I swam with these guys first, for about 45 minutes total. These are little sunfish.
I swam with these folks in the evening, for about 70 seconds total. These are summer rec league swimmers at our meet.
Guess where I felt more at home? Oh yeah, give me the open water. These swim meets are just SO humbling!!
I've done the summer league the last few summers, since I started swimming for triathlon. This year I was really not into it and I left the decision up to my son Spencer who said he "wanted me to swim so he could cheer me on." Translation: if I have to do this, you should too.
I lack the basic competitive swim skills of your average 8 year-old. I can't do a flip turn without getting vertigo, I have a phobia of diving off the block (fear of my goggles coming loose), and my reaction time needs a lot of work. There are all so many technical rules in swimming too - touch with two hands on breast stroke, you get one pull underwater, blah blah blah.
There were two heats of us older "girls" and I was lucky enough to be in the one with the swim coaches, the moms from the multi-generational swim families, and one Virginia Tech swimmer who I think finished in under 25 seconds. (Yeah. How is that even possible? And WHY can't I do that?!)
I finished last in my heat but came in second out of three in my age group in the 50 free with a 33.98. I always fare better in breaststroke. I try to make up for lack of technique with a crazy frantic super-high stroke count approach but it gets the job done, lol!
Spencer did well in his events and he has a body position and ease about him that I envy. Focus is another story. I find him talking about some new technology as his feet climb the block!
I'll be back for next week's meet. I am prepared to be humbled in the 100 free and backstroke (I'm not a butterfly-er).
