Polar Bear Classic

There is a silver lining to every cloud!

This was a short meet in Tucson.  The weather was nice, the water temperature was not too cold, and I got the reassurance that all of the practices that I've put in over the past month have been paying off.  No distance events for me this time since it was short course yards,




My first event was the 50 Fly and I rocked it with a 41.04!!  But I absolutely hate this pool since it's such a struggle to climb out of, especially after expending all of my energy.

Next event was the 100 Free which I think I held back a little too much on the first 50.  My splits were even with a 40.6 and a 40.4, finishing with an official time of 1:21.08.


Last was the 50 Free.  As you know, my super goal time is to do a 50 free in 30 seconds.  But lately at practice (and I have only been out of the hospital and off IV meds for a month) I  just feel like I'm not back to my normal swim self.  Practice has just been so hard, and I feel like I'm going nowhere unless I have fins on.  I swim; have a great start, awesome underwater kick, tight streamline, nice forceful turn without breathing my first stroke up, and an aggressive finish.  I look up at the scoreboard:


Lane 8            39.00


I was so bummed.  I really felt like I was moving faster than that.  My stroke rate was a lot faster than my 100 free but I somehow managed to only be a second slower.  Oh well, you can't win them all.


So Helene, who carpooled with me, and I went to get lunch at Bruegger's Bagels (the Leonardo de Veggie is amazing!)  and I added more oil to my car before the trip back to Phoenix.  About 20 minutes from Helene's exit, I ask her to see if she can get my purse.  I don't remember grabbing it...yeah what a mess.  I did end up dropping Helene off an making a return trip to Tucson.  All of my good karma was cashed in and my purse was kept safe and made sure it got back into my possession without any loss. 


I finally got home to a very depressed and lonely Millie...exhausted, yet at the same time calmed and zen from a long drive with me alone with my mind and my tunes.


I got to check the official times and low and behold, I remember, I was NOT in lane 8!!  I was in lane 4 for that race!  And my official time is...wait for it....wait for it....34.91!  3 seconds faster than my fastest time! Whoo hoo!!  So it wasn't such a bad day after all.  3 for 3 for personal records.  Next meet up is states...I hope to shave off another second on my 50 Free, and I think I might take a stab at the 100 IM and try for another personal record.