Best. Practice. EVER

This week has been nothing but killer sets.  All week.  But that's how we get better; sometimes we have to tough it through hard sets to get better.  But that's how it is and better is what I want, so I am not going to complain.     

I was expecting a hard practice today, but I guess they let us off because we worked so hard this week.  First, we did snakes.  I led the train, starting at one end and doing a lap in each lane, snaking my way across the pool.  After a few snakes, we did the thing I have been begging to do all week.  I have no idea what it's called.

We took the lane lines out and everybody lined up on the wall with our kick boards ready.  At "GO!" we would sprint kick to the other end.  Then we would be arranged, fastest in the middle, slowest on the outsides, like birds.

Random kid 1 "Aww!  I always have to kick on the sides!"
Coach "Don't worry, all parts of the flock are equally important."
Me "Yeah, the ones on the sides are the ones who get shot first."

After a few times, things got messy.  It was hilarious, we were like a pack of vicious OPEN WATER swimmers!

After that, we played sharks and minnows.  Just let me clarify that we never ever ever do sharks and minnows, so this was a treat.  Surprisingly, as I'm not too hot at anything but swimming, even water polo, I was really good at this.  I was last minnow(s) on each one! 

It was a ton more fun too because the evil people who get way to absorbed in the game and shun people like brutes not caring how many injuries they cause to win a game of Sharks and Minnows were not there.  YES!  So almost nobody got a sharp, careless jab to the eye.

So basically most of the people I like were there, we played games and all got along and I didn't get jabbed ruthlessly in the chest; the universe loves me!

LE Awards Banquet

Today was the LE Awards Banquet.  This gives out tinkers awards to swimmers for all kinds of amazing feats they have accomplished over the past year of LE swimming.  I was up on stage a lot more than I thought I would be.  I had a lot of fun, and I didn't trip and fall!!  Here is what I went up for.

• Zones
• Quads
• Sectionals
• LE 50 fly record
• Top 10 in the US
• "All Star" team

This year was a lot better than last year.  I had a really good time!  I knew everybody there it seemed like, and I got to go up on stage a lot this year.  I got to see people I haven't seen in a while, so it was nice.  Taylor, Scottie and Michael were all there, so were coaches Matt, Charlie and Pete.  I can't even list everybody else.  It seemed to go quicker than last year... maybe because I had to get up more. 

I got a photo frame, 2 key chains, a necklace thing, certificates, a t-shirt and a draw string bag.  I just have to find a photo and I'm all set!

First meet, well, second meet really, of LC season is next week... let the new year begin!

Starting Fresh

Well it's long course season again.  All things aside, one of the things this means is I get to start fresh, so to speak.  I got to put all of my medals and ribbons aside, and start with a clean slate.  This is one of those times that you just enjoy.  I felt proud and happy and good about looking at those medals and ribbons, even the 7th place in my breaststroke, and thinking about this SC year. 

I also worked on my first entry in my new swim journal for this LC season today, and unlike what I did in my previous swim journal, I wrote some non-time goals I have for this season down in the front.  It was a positive and exciting entry, and I hope it will set the tone for an excellent season.

I put my old swim journal on the shelf, my box of awards in my closet, and now I am ready for LC. 

Frozen Hair

Last night's practice and this morning's practice really didn't have that much time in between.  Getting up this morning, I wasn't motivated to go to US and the cold pool... I wanted to huddle back into bed.  But as you get going like when you dive in the pool it gets better.  But we all have those mornings.  Where you roll out of bed, force feed yourself, throw on your suit then snuggle back into your jammies, and get into the car.  So, get this people - last night, for the first time I can recall, my hair froze.  I was walking out with my hood up, and some of my hair was out of it, and it froze!  It's weird.... then today when we got into the car, it wouldn't start.  The battery was dead.  So we get our coach, he gets the police, they can't help us so we finally get some random guy, and get it up and running again.  Yeah, that really happened.  On the up side I was holding 31s and 32s PCs today... :)

Swimming! Part 2

I did well!  I made it to finals in the 200 free and the 50 fly and I was one place off from making the 200 back finals :D  I had a 26.7 in the 50 fly... 1st place!  2:02.3 in the 200 free and 2:20.9 in the 200 back- all best times! 

2 Meets in 1 Weekend... Spooky!

Hi! Well, this is it- two meets in one weekend! Tomorow I swim the 4 50s and a 100 IM (scoff) baby swims. Then, don, don, don, I swim the....... MILE! I am really excited for both meets. First mile, and then the 50s are just fun. We have been doing hard sets all week, and been working on pace. I am ready! YE-AH!

Attitude at meets is not all but mostly everything. If you are sitting there about to puke doing nothing but thinking about your event, that kinda makes you suck. If you are having fun, talking, cheering, doing things you like to do(music, reading, cards, etc.) Then you are far better off. If you are like me, then you might want to dance a bit if you are really nervous... or not it is a good excuse for random dancing! Over all, JUST HAVE FUN AT MEETS AND IT MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER. And if it doesn't help you it will help people around you. Do you think that if you are all moopy and sad that it will make everyone want to be sunny and cheery? NO! Attitude is contagious, and you have to be carefull what you are passing around.

