Let’s be honest — we’ve heard a lot of creative reasons for skipping dryland over the years. Some are classics, some are… let’s say “innovative.” So, in the spirit of fun (and a little friendly accountability), here are our Top 5 Excuses for Missing Dryland — and our responses:

 Excuse #1: “I had too much homework!”

Coach:

So did everyone else. The secret? Planning ahead. The discipline you build in managing time for school and training is the same discipline champions use in and out of the pool.

Excuse #2: “My arms were too sore from swimming.”

Coach:

Perfect — Dryland isn’t about adding soreness; it’s about balance, power, working opposing muscle groups, and stability. The goal is to make your swimming muscles work smarter, not just harder.

Excuse #3: “I forgot my shoes.”

Coach:

No worries, we’ve got solutions — it’s called barefoot burpees. (Just kidding… mostly.) But seriously, a swimmer’s bag should always be packed and ready. Being prepared is part of being an athlete.

Excuse #4: “My dog ate my protein bar and I had to chase him.”

Coach:

Unless you’re doing sprint intervals after him, that’s not quite a workout. Pets are awesome, but they’re not your personal trainers.

Excuse #5: “I thought dryland was optional.”

Our Comeback:

So is winning. 😉

Dryland is the secret weapon — the place we build explosiveness off the blocks, endurance in our races, and confidence in our preparation. It’s where we separate good from Gold.

The gold standard:

Every swimmer wants to go faster — but it’s not magic, it’s momentum. Dryland gives us the foundation that makes each stroke count.

So next time you feel tempted to skip… just remember: the best athletes don’t avoid the work — they own it.