2007 Masters Nationals

Just got back from the meet. I was extremely impressed with how well it was run. Best moment was the crowd finiishing the national anthem. Loudest screaming from me was during Jeff Commings 100 ***. He is an animal! Best quote of the meet. I was complaining to Jeff Farrell about having to swim in earlier and earlier heats as you age and he told me to quit bitching. His ambition is to swim in heat one for as many years as possible. Shut me up. Kirk, I was sitting in the stands on Sat. afternoon and looked over to my right and noticed I was right next to Anthony Irvin. I said hello and we chatted for 10 or so minutes. He's no longer doing the music thing in NY but has moved back to the Bay area. He said he didn't have a chance to train much for the meet, hence the slow times, but he was having a great time catching up with old friends and meeting new people. Rich

wouldn't that be the last person to out after warming down from their 500? great job guys there were some very impressive swims Here's my little bit of personal trivia from the meet: I was the last person to touch the wall in the entire meet. My heat of the 500 ended up going off last and I was last in the heat. Hey, not exactly something to brag about, but it's interesting anyway! :banana:

wouldn't that be the last person to out after warming down from their 500? OK, I was the last "official" swimmer. When I finished the guys running the timing system could shut things down and go home.

Kirk, I think it was you that recommended Dash Point State Park. Thanks for the tip. I got out there on Saturday afternoon-during low tide, no less. Great spot. I hope one of my kids gets a job in Seattle so I can come and visit often.

I arrived just a few minutes too late today to see Jeff's 100 ***, but obviously it was a great swim. I came in just when Gary Marshall was finishing. A 54 second 100 *** is outstanding, but I think his 1:57 200 *** was even more jaw dropping! Laura Val absolutely obliterated the records in the events she swam in women 55-59. I was really impressed with Dennis Baker, too. Even though he was in a "later" heat of the 500 free (heat 20 and I was in 19) due to the even/odd pool split his heat finished just as mine was behind the blocks. Pretty inspiring to hear about a 45 year old swimming a 4:39 500 free! Jim McConica was next to me in the 500 free and broke the record with a nice 4:57 swim, by the way! Also, let's give some props to forumite Mel Dyck who broke the existing record in the men's 65-69 100 *** despite getting beat out by Richard Todd. Great meet! For me I just felt a little off. My times were good. In most cases I was off my personal masters bests, but just off. I expected to swim a little better, though. I'll give myself a C+ or a B- overall. I hope everyone enjoyed their stay in the Pacific Northwest. I'm glad to see it rained a lot today to give everyone the weather they'd expect to see here :) I spoke to several forum regulars including Skip Thompson, Jeff Commings, Jeff Strahota and Rob Copeland. Also former regular Mr. Ion Beza!

Here's my little bit of personal trivia from the meet: I was the last person to touch the wall in the entire meet. My heat of the 500 ended up going off last and I was last in the heat. Hey, not exactly something to brag about, but it's interesting anyway! :banana: I'll make a mental note of that for the "Trivial Pursuit--2007 USMS SCY Nationals"Edition"

I had such an awesome time at nationals. Yes, the Seattle weather lived up to its reputation today, but we had quite a bit of sun on Thursday and Friday. Can you believe the feelgood moment during the first heat of the men's 200 fly? Or today when the crowd took over for the national anthem? Looking forward to Austin 2008.

Can you believe the feelgood moment during the first heat of the men's 200 fly? That was a good moment. :)

So who's got the videos ready for upload to YouTube? There were plenty of amazing swims this weekend so I'd love to see some vids to keep the memories alive :) My wife and kids came on Saturday to see me swim in the medley relay but just as she started taping the backstroke leg...the memory card was full. doh!

I noticed Jeff was listening to a CD Walkman between his races. Can we get a collection together to get that man an iPod? It ain't right for someone that fast to be stuck with stone age technology! :D Did anyone get a chance to talk to Anthony at all? You're not the only one to notice that I'm still listening to CDs. I know iPods are very convenient, but until I get a car that will allow me to play an iPod, I will stick with CDs. But it was hard to carry that thing around; it was too big to fit into my pockets! I talked to Anthony as well. Very nice to hear him say that he wants to continue to do masters. And stereotype him all you want about the tattoos, but he's a very personable guy and well-spoken. Rich, I remember when I broke the 30-34 record in the 100 *** in 2004, and you were the loudest person then. Nice to know I have a consistent fan. When you went 1:00 in the 100 IM, I was too shocked to speak, but I was cheering on the inside.