Now here is the fun part, after swimming so many years (1), I have found my favorite things in swimming and have dubbed them magical- here they are...

First heat
End lanes
Funky hats
Speed stripes
SWEET suits
...and...
Singing!

Good luck to everyone swimming this weekend!

First Day Back

Hi! Happy September everyone! So, today was our first day back to practice. I have been practicing out at a different site for a week before this, but it was nice to get back to my usual pool. My normal coach couldn't be there, so Coach Rodrick subbed for him. It was cool, I don't get to see him that much other than at meets. He has different drills and sets, so that was fun. It wasn't what you would call an 'easy first day' but it wasn't that hard. But the last time I was in the water was 3 days ago... and my friends haven't been in for about 4 weeks! I liked it, but most thought it was too hard.

It was nice to see all of my friends again too. Some new people started and that is always cool. Mason also started in the beginner's group, and was moved to advanced! Congrats! He is at my practice now! After practicing at US, Twinsburg seems soooooooooooooo much hotter :( But I will live.

You know what is weird? I am back where I started. That was my first full year of USA swimming! And this is my second. I just can't wait for all of the meets to start! :D

Thoughts About This Season

Hi everyone! So today I was reading one of the Splash magazines that you get for joining a USA team. In one part it talked about a pre-race routine; what to do behind the blocks. It said to think back to your best races and do what you did for all of them. WELL... all of or most of my really good races were when I was dancing and messing around behind the blocks because Matt my coach) was too! Though he has told me to do this several times, I never really thought about it until now. Dancing it is then... :D


I am really excited for this season. I have real goals this time, not just goals that I wrote down for my coach. Mason, my brother, is starting USC too! I am very excited for him. Overall I think I am going to be a lot more relaxed at most of my meets too. Listening to music, talking, singing and dancing, and just being silly at meets keeps me from getting all nervous about it. AND it makes meets a lot more fun! I also learned that you can be silly and serious at the same time! Just don't miss anything. Having a nice pool is great, but I have also learned that I can go my best times in a crappy pool. I can swim longer events and live! And lane and heat placements don't matter AT ALL. In fact, I love swimming longer events in the side lanes! :D

That's most of my thoughts about the upcoming swim season, so I will see you guys soon!

LE Top 10 from USC

Hi everybody! I was looking at the LE site and they updated it with the top 10 from LE! Here are a bunch...

Marla
5th in 100 back
3rd in 200 back
9th in 400 free


Me
3rd in 50 free
7th in 100 free
5th in 400 free
2nd in 50 back
2nd in 100 back
2nd in 50 fly


Natalie
7th in 200 fly


Iman
6th in 200 fly
10th in 50 free


Jodi
3rd in 400 free
5th in 800 free
2nd in 1500 free
4th in 100 back
3rd in 200 back
6th in 100 fly
6th in 200 fly
4th in 400 IM


Amanda K.
3rd in 100 back
2nd in 200 back
7th in 100 breast
7th in 100 fly
3rd in 200 IM


Amanda M.
7th in 200 fly


Scottie
3rd in 50 free
4th in 100 free
2nd in 50 back
5th in 100 back
1st in 50 fly
2nd in 100 fly
8th in 200 IM


Kingsley
8th in 50 free
5th in 50 back
4th in 100 back
6th in 50 breast


Michael
7th in 200 breast











Good job everyone!

Bag Tags (feel free to laugh at me)

Hi! Well, it is the night before the Solon meet, and I am packing my bag. I was switching out my bag tags and zipper pulls from my other bag that is falling apart, and while doing so I was thinking about each one. I found myself laughing at how nerdy I am, but still. I thought that by putting my thoughts on each one and what it means in writing (or typing) it would be kinda funny in a REALLY nerdy way. So, here it goes.

My bag~

AAA Cut Bag Tag~ Well, my mom got that one for me at quads, but after realizing that the cut we were looking at was dated... we had to put it away. Later on when I got my first AAA cut in the 100 back, I got to put it on my bag. :D ALSO, it psychs out kids, lol.

Whale Zipper Pull~ I got this one from my parents at Christmas.

Gold Medalist Panda Zipper Pull~ I got him at the start of short course season. I just wanted to keep him 'cause he is so beat up, that stands for all of the days and weeks and months of practice.

Nut/Bolt Thingy and String~ At our 3rdish practice of long course, Matt had us do this really kinda cool drill. You hold the string with nut/bolt thingy attached to the bottom, and try to will it with all your might to go in clockwise and then counter clockwise circles. With trying desperately hard NOT to move your hands. It did! The drill was to make you think "Everything is a mind set." and "You can do anything you think you can do." Like the 'little train who thought he could' but like 'the swimmer who knew he could' that sort of thing. He said that because we wanted it to move so badly, our brain sent these, like, signals... to our fingers which made it move the way we wanted it to even though we were trying not to move.

