On Saturday I competed in my first ever Master’s swim meet. It was hosted by the ever smokin’ hot lovely University of Tampa swim team. My swim coach and friend Kelsey, who is a UT alumnus and part fish, was there to compete as well. It helped that she was there because I asked her 900 times about starting off of the blocks. Since the blocks at UT are a lot higher than standard the meet was about 60/40 on people starting off of them versus starting off the side of the pool.
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| Coach Kelsey and me before the meet. |
I wound up scratching the 50 because, quite frankly, I was going to get smoked. This left me with the 100 meter free and the 500 meter free. As I sat around watching the other events and haging with Kelsey and some of the other alum,who happen to be in their 20’s I learned a few things.
1. “Meet” swimmers hate the 500. It’s a super long swim to them apparently. It’s like a bunch of 5Kers discussing the marathon. Hate. It. (This helped me out a ton.)
2. Swimmers don’t like running. I spoke with a group of men about an upcoming race I was helping promote and no sooner did I say run then one of them said, “Running is bad for your knees!” Spoken like true swimmers.
3. Twenty-three year old college grads complain about being old and out of shape. Bastards.
4. Olympic gold medalists are bad ass and you should forever be thankful if they are not in your events.
Brooke Bennett, three time olympic medalist, showed up to suppor the team and swam in two events. She was amazing to watch. She was competing against women fresh out of college who are no slouches, I mean these are all fantastic swimmers and she just blew by them. True talent like that is just so crazy to watch close up. I chatted her up a bit before she left and she’s a very nice lady. We swam on the same club team in high school although I’m 99% certain she had zero clue who I was. Heh.
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| Brooke Bennett in the middle in black. |
For my first event, the 100 meter freestyle. I was nervous. I was mostly concerned about those damn high ass blocks. Coach Kelsey made my goggles real tight for me and that did the trick. I climbed up. Took my mark, and dove in. As soon as I hit the water I was balls out swimming. So. Fast. So. Hard. Going to die. Going. To. Puke. Where is the wall?!?! This. Effing. Suuuuuuucks.
To say that I almost killed myself on that 100 would be an understatement. By the time I got to the second fifty flip turn I was sucking major wind. I may have used that flip turn for a tiny break. Now, I happened to be one fo the slowest swimmers in the fastest heat and I could see the ladies next to me at least one to two body lengths ahead. These women were hauling ass. When I finished, I thought my heart was going to explode. I checked the clock and swam a 1:10. I am super happy with this time even if I did come in 3rd or 4th to last. It was still good enough for a 1st place in my age group, of two. I’ll take it.
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| There I am. Trying not to barf. |
After I got my heart rate down I had a short break and then it was time for the 500. Thank. God. I was so looking forward to getting into a groove and just swimming. Again, I’d like to point out just how unpopular the 500 is. There was one heat and when I got to the blocks all three ladies I was swimming with said screw the blocks and started off of the pool’s side. When in Rome, right? I started off the pool side too.
My goal was to swim 1:30/100 and I was feeling good with this. I love having the laps counted for me and laughed as I heard Coach Kelsey and young hotties her buds cheering for me. I really enjoyed this swim. I had a feeling I could win the event by looking at the seed times. Fortunately, Brooke Bennett didn’t swim the 500 and no one snuck into this event last minute. Whew! I did win this event but like any race, it just matters who shows up.
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| 500 win thumbs up! |
What I took the most out of this whole day was to step outside of my comfort zone. Sure, I swam in high school about a billion years ago but I wasn’t the best on the team and I wasn’t nearly good enough to swim at college. I would advise all of you to leave your comfort zone. Magical things can happen. I mean hell, maybe I’ll do a crit one day. Baby steps…..
Happy Monday! What have you done to step outside that comfort zone?
I made savory oatmeal for the first time! I don't like them sweet so I've been avoiding oatmeal for the longest time until a friend said savory oatmeal. I love it!
I was on the swim team in junior and high school so I definitely appreciate this swimming post :)! How cool that you got to meat an Olympic medalist!
I am so impressed with your 1:10 100m. I don't care if you were towards the back of the field, I still think that's a super fast time! And I agree, the 500m sounds so much more appealing than a short and sweet sufferfest. Congrats on your win!! It is on my list to try a swim meet in the next year-THAT will be so far outside my comfort zone it isn't even funny. Starting blocks? Never heard of 'em
Awesome Beth! You are right. Once you step out of your comfort zone you start to find new limits because you just crushed the old ones. Great Job Beth!
ew. no one fast shows up at swim meets around here, it's how I win. rude.
also, your 100 time, crikey.
Congrats girlie! You're kicking butt in all sports! If they open up a doggie paddling category, holler acha girl
Now I understand why you were haging before the race. It's because you are a billion years old. Now I can stop scratching my head about it.
Congrats on the win and you are fast my friend. If I hit 1:35/100 YARDS I am fired up.
Congrats on the win! I think Masters meets are lots of fun. I hope to get myself to do more of them next year.
Wow, glad you enjoyed the meet! the other swimmers on my team are always trying to convince me to sign up, and I keep fighting them off. It is quite scary. great job!
Congrats on winning the 500! I swam in high school too, and seeing things like this make me miss it! I was a butterflier and distance freestyler. How fun. And I love the swimmers' response of running be not good for your knees. That definitely does sound like swimmers.
Sounds like so much fun! Congrats on your new venture. I think I would really enjoy doing this one of these days.
I'm not a swimmer, so this post was beyond amazing to me!
I loved reading the things you learned. Especially #2 & #3. LOL.
Found you through Sneakers and Fingerpaints
Congrats on the 500 win! Nice to know that you stepped outside the comfort zone and swam. Magical moments do happen. resveratrol
What's a crit? (I continue to learn lingo from your blog).
but swimming is bad for your shoulders? does that work as a valid 'comeback'? (oh yeah, dorky trash talking!)
congrats on the "ag" win and overall!! woo hoo!
It sounds like a nice day in Tampa. I bet that your friend and UT alumnus are quite nice to teach you a lot of stuff.