Anyone But The Hockey Boy

-3-

Ria:

The practice goes by pretty quickly. We're still trying to build a lot of fitness for the competition season so all the workouts are just long. After two hours in the water, our coach pulls us out to discuss the biggest meet of the season.

Only eighteen of us get to go and compete, one for each event, and there are almost thirty people on the team. "You all have two meets to show me you're the best at what you do," he tells us.

When I was growing up I decided the best events for me were also the most popular. Sprint freestyle is the race of choice for three other girls on the team, luckily I'm the oldest of us and have the fastest times as of last season.

When we're dismissed I grab my bag from the bench and walk to the change room. Part of the reason I stuck with swimming for so long is because of the people. And since swimming is all underwater we can't talk during the workout so the change room chats are always exciting.

None of the girls bother showering because we're headed straight to the weight room next. I find my usual locker and begin to towel off quietly.

"What do you guys think James will make us suffer through today?" Chelsie asks the go up as she puts on her sports bra.

"I swear if it's those split squats again I'm leaving the gym," I hear Jess yell from the bathroom.

I laugh knowing how much she hates anything that involves her legs. Jessica Code is our best long-distance swimmer meaning she literally can only do upper body work.

On the other hand, I am all for the squats, lunges and quick power work. "My money's on bench press," I predict, "it's been a few days since we hit arms". The guys would be happy to hear that, they get super competitive for press work so it will be entertaining for us girls.

When I'm almost done I tie my hair up in a messy, wet top knot and grab a granola bar I packed. I would say a solid percentage of being an athlete is just eating on the go all the time. I wouldn't mind it if I didn't have to eat so much all the time. "Ria wait up," my lane mate Olivia calls after me.

Olivia Young was the girl I started off with three years ago. We joined together and as the youngest, we were banished to the wall lanes from the start. It wouldn't have been so bad if we had swum the same stroke but after months of struggling to train together, we clicked.

Now even though we have first pick of our lane we still go together. "I like that shirt," she tells me and I quickly glance down at my top.

"Thanks," I laugh. "I stole it from my roommate, wouldn't be surprised if it's her boyfriend's. She said I could have it though." She laughs and we continue over to the weight room.

Colin and Shane are the only other two in there and they're fooling around on the pull-up bars. "What are you guys? Gymnasts?" I joke as they swing around.

"Oh shut up Ria," he chuckles as he jumps down. "We're gonna smash you in this session," he tells both of us confidently. "It's all push-ups and shit, no using being smaller as an excuse."

Colin is one to talk. He's about six-foot-seven and has almost two hundred pounds of pure muscle. He's absolutely terrifying looking and I'm glad to be on his good side.

"Oh, it's on," I challenge him. Usually, it's impossible for me to lift more or do more reps just because of the size difference, but body weight work is my forte and it's game on.

It only takes the rest of the team five minutes to file into the training centre and James doesn't waste time explaining the set. He simply pulls out his iPad and projects it onto a Tv screen. Olivia plugs in her phone for music and it's time to start.