I thought I'd try an experiment here. I propose that anyone of any swimming level can use this thread (or not) when, whether in a small way or earthshaking manner you've done something in the pool that you're proud and/or pleased by. Anyone is welcome to add encouraging comments (or not) or ask for more info., but please no grandstanding or feuding.
Okay- I'll go first (and I'm just as hesitant as anyone else). Context: last few months hellish: collapse of my dream business, death in family, huge money troubles etc. result months out of water & exercise & 30lb gain. Further, I just went back over the last 10 yrs, averaged 1 meet a year, no more than 4 months training in any one year. So- been back in water 4 weeks, 2-3 times a week and mostly feeling like chopped liver. Monday night coach say we're going to do dive 25's (meters) from blocks, starter's instructions. Now I haven't done this in years 'cause I have a very bad neck- but I've been frustrated so...did all 3 breastroke 16.3, 15.5, 16.2 which tells me I've still got prospects to go fast again! I am pleased.
Former Member
It's not a big deal, but I made it through my first real swim race in over 20 years. The start was bad (see new starts thread) and I let panic take over instead of good form, but I finished much faster than I seeded myself. The time wouldn't get me to nationals, but heck it was kind of fun. 5 more events tomorrow.
Attagang to all forumites at Colonies zones who achieved positives at their meet and evidently behaved themselves at dinner. Bright sunshine here today, would love to exercise, but I have to go to a 4 hour wine tasting this afternoon.
Well then, an Attagirl, based on advance information, to our Fortress, who would be living proof that suffering various maladies and complaining vociferously about them, stands as the ideal taper.
:thhbbb: :thhbbb: :thhbbb: :thhbbb:
It just proves that you must complain to your doctor and get good drugs.
Everyone swam great and all deserve attatboys and attagirls! Lots of PBs and fun! Rich did his first ever backstroke turn! Julie swam an unbelievable 1650, looking like a lock for a great OW season. Muppet won the 200 fly. Mollie swam a great 200 back. The mysterious Jeff Roddin showed up at our forum dinner to brag about his 200 fly. :rofl: Jim Matysek even allowed us to diss on breaststroke for awhile at dinner. And he is swimming injury free for the first time in 5 years. Yay! More details to follow after day two. Must go swim now. No grudge race today, thank god.
:woot: to all colonies zone swimmers!
Although I am Draculina, I am exhausted. Just want to give out a few attagirls and attaboys before I pass out and forget everything:
Attagang for coming to the fantabulous forum dinner!
Attagirl to ImSpoiled for dropping 2 seconds from her prior PR in the 100 back today even though she was sick and untapered for the meet! Also an attagirl for ID-ing Muppet right outta the box.
Attaboy SwimStud for grabbbing a medal in the 200 *** at his first ever zones meet and dropping many seconds! Great 50 free too!
Attagirl Julie. Julie was queasy when she hit the pool today. She did not let down her teammates, swam all her relays and rallied for really good swims in the 100 back and 100 ***! A real trooper!
Attagirl SwimmieAvsFan for a super great 200 free today, proving that she is well rounded long axis swimmer!
Attaboy to Muppet for his first 1st place medal at a zone meet and loads of great swims.
Attaboy Dave Barra for having a super smooth TI-honed freestyle and doing a great 200 free! (Yes, I watched.) Attaboys to all Dave's friends from the Adirondacks, who were so friendly!
Attaboy Jim Thornton for swimming some great freestyle events and entertaining us all at the forum dinner and bringing his nice and very lovely friend Lisa from Pittsburgh -- who was swimming in her first master meet ever. Whenever someone gets grumpy, she will just say she loves fig newtons (her one and only post so far) and that will be that!
Attaboy Jim Matysek for having a great meet, coming to meet us crazies and being pain free and injury free and training like a fiend!
Attagirl Swimmy and Diana C. for coming to meet us all and having the best t-shirts ever: "Alcatraz Psycho Ward"
Attaboy Jeff Roddin for coming to our forum dinner and for still having the most beautiful fly ever.
And last but very very not least, attagirl Barb/Ensignada for driving down to watch the meet, meet us, cheer us on, videotape us (except for the amazon she filmed in the 100 free, which she subsequently realized wasn't me.;) ), and dine with us during tax season!
Way to go everyone!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana: :bow: :bow: :bow:
All I can say is Attaboy/Girl to all the folks I met this weekend for making my trip down well worth it. Even if I had had rotten swims I would still have been happy because of the fun.
I fell a twinge of sadness leaving...like that end of vacation feeling that you got as a kid when you jumped in the car and went home...
If you're in or near to CT let me know!
Everyone did so well at Zones, it makes me so proud to read about everyone's great swim times, great frienship, great party. This is USMS as its best.
Now I want to give a great big ATTA GIRL to the Fortress (now her name is more in line with her swims). She won the 50 free with an all-time personal best blistering 25.57. And I hope that she continues to work on that 100 free now that she knows how it feels (not so bad after all) and it's something else she can add whenever she wants. (We need a racecar icon here).:applaud:
Thanks DB! Right now I feel like a flat tire. :rofl: I might try the 100 free again sometime. You were right, it wasn't so bad. (P.S. DB: My 50 free is my masters PB. I did go faster in college when I was an 18 year old spring chicken and had better shoulders. LOL)
Peter:
In addition to Kevin's zones, Illinois state champs are next weekend. Aquafeisty and FlyQueen are in line for some attagirls. My Draculina twin has another meet soon. So does SwimStud. So no worries about a paucity of posting. Then of course SCY Nats is right around the corner. And all of us other forum folk will hopefully continue to make some positive improvement of note.
Everyone did so well at Zones, it makes me so proud to read about everyone's great swim times, great frienship, great party. This is USMS as its best.
Now I want to give a great big ATTA GIRL to the Fortress (now her name is more in line with her swims). She won the 50 free with an all-time personal best blistering 25.57. And I hope that she continues to work on that 100 free now that she knows how it feels (not so bad after all) and it's something else she can add whenever she wants. (We need a racecar icon here).:applaud:
Goodness, I threaten to mope over the paucity of reports and a flood comes in. Huzzahs, hosannahs and holy smokes to all the good efforts; I am counting on the next month or so being rich in positive events (and probably also in the whines & gripes thread!).
