big swims

Two down, one to go!

It's summer, and for some of us on the swim team, that means open water/long distance season. Me? I don't swim in the lake all that much, but I do like a swim where I can just go and go and go.

Case in point: the 10 km timed swim at the UIC Natatorium late last month. 2 hours, 29 minutes, 48.61 seconds of go and go and go. I paced off Adam as best I could, and even clawed back a bit of distance from him in the later stages before cramping calves forced me to stop to stretch a few times. I was afraid the cramping would keep me from my goal of making a sub-2:30 swim. Happily, I squeaked in under the wire. Parts of that swim weren't pretty, but I was quite pleased with the second wind after 5000 meters.



And then I went home to nap followed by eating everything I possibly could.


This past week I took a longer lunch and shared the pool with John (who also swam the 10 km with me and Adam) and Seth (who has yet to do the 10 km - have fun Seth!!!!). We each did a 5 km timed swim. A maddeningly erratic swim for me with a switch to a modified single-side breathing pattern to restore some good technique to my stroke. The cramps held off. I know I took the swim out far too hard, but I did want to, well, go for it. 1:11:38.54 was my time, and frankly, I'm pleased. Not too bad for almost-41!


May and June are crowded with long swims (and in March, April, and May I put in over 40 miles a month in the pool, I should add). Up next is Noblesville, a team event with Liz, Dana, and Mike. I'm looking forward to it greatly - I've done swims there twice, and I've had a good time in each case. I've also had a national title and record, but that's a high bar to reach again. I'll settle for a good swim, a good time, and no sunburn.

After the 10 km, one or two people joked that it was odd to see me wet, in a swim suit. Yes, perhaps. I tend to swim mostly on my own early in the morning rather than with the team, I know. Still, there really is nothing like doing the events with the Smelts - the swimmers I know and like so well.

One more to go, then a week away from swimming while away at conference. I have no other summer events planned, but you can bet I will be keeping regular hours at the pool. I have to look good for that wedding later this year, after all!

40 40 40

Oh, the jokes have flown this weekend, speculating on what was on the minds of certain parents some time around June 1970. 4 teammates all turning 40 this month? Oddly, delightfully coincidental. And a little tough for them. Kenn opted for a quiet celebration with his partner Cliff and a few friends, but the other three were forced to arrange their celebrations so as not to conflict one with another. In short, it made for a fun but busy weekend for many of us.

Romel was up first on Friday. A party at the home he shares with his partner Carl. Conrad, I am happy to report, made it on to an earlier flight back from work in Boston, and he was able to join me at Romel and Carl's after all. We snacked and sipped and chatted with a number of teammates and a few non-teammates. A very nice time to kick off the weekend.

Last night was Ron's turn. Daniel came over for dinner at our place, then the three of us headed downtown to Blue Frog where it turned out karaoke was the order of the night. Fun to watch, and all credit to Ron who turned in a great performance before Daniel, Conrad, and I left. More teammates to chat with, of course, and a bonus of mini chocolate cupcakes with a peanut butter frosting. Yum!













Today, then, and more than just food and beverage. Oh no, Liz had more in mind: a swim workout. It says something about our team that there were over two-dozen of us crammed into three lanes. Even better, some old faces showed up: Dominic at the pool and Amber at Rocks Lincoln Park afterward.






It was fun, and the swim certainly justified the large pieces of cake we all dug into (plus beer and other food!).

All in all, it makes me want to be more creative when in the future I celebrate a landmark occasion. Sadly, though, Conrad just won't be swayed into having karaoke at our wedding reception this fall...

Goodbye Greg (for now)

Ah Greg...



Man, I really really hate it when the hot guys on the swim team move away.

Especially when they're super sweet guys.

Darn it.

Greg and his partner Ron will be in San Diego tomorrow, I think, setting up house, establishing lives there. Lane 5 will be missing one of my favourite teammates (oh yes, I very much play favourites, I admit).

At least we had a night last week, post-practice (thanks Adam for the work out!),








over at KitKat to raise a glass or two and wish him a good move.















Gone, until he comes back to visit, or until we make it to San Diego to see him and Ron.

I (heart) my team

Ah Smelts. Tasty fish. Good teammates. I spent several hours with a bunch of them yesterday and made it through to the other end, deeply grateful to be one of them.

A swim meet in Evanston had me out of bed a little early after a very good dinner with a wee bit more wine than normally I have. Ah well. I had said I would coach the swimmers, and, in fact, I rather like doing so. It's a good way to pull together as a group but also to find time to talk with individuals and know them a little better. Also, to mentally compose the list of future dinner party guests.

I have to say a few things about the meet:

Some fast swimming there.
Some nasty turns by a lot of swimmers. "Janky" was how I described them to one friend.
Some definite eye candy - nice to see some good looking non-Smelts in Speedos. Oh, don't look at me that way.

The team won the meet (well, as I understand it, the large and powerful Evanston team considers it tacky to win their own meet), and well done to them all. I'm utterly proud of them. And no, it does not inspire me in the least to put on a suit and goggles, get up on the blocks, and make a complete ass of myself in front of everyone. I'm altogether skilled at doing that without having to race, thank you very much.

Post-meet, we headed for The Glenwood where the beer flowed and the pizza fed ravenous swimmers (and coach). I got home at around 5, having barely seen Conrad all day. Ah well, he knows the life of Smelts himself, of course.

Just a super job, though, team. I can't wait until Ruth sends out her massive missive to our team list - that will be fun, reliving the enjoyable Sunday with Smelts.

Meet photos:

Adam

Andrea

Billy and Liz

Brian

Lauren

Michael and Bjorn

Luis and Heidi

Mark and Dana

Liz, Adam, and Ruth

Bjorn and Brian

Luis

With Luis

With Ruth



The Glenwood photos:

Liz and Adam

Bjorn, Brian, and Dana

Scot

Michael, Dan, and Lauren

Patrick, Daniel, Bjorn, and Brett

Ruth and Greg (last two photos)