Ooh, just a little bit dangerous

When I arrived at the pool tonight to swim, all the lanes were filled. So I determined that I would need to share a lane, and set about identifying which of the several single-swimmer lanes to ask.

After scoping things out (in all my near-sighted wonderness) I went up to a gentleman as he stopped on the wall, and the following conversation ensured....

• Me: "Is it alright if I share the lane with you?"
  
  
• Swimmer in water (SIW): Yes.
  
  
• Me: Cool. Do you want to split the lane or circle or something else?
  
  
• SIW: Well, actually, I'm doing backstroke right now, and I won't really know where I will be.
  
  
• Me: Oh, ok. Well, so do you want to pick a side and-
• SIW: I don't know where I'll be; I kinda go all over the place when doing backstroke.
  
  
• Me: That's alright: I can keep an eye out for you. So should I take this side-
• SIW: I kinda go all over the place, and can't really stay straight.
  
  
• Me: It should be ok, should I just take-
• SIW: I just don't really stay on any one side.
  
  
• Swimmer in the neighboring lane: You can get in here.

Now, as his responses progressed, I began to wonder why the gentleman initially said that it was ok for me to share the lane: with each subsequent answer if became further apparent that it was not alright.

Get out of my way, get out of my sight
I won't be walking on thin ice to get through the night

Fading like a flower?

I am just back from a meet this weekend in Clearwater. Overall, things went well. My main goal for things was just to get a status on where I am and to start getting used to racing again--which I think happened. I was not really looking to try to race too hard, and in the case of the 400 IM, I was checking if I could finish it (my fly is in mid-revamping at the moment).

The result? Well, I was able to come back well in all my races, particularly the 2 backstrokes, where I came back on people in the back half (and even-split-ed the 100 to boot). I continue to be perplexed that I went out faster in my 500 than in my 200 free; but I am also just happy that I was under 2:00 in the 200 free and sub-55 in the 100 free.

In any case, times from the weekend:

• 100 free: 53.48 (25.86/27.62)
• 200 free: 1:57.72 (59.09/58.63)
• 500 free: 5:03.58 (58.34/1:01.44/1:01.96/1:02.23/59.61)
• 100 back: 57.21 (28.55/28.66)
• 200 back: 2:04.50 (1:01.84/1:02.66)
• 100 fly: 56.45 (26.62/29.83)
• 400 IM: 4:38.05 (1:03.50/1:12.26/1:18.10/1:04.09)

(I'm not completely remembering the event order, save that the 400 IM was the last event on Saturday, and the 500 the first on Sunday.)

I will try, I just need a little time

Friday night arrives without a suitcase, Sunday morning creeping like a nun

I survived a long-course 200 fly yesterday.

Well, actually, I survived that 200 fly, swimming a few other events, and a hurried post-work drive on Friday to a meet in Plantation on Friday evening and yesterday. The meet went alright, or at least better than the rather dismal expectations I had for it (being out of the water for basically the month of May contributed to that, and that I didn't have any music playing in my head). But given that I wasn't too sure about even swimming in the meet, it went alright. Time wise, things were... I guess interesting. Yeah, interesting...

Friday
-800 free--9:42.37 (4:49/4:52)--I was actually out faster at the 100 and 200 here (1:08.36 and 2:21.19), than I was in the 400 on Saturday (1:08.57 and 2:21.21 there)

Saturday
-200 free--2:13.90 (1:05.72/1:08.18)
-200 back--2:35.50
-100 back--1:10.47
-200 fly--2:33.37 (1:13.89/1:19.89)
-400 free--4:42.92 (1:08.6/1:12.6/1:12.6/1:09) --I was able to come back on the last 100 :)

So, interesting. The whole, out-faster-in-the-800 than the 400, is confusion (yes, as opposed to confusing, which it is also). But on the plus side, I did get to see an old high school teammate of mine for the first time in about 15 years; which was nice. Now, hopefully, this will help with motivation to train....


Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet

They have no shields, no secrets to reveal

Tonight's swimming practice that I did...

100 swim-100 kick-100 pull-100 swim
200 swim
100 kick
- - - - - - - -
30 minute lightning "break"
- - - - - - - -
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull
1250 free, easy & smooth
- - - - -
250 back kick
150 back pull
- - - - -
lightning break #2*

*I'd actually intended to do about 900 more, but when the second lightning-forced break happened for the night, I decided that the 3,000+ yards I had done was enough for the evening (although, hopefully, I'll get through things tomorrow).


