A little about me...I am a single mom to two daughters...Phoebe 12yo and Maggie 8yo. I have been divorced for 6 years. I am a full time pharmacist at the best grocery store in the country - Wegmans. My other "part time job" is an age group triathlete. My life is crazy busy but I love it.
I have been an athlete all of my life - gymnast, bodybuilder, long jumper, sprinter, long distance runner and triathlete. For two brief years I was a professional triathlete but now I am back in the age group ranks. This year I was honored to be selected to the Wattie Ink Elite Team (www.wattieink.com). It is a select group of driven triathletes from all over the country that love to push themselves to be the best they can be. The team also has partnered with numerous incredible sponsors (which I will be sharing info about in the coming blogs). This week I will be heading out to San Diego to take part in the Black Dragon Racing/Wattie Ink Triathlon Camp. I will definitely be sharing my camp experience here!
Today I participated in a Masters Swim meet. I seriously think anyone who can swim should take part in a swim meet. It is sooo much fun!!! Each race is done in heats...slowest heat to fastest. When you register for the meet, you put down a seed time...basically a guess of what you think you might swim. I recommend erring on the side of slower...it always feels good to beat your seed time :-) . At the meet they give ribbons for first, second and third in each 5 year age group. And often there are only a few in each age group so most leave with a ribbon. It really is a very positive experience no matter how slow or fast you are!! And if you can get 3 other friends to join you, you can even put together a relay.
Two years ago I competed in my first swim meet. When I got an email that the Syracuse Sweetheart Masters meet at Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School was taking place on a day I did not have to work, I was excited to see how much I have slowed in the last 2 years. I signed up for the 50 free, 100free, 100 IM and 500 free. This was the first time I had ever swam an IM event in a swim meet so the good news is that I was guaranteed to PR. I was also asked to be in 2 relays. I knew this would keep me from swimming super fast in my individual events due to where they fell in the schedule but I figured how hard could a 50 be? Plus it's always fun being part of a team!!
The first event of the meet was the 200 medley relay. A great way to get the jitters out because it really is just for fun. My 50 free went well and I felt ready for the IM which was coming up soon. I was nervous for the butterfly but it ended up going really well. I was the slowest seed in the event and came in last overall but had so much fun AND won a first place ribbon (because I was the only one in my age group in the race)! LOL! (1:21)
After the 100IM, I swam a little cool down and almost missed the 50 free because the races were back to back. I hopped out of the pool and made my way over to the blocks - just in time as the whistle blew to mount the blocks as soon as I got there. Still breathing heavily they announced "set" and then the *beep* sounded and I took off. My time was 2 secs slower than in 2013 but I had just finished the IM so I was pretty satisfied. (0:31)
Next was the 200 free relay. Again I had a decent leg but then immediately had to get back on the blocks for the 100 free. This did not quite go as well After 75 yards my legs and arms started tingling with that lack of oxygen feeling. I ended up 8s slower with a 1:10 but again...not complaining!
Finally, after a little break, it was time for the 500. By this point I was pretty exhausted but was still hoping for a strong race. I seeded myself at 6:40. For the 500 they have someone count laps for you. You can pick your own lap counter. I was lucky enough to have the best most awesome lap counter...Maggie!! She had a blast and asked when we could do another meet again!! I felt pretty good for the first 200 then started falling apart. I was completely spent by the time I hit the wall in 6:34. My times in the 50, 100 and 500 were all good enough for 2nd place. Maggie was excited to take lots of pictures of me with my ribbons. (Truth - only 2 40-44 females in the meet...and she did not do the 100IM).
So that's it. I never swam as a kid but survived a masters swim meet. If I can do it, you can too!! Visit www.usms.org and find a meet near you!
Thank you Wattie Ink, Power Bar, Herbalife24, BlueSeventy, Challenge America Races, Rudy Project, MarcPro, Speedfil, Diamondback, Reynolds, ISM saddles and my 2 biggest fans Maggie and Phoebe.
It ate my first comment! I love reading blogs so write away! And great job on the swim meet!!!
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