Thoughts on racing

Every once in awhile a serious thought does cross through the porpoise mind and one did indeed occur today. Recently I have done some pool meets. I suppose it is classified as racing though at my speed relative to the competition it may really only be considered "taking part" since I did not give much competition to the others on the blocks. But I showed up and once on the blocks the others didn't have a clue as to how fast I was so they probably got a little nervous just because I was there.
My experience in "competing" in the water has really only been mostly in the open water events and there for me, finishing is always a victory. Every time I enter the water in an open water competition I look to the heavens and say a little prayer... "Please just let me finish. Please do not make me have to be pulled out of here by a boat." And then of course there is the secondary prayer of "Please do not make me last." But last actually is quite fine as long as I finish. Open water is a "horse of a different color" and sometimes last is a magnificent accomplishment!
I do not believe I have ever finished first in a race in the water. I don't believe I can remember when I have, truly. It is easy to say, "Well, I was just born slow," but I have never been able to accept that. I believe that everyone can improve their performance with hard work and determination. You might not finish first but you will finish in less time than the last time you took to the water.
And that brings up the serious thought that passed through my mind today. What exactly is the point of a meet anyway? Is it to take home a trophy and if you don't, is it a tragedy? No, I think it goes back to the whole basis for sport and competition. It is important to show up and do your best. You might finish last but was it the very best you could give and was it the very best time that you could have clocked given all of the circumstances? That is the point in my mind.
Recently I did my first 400 meter competitive swim. I was a minute and a half behind the winner and really I could see that I was a lap and a half behind the woman in the lane next to me. All this did was make me try to swim faster.
When I saw her red square appear as I was just heading for my lap 17 I thought, "Oh no, this is really bad, expletive deleted..." So I tried to step it up a notch. I came in dead last but I was absolutely thrilled because I had swum what for me was an outstanding race and I had really put everything together in a way that I did not think was possible. In fact, I remember thinking, "I do hope I don't kill myself with this swim....."

But back to the point. Doing your very best effort is what this meet stuff is about. That race was a personal best and it was a hard race that I put everything I had into. I rose to the occasion and I met the challenge. That for me was a victory.
I used to be a pretty good runner and I will never be in the same league swimming that I was running. But even now I know when I step up on a treadmill I can never be the runner that I once was. Time and injury have seen to that. But swimmin and swimming in a meet allows me to channel my competitive energy positively. It "gives me game." We all have game. It is the heart of sport. It is what makes us go out and compete and strive to win even when we know we don't have a chance in a million.

I go to meets to "keep my game." I go for the adrenalin. I go for the day in the sun. I go because my best competition is myself. And every once in awhile I get a ribbon. And every once in awhile I know when I have put everything I had into something and I have gone faster than I had imagined. And that is what swimming in meets is all about. So, babes, as they say in Nikeland... Just do it. (:

Hello Babes--Well, that shamrock was really lucky for the babes and for our fab coach. Today we came away with lots of HEAVY METAL! Ariel had an incredible day with silvers and a bronze. Flipper had a great day with bronze. Our fab coach came away with a pile of gold. Everyone had lots of great memories.

The day was a breezy one and the only really warm spots were already taken by early risers. Hence we had to sit either behind the blocks and pretend we were up next for swimming (a little problematic for the babes when there were several heats of a men's race.... but the babes were so cute that no one said a word.) Our hang out was at the far end near the practice pool beside the hot tub which was not open to us. However, we found that area to be sunny and warm and pretty well protected.

The day began for the babes with the 100 yd sprint where Ariel made a quick entry from deckside and kept up her pace throughout. She was edged out by our new friend from Petaluma who had not raced in 40 years but who had been practicing practicing practicing since January! But Ariel established a dramatically lower personal best!! Woo hoo Ariel!

Next up was the 200 where we again made fast entries and held to our pace. Unlike the prior event at Rinconada we tried not to let the adrenalin take us away and we found good success there. Here Ariel again took home metal and hit another personal best!! What was this babe eating?

Third up was the 50 yard sprint where Ariel really had an incredible swim and another new personal best! What did this mermaid eat for breakfast??? We need to know and to bottle it for distribution to the other babes. (We do understand that she is relying on a new visualization training discipline which allows her to tap into cosmic pool energy and put it to good use!!) Way to go Ariel!!! Pretty soon you will be swimming with Hauling Haillie and Energy girl Erica!!!