Pay no mind to what they say
It doesn't matter anyway
Our lips are sealed

How did we wind up this way? Watching our mouths for the words that we say

I am back from the 2009 USMS Short Course Nationals, which were this past weekend in Fresno, California. The meet went about as well as I could expect, given that my training the past month and a half or so has been rather non-existent (swimming once per week not really ideal). However, my event sign-up strategy seemed to work out alright (I entered the meet in the middle of the aforementioned non-training spree, so I tried to pick things I could be ready for).

Anyways, times from the meet:

Thursday (5/7):

• 1000 free--10:37.18 (5:13/5:24)
  
  
• 1650 free--18:08.79 (5:21/5:33/5:36; 10:54 at 1000)--I'm not sure how much swimming the 1000 a few hours earlier, or the lunch I had between the 2 events, really played... but it was interesting.

Friday (5/8):

• 50 fly--24.92
  
  
• 200 free--1:58.41 (27.11/29.83/30.79/30.68; 56.94/1:01.47)
  
  
• 100 back--59.92
  
  
• 50 free (relay)--23.83

Saturday (5/9): Yosemite!


Sunday (5/10):
I needed to fly back to FL, which took most of the day, so I only entered the first event so I could get to the airport after it....

• 500 free--5:02.36 (Out faster at the 100 (56.82) and 200 (1:57.76) than what I went in the 200....)
  

All in all, not completely terrible, though not quite on par with last year's meet... will need to do some things differently moving forward.


Well your clothes never wear as well the next day
And your hair never falls in quite the same way
But you never seem to run out of things to say...

Swim to the ocean floor

Greetings from Fresno, California.

Today, I played hookie from the 2009 US Masters Nationals (that are here in Fresno, starting Thursday and going through tomorrow/Sunday), and dragged my dad and sister up the road an hour or so to go to Yosemite National Park. (The picture at left is near the entrance to Yosemite Valley, with El Capitan on the left and Half Dome in the center.)

Actually, it wasn't so much hookie, as a way to spend a day with my dad and sister, who I've not seen in about a year (I also didn't enter any events today at the meet).


The drive was actually kinda cool: starting out with some vineyards on the outskirts of Fresno before gradually working it's way up in elevation through some open fields and then into the mountains in Sierra National Forest. (Elevation on the drive topped out over 6,000 feet above sea level; though the valley floor--pictured at right with Yosemite Falls in the background--is around 4,000 feet.)

We even went through a town called Fish Camp--which made me think of a few Aggie friends of mine.

And all-in-all, we had a good time, and the weather was particularly nice (not too hot, nor cold; with the sun out all day, and only a few clouds in the sky). The trip even has caused me to want to return at some later point and hike around the park--definitively a place where I felt it would be good to get off the beaten path. (Pictured at left is one of the more beaten paths: a paved bicycle path on approach to the base of Half Dome.)


I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor

...keep talking happy talk; Talk about things you like to do

Today, I'm recovering from swimming the Swim Miami 5K yesterday. My final time was about 1 hour 14 minutes, which I think is about the pace I held last year when I swam the 10K at the same event. However, given that I've been making 1 practice per week for the past month and half-- other than the 4 I made this past week--it's fairly good.

So today I'm just recovering. I did think about swimming, but going from 1 practice a week, to swimming 6+ days in a row, didn't sound like such a great plan. So, instead, there's 5 days, with a break today. Hopefully, I'll make it to the pool this week as well... at least until I head to western Virginia at the end of the week for work.


You've got to have a dream
If you don't have a dream
How you going to have a dream come dream?

But what I know now, it's not always a happy ending

The Horns, they put up a valiant effort and good fight; but, alas, twas not enough.

After leading for most of this weekend's NCAA Men's Division I Swimming & Diving Championships, the Texas men's swimming & diving team (those aforementioned "Horns") finished second at NCAAs on Saturday. Final team standings:
1. Auburn--526
2. Texas--487
3. Stanford--460.5
4. California--350 (the Cal women won the women's meet last weekend)
5. Florida--324

But, in relation to the meet I'm less perplexed/dismayed by the Horns finishing second, than I am by the relays. Texas set American Records in 4 of the 5 relays, with the only relay not broken being one held by the Texas club team that had 3 event World Record Holders on it at the time. The fact that 2 of these relays finished 4th (200 Free-1:15.90) and 5th (200 Medley-1:23.97) is what is baffling to me... (the 2nd place finishing 400 F.R.--2:47.02--less so, and the winning 800 F.R.--6:10.16--even less).