There on forth he was always on us about the right mind set and good attitudes and coming into practice ready to swim hard. I think that he is right though... it is always better to swim with someone in a good attitude than someone who is acting like a complete butt and is just sucking it up. Yup.

Ohio-Lake Erie Quad Team 2009 Bag Tag~ from my trip to Quads, duh! If you haven't seen the Quads post you should check it out.

Cute Stuffed Turtle Zipper Pull~ HE IS SO STINKING CUTE! That is my one and only reason.

I think that's all, check back soon for news about the Solon meet. Bye!!

:] :} : :\ :l :L :V :B :U :T :O :P :) :( :o :I :D

Kalahari!!!!!!!

Hello there! I just got back from my trip to Kalahari today! It was SO much fun! M and I went on all of the rides, our fave being the Zip Coaster. I also really liked the Cheetah Race and the toilet bowl ride. (I don't know what it really is called but that's what we call it). We spent a lot of time in the wave pool too. I have a flix of me on the toilet bowl ride! I also have pix of us there. Here they are! ~~~>

I would also like to wish my friend a "Happy Birthday!" because I missed it, I was at Kalahari. Her b-day was on Wednesday! Yaaa!

RW~ Sorry, I didn't have any pix of JUST you! This was the best... but it had me in it too! Oh well!

Bye!

First Day

Hi! Well, today is the second day of practice! I just started back up after a week break, which I didn't like much. Things are a bit different this season. For one we will be doing dry lands as a team, and with things like med balls. We will also be doing things like jump rope and running, if it storms. We might swim with shoes! Not often, but we still are! I am excited, but it was the same thing with cords. Those are not fun. But the difference between them is you can always move with shoes, not always with cords. So I guess I will have to see about them, I will tell you how it is :D Also, my coach is going to have a blog! I think it would be cool to have gut check times, practices, and stuff like that so parents can see what we are doing. Lots of pix and flix would be nice too! So, I will be following his blog (as soon as he gives me his address!) so you can go to his blog from mine, if he follows mine which he will. Today there were only 3 people, including me! Well, 4 with our coach~ Not many people! I think that's all, ttly!

Swim Meet

I got that^^^^^^ last night for getting my 'Zone Cut' or AAA time in the 100 back!

Hi! I had a swim meet this weekend! Sorry, I don't have any pix because I wanted to focus on the meet. My parents were going to take pix, but their camera stopped working! So all I can do is tell you about it. :( But any way, I did really well! I got my AAA time in the 100 back! I also swam the 200 free for the second time in my life, and I got my AA time! That was the 3rd time swimming the 100 back too! Over the 2 days, I swam 50 fly, back, and free, 100 back and free, and 200 free. I was beat! The pool was OK. But you know IUPUI is the nicest. I have been to worse pools over the summer though, I went to this one pool and the water was murky yellowish! Anyway, at the meet they had so many heats conpared to quads. At quads they only had 2 heats for each event. They had like 9 or more for each event here! It was l--o--n--g---! And they had finals the first day and I made them in both events! I had 100 back and free. So I got to come back and swim them *again*! But it was fun, I am glad it is over though. Now, this week I have to swim the 500 free!

So, I had my camera at practice last night, and I was taking photos of the people that were there early. But here is what happened. My coach and friend were walking down to the end of the pool, and my coach picked her up and carried here the rest of the way! So she bites him on the back! So then when they have to walk back again, my coach picks her up and dunks her head into the pool! So she asks if he will throw her in all the way. They get up onto the diving board and you know he looks like he is going to throw her off. I didn't think he would because he says stuff like that but he never really does. So I got my camera out, and you know all my friends were like, "Wait, let her get her canmra!" So when I get it on he is like, "Do you want me to do it?!" And we are like "Ya!" And he does! OMG, I have it on tape! Here it is!~~~~~>

Sorry it is a bit blurry, I had to zoom in. But anyway, is that funny or what!

My friend was going to take a pix of me. I had my hair down that day and I was like, "Wait my hair is all messed up!" So still smiling I try to flip it back so it doesn't look as bad, and she snaps the pix! So we look at it, it is perfect! It is like, freaky perfect! You have to see~~~~~>

Weird, right? Here are some other pix of my friends from last night~~~~~~>

Well, above this ^ we have my friend, who *will* smile, below, I have my friend, the only other person in my lane, she won't smile, she tries to hide but she still gets on my blog, moo ha ha! And below her is my coach, as you know from his moment of fame in the mini clip.

Well, I think that's all for this post. See you guys!

Random Thoughts~

1. I swam 7,000 yards all together last night! That's 4+ miles!

2. I am reading Uglies, I am 1/2 way done!

3. Tomrrow is my b-day! The 22nd! Yaaa!

High School Swim Meet

Hi! I went to the high school swim meet with some of my friends tonight! It was really fun! It was interesting to watch everything, especially the diving! Well, I have a few flix, don't worry, it is short! I will show you the one dive!

I also have a few pix from the swim meet, here they are!

See the number '13' down there? They put the number of the lap you are on into the water so you don't forget what you are doing when you are swimming the 500, they also bang this loud gun to signal the last 50!

Bye! Almost done with "New Moon!"