The Road to Nationals-NickThoman
The Road to Nationals-Nick Thoman
Nick Thoman enjoys a challenge, whether that is pushing himself in workout or racing in one of the most competitive events in US men’s swimming. The Mecklenburg Aquatics backstroker recently broke the short course 100-meter backstroke world record at the 2009 Duel in the Pool. Looking ahead, Thoman is poised to establish himself as one of the country’s top backstrokers at the
2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships.
I caught up with Thoman just after he returned from the two-week
National Team training camp in Chula Vista, California. The former Arizona Wildcat was getting ready to head to the
Grand Prix in Columbus, Ohio, but took a moment to share with SwimNetwork his goals for Nationals, current training status and what it’s like driving a moving van 17 hours with your car in tow.
National Team Member: Nick Thoman
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,419 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,419 miles
First off, how was the National Team Training Camp in Chula Vista?
Nick: It was fun. There was lots of sun, little bit of surf and lots of good training too.
Nick: It was fun. There was lots of sun, little bit of surf and lots of good training too.
So coming off of those two weeks of hard training, what will you focus on next?
Nick: We’re in the power phase of our training right now with Dave Marsh at SwimMAC. This is the phase where we are really working on our power and our technique. The next phase will be our speed phase, so that will be a lot of fun.
Nick: We’re in the power phase of our training right now with Dave Marsh at SwimMAC. This is the phase where we are really working on our power and our technique. The next phase will be our speed phase, so that will be a lot of fun.
What has it been like training under Marsh?
Nick: It’s been different. It’s a whole different kind of training. We don’t do as much yardage as I had been doing under Randy Reece and Bob Bowman. It is definitely hard training and you are definitely working for every tenth of a second that you drop.
Nick: It’s been different. It’s a whole different kind of training. We don’t do as much yardage as I had been doing under Randy Reece and Bob Bowman. It is definitely hard training and you are definitely working for every tenth of a second that you drop.
Looking forward to the Grand Prix in Columbus this weekend, will you go in to that still training pretty hard?
Nick: Yes. We’re still training really hard. We had two really hard weeks of practice (in Chula Vista) and although we let up a bit yesterday (Monday), today (Tuesday) is going to be pretty hard and tomorrow is travel and Thursday is the meet.
Nick: Yes. We’re still training really hard. We had two really hard weeks of practice (in Chula Vista) and although we let up a bit yesterday (Monday), today (Tuesday) is going to be pretty hard and tomorrow is travel and Thursday is the meet.
What will you be focusing on for this type of meet?
Nick: It’s going to be a good chance to race while tired and see what I can do – and to have some fun while doing it.
Nick: It’s going to be a good chance to race while tired and see what I can do – and to have some fun while doing it.
What are you looking forward to most at Nationals this summer?
Nick: Well a lot of my family will be going out to Irvine to watch Nationals, and so that that will be fun to see them all at one time. I don’t get to see my family all that much, so that will be a lot of fun.
Nick: Well a lot of my family will be going out to Irvine to watch Nationals, and so that that will be fun to see them all at one time. I don’t get to see my family all that much, so that will be a lot of fun.
What else will you do to prepare for Nationals?
Nick: We do dryland pretty much every day of the week and weights three or four days a week. We’ll ramp it up for the next couple of months and then back off as we get closer to the meet.
Nick: We do dryland pretty much every day of the week and weights three or four days a week. We’ll ramp it up for the next couple of months and then back off as we get closer to the meet.
Any particular goals for the meet in Irvine?
Nick: To have fun really. I swim best when I am relaxed and having a lot of fun so I am just going to try and keep it low pressure and race hard.
Nick: To have fun really. I swim best when I am relaxed and having a lot of fun so I am just going to try and keep it low pressure and race hard.
Do you have a favorite road trip you’ve taken?
Nick: You know, I haven’t been on too many road trips but I remember my least favorite! I had to drive from Austin, Texas to Clearwater, Florida last December. I was all by myself with a moving truck and my car in tow behind the truck. That was a nerve-racking 17 hours. After about 9 hours of straight driving, I decided I needed a break so I stopped at a hotel and slept for about 12 hours. It was brutal.
Nick: You know, I haven’t been on too many road trips but I remember my least favorite! I had to drive from Austin, Texas to Clearwater, Florida last December. I was all by myself with a moving truck and my car in tow behind the truck. That was a nerve-racking 17 hours. After about 9 hours of straight driving, I decided I needed a break so I stopped at a hotel and slept for about 12 hours. It was brutal.
For long drives like that, do you have a must-have snack or preferred playlist?
Nick: I like to listen to classic rock and I definitely had my iPod going that whole drive to Florida and I am a big fan of dried apricots. They taste good and they’re good for you.
Nick: I like to listen to classic rock and I definitely had my iPod going that whole drive to Florida and I am a big fan of dried apricots. They taste good and they’re good for you.
If you could take a road trip anywhere and with anyone, who would it be with and where would you go?
Nick: I guess I’ve never really done Disney World right. So I might want to go there and I would actually like to go with the team I am training with now. They’re a very interesting bunch of guys so it would be a lot of fun.
Nick: I guess I’ve never really done Disney World right. So I might want to go there and I would actually like to go with the team I am training with now. They’re a very interesting bunch of guys so it would be a lot of fun.
How do you stay energized to compete each season?
Nick: I actually look forward to training and competing. I like to see what I can do with what I have been given. I’m 6’1”, so I’m not the biggest or strongest guy so I like to see how hard I can push my body and how far I can get. That’s what really energizes and motivates me is the challenge.
Nick: I actually look forward to training and competing. I like to see what I can do with what I have been given. I’m 6’1”, so I’m not the biggest or strongest guy so I like to see how hard I can push my body and how far I can get. That’s what really energizes and motivates me is the challenge.