The records, themselves, don't phase me so much (thanks you suits); the places, however (which are due to at least one non-USA swimmer being on each relay ahead of them) do.


But hey, look at me, I don't feel like cryin', no-woah

And who said, love is a game?
And who said, love can be gambled, gambled away? Yeah

Set adrift on memory bliss

I survived the meet this weekend, which for the most part went smoothly--I just ended up helping out for almost the entire weekend to help make sure it did. I don't mind so much that I did; it just would've been nice to hang out with people on my team more. The meet ended on 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (after started at 9:30 a.m.), and ran at a fairly good pace.

The only semi-qualm I ended up having was that because I was helping with the timing, I didn't get to warm up for any of my events. But then again, as I seem to have been swimming better while not warming up (á la Meira, for those in the know), it wasn't too bad.

As for times, results for the meet have yet to been posted online. When they do, I'll update the items below, but until then, here's what I vaguely recollect that I did.


Friday (03/06/09) night
-200 free (r.l.o.): 1:58.38 (57.27/1:01.11)
(the other event on Friday was the mile, and as the meet started at 4 p.m., I would not have been able to make my heat for it)

Saturday
-400 IM--4:29.48 (1:00.40/1:09.02/1:17.68/1:02.38)
-50 free (r.s.)--23.86
-200 free--1:56.87 (56.97/59.90)
-100 fly--57.25 (27.09/30.16)
-100 back (r.l.o.)--57.55 (28.03/29.52)

Sunday
-50 fly (r.s.)--24.72
-100 free--53.38 (26.08/27.30)
-200 back--2:12.17 (1:06.10/1:06.67)
-100 free (r.s.)--51.93 (25.39/26.64)


Then you know I can't remember a damn thing
I think its one of those déjà vu things
Or a dream that's trying to tell me something
Or will I ever stop thinking about it
I don't know, I doubt it

I'm trouble y'all, I disturb my entire town

So I spent most of this weekend, swimming at the 2009 edition of Fort Lauderdale Masters Challenge.

Well, more correctly, I spent most of my weekend at the pool for the Masters Challenge: I swam just 3 events and a relay over the 3 days, so I really didn't swim the whole time I was there. But I was at the pool for a lot of it. Times from the meet:

Friday
1000 free: 10:37.42

Saturday
50 free (relay): 24.63
500 free: 5:03.92

Sunday
1,650 free: 17:19.67 (my 1000 split was 10:30.24...)

Faster than a few weeks ago at the Plantation meet in the 500 and 1000, and slower than last year's Challenge.

And with that, I will leave you to watch the Torchwood Season 1 DVDs I have checked out from the library... (yeah, the Oscars are on, but my lack of receiving t.v. stations puts a damper on me watching them... but I do look forward to digesting things tomorrow).

I got trouble
Yeah trouble now
I'm trouble y'all
I got trouble in my town

Too much of nothing so why don't we give it a try; too much of something we're probably living a lie

Well the 2009 short-course yards Masters season started for me this weekend with a meet in nearby Plantation yesterday and Friday. The meet went alright: it was well run/done, and I did as I can expect, I guess. (And I say "I guess", as I'm not really evaluating how I did: I don't really have a way to directly compare at this point, so I'm opting to do so with more abstract, subjective, observations, like how I felt in the water... which was alright.)

Anyways, my times from the meet:

Friday
-1,000 free: 10:45.77 (5:26/5:19)
-400 IM: 4:37.30 (I felt I could push my backstroke some, which was nice.)

Saturday
-200 free: 1:58.51 (58.33/1:00.18)
-200 back: 2:06.11 (1:01.78/1:04.33)
-200 fly: 2:11.94 (1:04.71/1:07.23)
-500 free: 5:10.60 (It seemed like I was able to come back well on the back half of the race: a good.)

Gears are still missing, but they aren't going to have appeared in the 2 weeks since I last mentioned they were missing (they've been gone for awhile... and will need some time to reappear).