Last up was the 400 or was that the 500?? Does anyone know? 400? 500?? Does it make a big difference to the babes?? Not really. For this one we thank our absolutely fab coach for counting laps for the perky Flipper who had no idea that she had to get her own timer. Thank you Rick!!

Undaunted by the uncertainty as to distance Flipper took the blocks. She had to really be motivated to get up there since she had finally found a nice warm spot in the sun and would have been quite contented to hang there and watch others swim. But this was the longest event of the day and she was curious about what her time might be and since she was there... and she had paid... and they had called the event, she climbed up on the block once more. (:

She set a good pace and kept at it to do a personal best in this event and was thankful to be able to finish in fine form.

Our incredible coach really set the example today. He entered every race and won his age group and his heat in each one!! Great job Rick!

So it was a great day for all and really a fun one from start to finish!! See everyone in the water!!

Flipper, Ariel, Rick: tail wind forecast

Hope you have a great show at Stanford Senior Games on sunday!

more pix from rinconada

Thanks to Tiny seal for some great pix. Mine are nowhere as good as hers are but I did get a shot of Ariel from Phelps that shows her sucking in air as she sprints for the finish.

The shot of some of the pre race activity gives you an idea of the crowd and excitement that hung in the air as every competitor was keyed up for some great swimming. Ariel had a terrific day taking home a couple of Blue Ribbons (woo hooo!!) and Flippper took home a couple of 4ths (woo hoo!!). And too was a marvelous day for the meet with lots of sun and a slight breeze.

The parade of beautiful bodies from the Olympic Club did not materialize so there was a lot of opportunity for the rest of us to participate and take home some ribbons for our teams. As you can see there was some out of town presence with some folks over from Tam.

The highlight of the morning was the novice 50 yd sprint where our very own Ariel was one of the competitors. She chose to enter the water with a flat dive from poolside and hit the water swimming and never looked back. She flipped at 25 and sprinted back for the finish.

Flipper also swam and chose to go off the blocks. She lost her goggles on entry to the 50 and had to fight the drag from them the entire 50 yards!! What a swim though and despite those wretched goggles dangling from her neck she finished a couple of seconds faster than last year. Way to go Flipper.

The 200 showcased the amazing talents of both swimmers. There Ariel again struck gold and copped a Blue Ribbon with an impressive time and personal best. Flipper took home a 4th place and thinks she might have had a personal best too though she is not sure. However, she did manage to count to eight and finish the complete race!

So it was a very fun day for all and we look forward to seeing more of our friends at the next big show!!

Flipper and Ariel rock it at Rinconada

Congratulations to Ariel and Flipper for winning two ribbons each in Rinconada Spring Meet today!

Phelps was seen crying in envy in a shady corner far away from the pool:

Lane 6 Babes' performance numbers:

Ariel:

Novice 50 free: 0:48
200 free: 4:12
___________

Flipper:
50 free: 0:41
200 free: 3:41

More pictures..

Rinconada 2008

Hello babes!! Yes, it is true. These guys are going to be there just to cheer on Lane 6. Take a look at the spirit they are bringing with them!!

It 's Mike and his boys!! At the ever enchanting day in the pool known as Rinconada. True!!

Last year it was wonderfully sunny and a great time was had by all attendees!!
Today Ariel and Flipper received diving lessons from Rick. We splashed pretty well into the water from poolside and next week we are hoping to take off from the blocks!! We are looking eagerly forward to next Saturday's meet!

As a reminder, last year they had dynamite chocolate chip cookies and a fair collection of stylish threads to purchase there! Come along and enjoy the games, work on your tan and do some shopping too.
Ariel is looking forward to entering the novice class. Flipper will be flopping around in the non novice class hoping that by wearing very dark goggles no one will recognize the sea turtle that has dared to swim with the fast fish!!

We are debating which events to enter but hope to make a final decision next week with the help of rick who we are sure will have some good advice.
Swimming today was lots of fun with Ariel clocking a blistering 50 yds in 53 seconds and Flipper following suit with a 100 at 1:44.

So come ahead and cheer the home team. And oh yes, there are always the Olympic Club "ringers" to watch as well who will have you scratching your head over the true meaning of "amateur" and the distinction it has from "professional"...

Later babes!! see you there!