I'm sure each of us has one race (or maybe more) that has some special :groovy: :applaud: :wave: :banana: :laugh2:
meaning to us and it could be for any one of many reasons. (I'm not talking about embarrassing moments; this has been addressed elsewhere.)
I'm talking about swims/races, some moments of which live with incredible clarity and details in our memories and minds (in colour -or B&W, with sounds and possibly smells -chlorine, of course.)
I won't tell about mine (I have three about which I'm very proud) for a while. Not until regulars have told their stories and some would-be-posters (a.k.a. lurkers) have also shared.
Parents
Former Member
I have four memorable swims, all as a master's swimmer. Three involve me and one involves others. In chronological order:
At the 1999 USMS LC Nationals in Minneapolis I was behind the blocks in the slow heat of the 50 BR in the men's 55-59 age group. The fast heat of the men's 60-64 age group was just going off and I watched the whole race. First, second and third places were Olympians from 1960: Tom Winters (my room mate at the meet), Jeff Farrell and Bill Mulliken. Tom won in a new national record. What an inspiration that was to me. I resolved to try to join the fast heat in the future.
Back home I got myself a stroke coach, lost about 30 pounds, swam consistently and declared to anyone who would listen that I wanted to win a national championship when I turned 60 (this from a guy who was 4th out of 4 breaststrokers on his college team). At Federal Way LC Champs in 2001, I snagged first place in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
Five years later, just two weeks before I turned 65 by FINA rules, I was under the national record in the 200 SCM breaststroke. So, I resolved this time to put all my effort into trying for that record. At Canadian Nationals last year I had my big chance. Alas, I wasn't even close - probably 10 seconds away.
So, there are 4 really memorable races for me. Some go your way, some don't and some are just watching others do it.
-- mel
I have four memorable swims, all as a master's swimmer. Three involve me and one involves others. In chronological order:
At the 1999 USMS LC Nationals in Minneapolis I was behind the blocks in the slow heat of the 50 BR in the men's 55-59 age group. The fast heat of the men's 60-64 age group was just going off and I watched the whole race. First, second and third places were Olympians from 1960: Tom Winters (my room mate at the meet), Jeff Farrell and Bill Mulliken. Tom won in a new national record. What an inspiration that was to me. I resolved to try to join the fast heat in the future.
Back home I got myself a stroke coach, lost about 30 pounds, swam consistently and declared to anyone who would listen that I wanted to win a national championship when I turned 60 (this from a guy who was 4th out of 4 breaststrokers on his college team). At Federal Way LC Champs in 2001, I snagged first place in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
Five years later, just two weeks before I turned 65 by FINA rules, I was under the national record in the 200 SCM breaststroke. So, I resolved this time to put all my effort into trying for that record. At Canadian Nationals last year I had my big chance. Alas, I wasn't even close - probably 10 seconds away.
So, there are 4 really memorable races for me. Some go your way, some don't and some are just watching others do it.
-- mel