Full results from the meet are available here (and in some cases, things were better than last year's meet at this time...)


Road to nowhere, twist and turns but will this never end
Well my dear you know that he pleases me (pleases me)
But short-term solution ain't no resolution
There ain't no release for me...

Suerte que en el sur hayas nacido

A little Shakira, today, in honor of Cinco de Mayo; and Suerte seems appropriate given that my flight back from Masters Nationals last night got in a half hour early (got to love tailwinds: flight over took 3 hours, flight back took 2). The fact that all 3 flight attendants were middle-aged men, and that I had a little, old lady in the row behind me who I swear swiped one of Dolly Parton's big hair wigs (which looked too big for her wee frame), and had a propensity to skirt rules... well, that was just icing.

Anyways, so I flew back from San Antonio last night, coming back from Masters Nationals in Austin. The meet, itself, went ok for me. Of my six individual races, I'm calling 2 of them good, and the other 4 "not good" (baddisastrous) just seems too strong, at the moment; likewise . Event-by-event wrap up:

Thursday

• 1650 free--17:07.47
  (While, I did win my age group, I also went slower than what I went in February; a not good way to get the meet started off. Oh, and you can watch the race here--I'm the one in lane 4 who waits to get up on the starting block until we were supposed to be up there ;-) Look for me hanging around peskily as lane 3 tries to pass me in the back half of the race, as well as a nice last 25...)

Friday

• 400 IM--4:26.94
  (Just a wee smidgen faster than the 2 4:27 swum earlier this year, and a not good feeling back leg, boding poorly for my next event.)
  
• 200 back--2:06.44
  (Third time's the charm? Not really... on the plus side, it didn't hurt a whole lot... although when your strategy is to try to hang with the sprinters the first 100 and come back on them during the second 100, and you don't... well, it doesn't looks so good to be in lane 6 and finishing noticeably back from the field. But someone has to be last, I guess? The 3 hours break after it and before the relay did allow for some helpful brooding, as well as some lunch, though.)
  
• 50 free (mixed free relay)--23.03
  (My ability to fake-a-50 seems to be returning somewhat--so this is a neutral. I say "fake", as I long ago accepted that I don't really know how to swim this race. My indication being that I'm not tired when it's done--unless your really not supposed to do any work in it?)
  

Saturday

• 200 fly--1:56.60
  (Is good, but, wow, did this hurt; and some friends of mine took some rather interesting pictures of me panting heavily just afterwards. The scary part is that of late, my 2 back and 2 fly have been right around the same time... like withing tenths-of-a-second; not 10 seconds apart--that's for spacing between swimmers on sets, right Heidi ;)
  
• 200 free--1:51.28
  (As the Friends theme goes... "It's like you're always stuck in 2nd gear..."; not a good song to have stuck in ones head, but an apt description of what the race felt like. Oh, and I was in heat 48--forty-eight--of 53! So the event took a little time to get through, even with odd and even heats at different ends of the pool.)
  
• 50 back (mixed medley relay)--25.06
  (Man, did I have a lead... it was nice.)
  
• 50 free (mixed free relay)--22.46
  (Noticeable for 3 factors: 1) It was .6 faster than the day before--which is a lot; 2) the relay that finished just ahead of us in the final standings, but wasn't in our heat, had their anchor go 20.1... and 3) the race was at 7:15 at night. The meet on Saturday went from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.--the longest day.)
  

Sunday

• 500 free--4:50.95
  (Good in that it bucked the bad free trend established in my previous 2 races--3 time was the charm. I held a pace, despite the fact that my legs started hurting at the 100... but it was the last event I did, and then I headed out to catch my flight.)
  

As we were leaving Austin, I grabbed some lunch at Chuy's (one last TexMex meal before departing) and picked up a new cell phone (a Sony Ericsson, which is a different brand of phone, so I'm going through learning a bunch of new quirks to its programming). But before I shove off, a big thank you to my teammate Linda for all her great support, and super counting during the event (I think she counted like 90% of our team's distance races....)--it was much appreciated.

And that's is all for now... (though I now feel a wee bit better about the meet overall). Hasta.


Contigo, mi vida
quiero vivir la vida
y lo que me queda de vida
quiero vivir contigo

Let me hear you say, This #@$! is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s...

