We do get to go on holidays but it's not quite the lying on the beach, sipping drinks type of holiday most might think, because we do have to take some "homework" with us to be completed, which consists of an intense running program - which isn't much different to a pre-season running session.
Last Friday 1st-3rd year players met in Centennial Park for a time trial and running session . This also wasn't just another running session, It was an opportunity to prove to the coaches that you didn't just lay around, relax and party during the break, that you have done all the hard work in the off-season and you want to let them know how much you want to play senior football in 2011.
It was 6.30am last Friday and I was wide awake, knowing I had a 3km time-trial coming up at 9am. I was a little bit anxious because even though I had completed each running session in the off-season to the best of my ability, I still wasn't sure whether my fitness levels were where I wanted them to be.
It was a cold morning and there were nine young Swans' boys and a number of scholarship players who met in Centennial Park at 9am. I'm normally pretty loud and chatty but I hardly spoke to anyone before the time trial as I had the worst butterflies, and having most coaches and a number of club representatives watching, didn't help my nerves either.
I have lost count of how many 3km time trials I have done and as much as I try not to think about it, the nervous feelings I get just never seem to improve.
Each player had their own set time which Rob Spurrs our conditioning coach had given us. I needed to run a personal best and as hard as I pushed myself physically and mentally I didn't quite beat my time, I wasn't too far off, and the big thing was it was a major improvement on this time last year.
Last season I came back from the off-season, overweight and ran terribly, and while I will hopefully run a personal best by the end of the pre-season, it's pleasing to know I am 45 seconds ahead of where I was at the same time last season.
Friday's run was a good opportunity to see where we all sat with our fitness levels and most of the boys ran well. But we all know we can still improve before Christmas.
I commence pre-season on the November 8, and while I've tried not to think about it too much, I'm also really excited about the challenge ahead for me. I haven't completed a pre-season yet since joining the club, but I'm hoping to get through this one without any injuries (touch wood) and set myself up for a big year.
