I wonder who from the people I talked to in competitions, shows up in three weeks for the Short Course Nationals in Tempe, Arizona.
Jim Thornton, maybe? After good training, maybe?
(I follow Jim's posts in this forum, even when I don't post).
Or Ian Smith? After training to the tune of 10,000 meters a week, for sprints only?
(Ian is maybe a long shot to come to Arizona, since he came to the 2002 Long Course Nationals in Cleveland because of the proximity to Montreal).
Fritz Lehman? Who trains backstroke, and tries to remember freestyle when getting on the blocks for a freestyle race?
Gail Roper? Who was having surgery after the Long Course Nationals in August 2002?
Paul Smith?
The Winner of many sprints and middle distance drop-dead races?
Laura Val? Who was saying in August 2002 "I will look forward to seeing it." regarding a promised interview of me by a magazine, interview that never materialized because I didn't hear again about it?
I will be in the 2003 Short Course Nationals in Tempe, Arizona, for the 1000 free, 100 free, 200 free and relays.
I trained for these races since last August, and I hope I will do well.
Sorry guys, but John Smith is the sprint king these days, I've decided to be a flyer/backstroker!
The good news is I finally conviced John to swim with Colorado, makes for an interesting mixed free relay (he just went 20.8 off a relay unshaved, at altitude), add in Collette Sappey and Anne Scott both of who have been 23+, I might be on the "B" team!
Should be a very fun/fast meet. Looking forward to seeing everyone again!
Originally posted by Fritz Lehman
That's great news about Adrienne.
...
Fritz
She told me that when she was age 14 and you were age 22, this 16 years old backstroker challenged you in a race, you won the race, then the 16 years old was shaking his head in disbelief that the "...old guy who is 22..." beat him.
I guess that was a big lesson for him.
I bring this up since you teach this kind of lesson to us:
me and about anyone in the same age group, and everyone racing backstroke (and free too) in any age group.
Like in Tempe for example, three weeks from now...
Originally posted by Paul Smith
We'll be there, ...
Gee, the earthquake is coming...
I don't know if the pool can handle 'Tall' Paul's sprinting:
it might be that the pool's cement breaks down.
By the way Fritz, Adrienne who moved from Raleigh to San Diego, and told me that she used to train in your lane a few years ago, and who coaches me now in San Diego under the head coach of the program where I train, will come to race in Tempe too.
The program where I train in San Diego, will send to Tempe a small team of fast racers.
IOn--
Sorry I can't make the reunion in Arizona. I hope you swim very fast. Did you know that one of our beer drinking buddies from Cleveland, Mr. Ian Smith of Canada, was the No. 1 FINA sprinter in the world in his youngish age group of 60-64?
Canada may be losing some tourists to inappropriate SARS panic, but I understand this is more than being made up for by busloads of American swimmers coming to watch the ageless Mr. Smith achieve aquatic glory by combining 10,000 yards of workouts a week with the occasional game of squash.
Again, good luck to all.
Jim
Originally posted by Paul Smith
...
Looking forward to seeing everyone again!
I got a preview of 'Tall' Paul (man, he looks taller than last year; does Paul grow even taller, every year?) and of Laura Smith in today's tune-up meet for Tempe, a La Jolla competition that runs today and tomorrow.
This facility is where my training club is. I do my workouts here.
In today's 100 free I got only a 1:00.26, by almost even splitting:
29:80 and 30:46.
My start and first 50 were slow, then I did pick up.
Paul tells me that this shows that I am not fresh from interval training, and advises me to stop lifting weights until after Tempe.
Then, in the 1000 free, full of interval training, I went 12:25.xx, a pace of 1:14.50 per 100 yards.
Laura, who is a well rounded athlete with a good VO2Max, swam 11:43.xx, and went like a rocket by me.
There were lots of good events by Barbara Dunbar, Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, Don Baker, Jeni Buys, Dane Bowker, Darlene Hunt, to name just a few out of many.
Paul and Adam Conway were battling spectacularly in 100 free and 50 fly.
Both are not fully tapered.
None of us is yet.
I think Ian won't come to Arizona either:
the calendar shows that at the same time as Tempe, there are the Canadian Nationals in his hometown of Montreal.
As for Ian being number one sprinter worldwide in his age group (as FINA rankings do tell), well I understood last August in Cleveland that he (almost) always has been a fast twitch beast of the water.
I am sorry you won't come to Tempe, Jim:
I will miss your participation.