At the moment, I'm recovering from swimming a 10K down in Miami, this morning. I went 2:25.00 (that's just under 2.5 hours) to finish 8^th overall (and beat all the girls--woo hoo!); race results are here.

As for the week, itself, most of my work stuff was spent catching up on things. In part, this meant trying to report on the 4 swimming Olympic Trials that happened last week (Canada, China, Great Britain and South Africa), as well as the Short Course Worlds that were this week (through today).

A good portion of my time was spent wading through articles on Speedo's controversial new suit, and whether/not FINA would change its stance on it. The reported issue with the suit is that a swimmer goes significantly faster in it than other types of suits; so much so that 39 World Records have been set in the just over 2 months since its introduction (that's a lot).

My own personal opinions:

1. Of course the suits are "legal": the manufacturers purposely designed it as close to the rules as possible, so that they can exploit whatever vulnerabilities there are in the rules.
2. To the notion that not enough attention is being paid to the athlete(s) who swam the performance, and too much to the suit: congratulations to the swimmers who got a new record. You, the athlete, played a part in achieving it (or, at least, hopefully the suit technology isn't at the point when any Joe Schmo could break a World Record just by putting a suit on). However, realize/recognize that the suit did play much more of a role in the new time than in the past, and until such time that the records adjust from this difference, your performance will partially be judged/based on this--the skew just needs to move. (Or just think of it as: would said swimmers still have set the record, or dropped it as much, had they not been wearing the suit?)
3. Having a suit at the big meet is not such an issue, thanks to FINA's rule which makes it so that the manufacturers have to do that (allow access to the suits for all) in order for the suits to be allowed in competition. However, the rules don't address (personal) sizing and/or prior availability, which is a huge deal--as reported recently with Jessica Schipper at the Australian Trials (as well as personal experience--imagine going to the biggest event of your life and having to wear a new-to-you outfit that you're not comfortable in, and getting to compete against those that are perfectly at home in it, because they've spent months testing it and perfecting it to what they prefer). This is not something the manufacturers are going to address: they want their athletes to have as much of an advantage as possible, so that they will be more likely to do better.
4. Lastly, I have a major problem with items being introduced so close to the Olympics. I'm of the belief that radical new products (i.e. new suit lines) should not be approved for competition within a year before the Olympics. Allowing them within the Olympic year prevents a level playing field.

And with that, I'll stop... without really going into:

• the new suit's costs ($600+);
• whether/not age group swimmers should wear them;
• or the more intriguing combination that the new fabric is reportedly prone to ripping and open water events already had ripped suits.... There could be 2 very revealing "marathon swimming" events in Beijing (by the way, the 10K events are now apparently officially called "marathon swimming" to make the name identification more friendly--and cause more confusion because the other open water events are still called "open water", including the 2 swims that are closer in time and distance to the running marathon. And the fact that no Ancient Greek ever swam from Marathon to Athens to justify naming a swimming distance after it, a la the run by Pheidippides).

And now I will attempt to find the radio-edit of today's song, with whistles and car horns rather than Ms. Stefani's swearing... hasta.


A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Cause I ain't no hollaback girl

If there's a reason, it's lost on me Maybe we'll be friends, I guess we'll see

I made it over to St. Pete and back alright; and the meet, itself--which I went over for--was alright as well. I wouldn't say that it went great, or necessarily even good, but just alright.

The drive over went smoothly, other than a construction snag on 75 just north of Port Charlotte, that had the freeway down to one lane, and causing a nice 40 minute back-up... at 10 o'clock at night. Ah the fun of watching your 1/4 tank of gas dwindle down as you idle forward for 2 miles, with trees flanking both sides of the road and not an exit in sight. Luckily, I did get through alright, got some gas, and continued north to the Sunshine Skyway and beyond.

At the meet, I swam 8 events (4 per day), and basically felt weak the whole time--and "weak" meaning I couldn't really put any force behind my stroke, which was just frustrating. My times were for the most part slower than stuff from last month, save a few random exceptions which were the same... hopefully this doesn't bode badly for Nationals in May. But in any case, times from this weekend:

Saturday:
-200 back: 2:05.53 (28.27/1:00.21/1:32.95)
-200 free: 1:53.99 (26.7/55.35/1:24.40)
-200 fly: 2:07.13 (28.40/1:00.28/1:32.68)
-400 IM: 4:27.47 (59.90/2:08.62/3:25.11)

Sunday:
-100 back: 57.72 (28.50/29.22)
-100 fly: 55.72 (26.35/29.37)
-100 free: 51.58 (25.31/26.27)
-500 free: 4:56.09 (57.67/1:58.18/2:58.27/3:58.26)

(oh-ah: splits)

It has me perplexed...


