It was not a dark and stormy night. No indeed, it was a cold and windy morning at the Aquatics Complex at Stanford. I brought my umbrella and debated rain pants as the sky threatened to open up. I was not completely unhappy that I had missed the cutoff to sign up. I remembered freezing the last time I had competed there.
This year I had to park quite a distance from the complex. The games were getting more popular it seemed with each passing year!
Our Mavens were causing a ruckus in the water polo pool and I knew that there in the main pool would be the Senior Games swim events. So following the noise from the Mavens I knew I was going in the right direction toward the complex. Heading toward the entrance, the promenade was lined with some interesting booths, some promising to tell you how your cholesterol was and if you had the spit, one that would tell you about your DNA. It kind of gave you the feel of a circus but I wished that there were more booths--kind of like there are at the short course competitions in Pleasanton. Now that would be a real circus!
The flags were really whipping in the breeze as I made my way into the bleachers. I spotted Mimi Osborne there, reclining comfortably, completely prepared after years of cheering on her bbf. She was relaxed and hanging out, watching Dan and a host of other high powered senior athletes who call the Dolphin Club their club house and the bay their lap pool. As I sat there chatting with her for a few minutes I spotted our very own Ariel in the far lane getting ready to do a 50 free.
What was she doing? Not sure but she was there chatting up the officials, making sure all was in readiness. And as well, there was giving me a wave was her coaching staff, TS. I knew that Ariel would put in a good showing. She was definitely prepared and had a full entourage to support her. There was the whistle. Everybody up.
Strangely, in the next lane one of the ladies took off into the pool. False start. There seemed to be a huge sigh of relief as if all of the tension of waiting to start was released. Everybody shrugged it off and waited to get back on the mark.
The whistle blew again. The bleachers hushed. The tension was again palpable.
Up Ariel went on the block. Take your mark. Everyone bent low and stood as still as can be. The wind blew over the crowd as we waited in anticipation. Then there was the beep and they plunged into the water.
It was a good start and Ariel knew her pace. She held to it and did not miss a beat. She stuck the flip turn and stretched harder after the turn as she headed home. The competition faded and she just kept to her measured pace, swimming her race. Ariel took first in her age group. It was a personal best! 45 and change.
It was only one small part of what would be an incredible day for her:
1st in 50 free and personal best at 45.87
1st in 100 free and personal best at 1.43
1st in 200 fee at 2:57 (and included her "prairie dog" look as walleye dubbed it to check out the clock to confirm how many laps she had swum.)
2nd in 50 fly at 57 with no dq!
3rd in 200IM!
When I asked her what her secret was to keeping her edge and staying warm in miserable conditions she said... "Easy... The locker room has radiant heat and I just lie on the floor and soak up the heat!"
So there you have it from the Senior Games!! The secret to success? Swim your race and bask in the warmth between races!! Nice job Ariel!! You swam a ton of races and got medals in each. Cannot think of a more rewarding day!
