihood being as high as it is, I knew that I had to step my abilities and confidence in the water. I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE WEAK LINK! I refuse to be the guy that holds our team back from the greatness we are capable of. That was my motivation, and remains to be the driving force that pushes me past my mental and physical barriers each day…in the gym, or in the pool.

So, with all that being said, I have made some huge strides as a swimmer, but I have a way to go. I sat down with Aaron and scheduled three more swim sessions before we leave for Carson City so that I am as ready as I can possibly be.

Lesson here is that whatever that one thing is that you despise to do, you will grow exponentially if you dive in and get after it. Usually, the only reason you despise it is because you’re afraid of it, or afraid of failing. This is a natural human instinct, but it also tends to hold us back from growing as people. You cannot let this happen.

I live by a very simple rule that I know will be extremely powerful for you if you apply it in your life:

If you can’t, you MUST!

travis holley, crossfit, crossfit central, coaching, journal, training journal

About Travis Holley

Travis Holley grew up in the wonderful and exciting town ofEvanston, Wyoming (look it up).It was a great town to grow up in, but with not a whole lot to do he spent most of his time outside causing trouble in the neighborhood or playing sports. This is where he developed his passion for fitness and an active lifestyle. This love for health and fitness drove Travis to pursue his BS degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado.This is also where his mentor first introduced Travis to CrossFit. "Cindy" was his first WOD, and ever since then he's been hooked!

Early on in his CrossFit career, Travis was involved in the start-up of two separate CrossFit affiliates in Colorado, and while doing so developed enough skill as a CrossFitter to compete in the 2008 Regionals, placing 10th overall. He would have a new home and training ground, however, by the summer of 2009.Travis jumped at a life-changing job offer at CrossFit Central in Austin, Texas.Since joining Central, Travis has earned a head coaching role as well as created his own brand and program, Strictly Strength.Among other elite-level specialty groups, this program is now one of the select training methods used by the CrossFit Central competitors as they prepare for the 2012 Games.

As the CrossFit Central team prepares for the 2012 Games, Travis hopes his five years of CrossFitting, and previous Games' experience will help solidify a first place spot for the strong and extremely well-rounded affiliate team.

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