And all our friends are gone, are gone
And all the time moves on and on
And all I know is it's wrong, it's wrong
And all I know is it's wrong, it's wrong

I've got a life, though it refuses to shine (got a life)

I survived through my Masters meet this weekend with relative ease compared to the Monday that I had. Yesterday just did not got super well. It started off with me dreaming up about waking up late, which lead me to get up 15 minutes early and then proceed to leave my house 15 minutes late. That got me to work a wee bit late. And then there was work, itself, which was just hectic/crazy... even for a Monday. Work was followed by a mentally challenging swim practice, and interspersed throughout the day was my headset not really working and trying to highjack my cell phone (it called the same person twice while I was talking to them... so I had 3 calls connected to them at the same time--which I didn't even realize my phone could do).

Anyways, as for the meet, it went alright. Results are here (be sure to check out the "super duper cool" Vanessa's results as well--her description).... As for times, they were:

Friday
-400 IM: 4:31.99
-200 free (800 Free Relay split): 1:54.60

Saturday
-100 free: 51.46 (out in 25.45, so disappointedly, no negative split)
-50 back (relay): 26.08
-50 free (relay): 23.86
-500 free: 4:59.51 (Casey went 4:49 at Big 12s--good goal time...)

Sunday
-200 IM: 2:02.18 (wow did the end hurt--have I mentioned I don't like the 2IM all that much?)
-50 free (relay): 22.94 (not sure where that came from, other than I had a race--and yes, I touched him out by .01 )
-200 free: 1:51.86 (56.04/55.82--yes)
-50 back (relay): 26.52
-1650 free: 17:02.76 (about where expected... and much more even than last year--which is a good thing. Casey= 16:26...)

So, I was a wee bit slower than a few weeks ago in Clearwater... I guess that's ok. And thankfully, today was much easier than yesterday.

Oh, and did I mention that I didn't make it to swim in the morning and Danielle did yesterday? (But she made up for it by missing this morning ;)

I've got a life
It ain't over, it ain't over (got a life)
I've got a way
It's the only thing that's mine (got a way)

I'm rushin' home, just as soon as I can...

It's Leap Day!
Google even has a cool little leaping frog in the their logo today...

And I really was rushing around today, particularly after work, as I had the first day of a Masters swim meet here in Fort Lauderdale to get to (warm-up started at 5 p.m., meet at 6). I swam the 400 IM (which didn't go terribly well) and a leg on an 800 Free Relay.

Then came home, and am about to crash... because I'm feeling a wee bit sleepy. Though I may finish up reading A Tale of Two Cities tonight, as well...

(And today's song, Janet Jackson's Miss You Much, is more in my head from my quick drives home post-morning swimming--on the way to work--than from today.)


So let me tell you baby
I'll tell your mama
I'll tell your friends
I'll tell anyone whose heart can comprehend

Well it's a marvelous night for a moondance, with the stars up above...

Well, due to some pesky clouds in the area, I'm missing tonight's full lunar eclipse.

But that's semi-ok, as I'm still recovering from swimming 13 events this weekend (9 individuals and 4 relays) over in Clearwater. The meet itself, went rather well... and my times (for those who care):

Saturday
-1000 free: 10:03.86 (out in 5:04, back in 4:59--and I got touched out!)
-200 back: 2:02.37
-200 fly: 2:03.04 (almost like I planned it!)
-400 IM: 4:27.07

Sunday
-200 breast: 2:25.05
-100 back: 56.61
-100 breast: 1:06.32
-100 fly: 53.63
-500 free: 4:54.70

I also did 2 50s back on 2 medley relays (25.55 and 26.39) and 2 50s free (23.36 and 23.47).... All-in-all, not terrible. Anyways... must jet back outside to see if I can catch some more of the eclipse: night.


And all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine, in your blush
Can I just have one more moondance

And it all, begins where it ends

I have returned to Florida from the 2007 U.S. Masters Nationals in The Woodlands, Texas... after spending most of the weekend looking at people swimming down the pool [left], and occasionally hopping in the water, as well. Oh, and also being at the pool from basically 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday (Saturday had a 2-hour lunch break off-site, Sunday a 1-hour one), and it was 100°. Ahhh... The Woodlands: nothing quite like it.

Over all, the meet went ok for me. Times weren't as fast as I would've liked, but fit with the training I have (or haven't) been doing (in order):

-Friday
400 free -- 4:23.47
200 fly -- 2:16.07
50 free (relay) -- 26.73

-Saturday
200 back -- 2:20.64
50 back (relay) -- 30.52

-Sunday
400 IM -- 4:59.52
100 back -- 1:04.63
50 breast (relay) -- 35.02
50 free (relay) -- ??? (timing system issue)

-Monday
1500 free -- 17:40.99


Monday, my race wasn't swum until 6:30 p.m. or so (the 1500 started around 11:30 a.m.--after the 800 free--and I was in heat 15). Most of the distance swimmers bummed around the pool all day, picking up counting duties every now-and-then [above]. There was some excitement mid-day, as one of my teammates was inadvertently given a medal which she then was asked to give back when all the results where incorporated [at left]... no major problem, but did produce some animated play-struggling entertainment, near mid-day.


She says "Hello, you fool, I love you"
C'mon join the joyride...
Join the joyride

I wanna really really really wanna zig-a-zig ah

Greetings from The Woodlands... I got into Houston yesterday morning (in time for breakfast tacos at Taco Cabana), bummed around the hotel for a wee bit of the afternoon before heading over to the pool to swim. At the pool, they had an aerator [at left] assisting with cooling the pool: made me wish we had something similar in FtL (particularly since the pool water was 86° earlier this week).

And Masters Nationals got underway this morning. First up was the men's 400 free (I went a decent 4:23), which was followed by a 30-minute warm-up break for the folks who didn't want to get up for the 6:30-8:00 a.m. warm up.


And, per the norm, the second warm-up [pictured at bottom] was more crowded than the first [above]. Although not nearly as dramatic as I've seen before--imagine wall-to-wall swimmers, in each lane. Maybe it'll be better tomorrow...

Anyways, post the second warm-up, I swam the 200 fly (2:17), then had lunch and swam a 50 free on a mixed free relay. Time at the pool 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (and this is the short day). Ahh, the fun...




But then again, I wasn't the only one waiting around (and the picture of some of my teammates at right was taken fairly early in the morning, way before it started to get really hot).





Did I mention that the grocery store here had Nilla wafers?



If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye

Yo I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want
So tell me what you want, what you really really want
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ah

Fascinating rhythm, you've got me on the go

I do so love when I get to Target's Garden Center check-out line with to find a line full of people buying products from inside the store... particularly on instances like today when I'm holding something large and/or awkward (2 large bags of mulch), like one would purchase at the garden part: it makes my day.

Although, today, instead of holding the 2 bags, I went and got a nearby cart to set them in, and then waited (and, yes, while I was getting the cart, the woman in the green shirt in the picture above came out from inside and got into line--further delaying my check-out--cause it's about me, you know).

Anyways, despite the delay at check-out, I did manage to get home in time to put the mulch down [at right], and to realize that I should've bought at least one more bag, as the 2 covered about 90% of the center area pictured, and didn't even address another sidebar in need of re-mulchification. Of course, by the time I realized this, the garden part of Target was closed, and I could not get more today (I am heartbroken by this, particularly since one of my neighbors said months ago that they thought new mulch was needed and was going to get some but didn't. I just started thinking it needed last week/so, and remembered about it while at the store today.)

All this mulch business was post the July June meet this morning, which went alright. My free was a little off where I'd've liked (2 fr=2:09--sluggish; 8 fr=9:23--wanted around 9:00), but my other events were decent (4 im=5:01; 1 fly=1:00.9). Results here.

Today, I also managed to get a new SIM card for my cell phone, in an attempt to fix a reception issue I have--which only seems to have made things worse. And while at Target (actually prior to the mulch buying), I picked up a Kodak C743 digital camera [pic at left] on clearance as a birthday present. As it was the floor model (literally the last one in the store) and had been "manhandled", I got 30% off the discounted close-out price, so I got it for under $100 (I did a little dancing in the store at my luck).

Each morning I get up with the sun
Start a-hopping, never stopping
To find at night no work has been done