Yesss!!!
The first real meet since I had to go out of state way back in December. Not that it wasn’t worth it to swim in a blizzard. Heck, I’d swim at a meet on the moon if the Chinese would let us.
Oh! I-I’ve just been informed the Chinese don’t own the moon.
Good to know.
So nice the WWU Swim Team, up there in Bellingham, sprang the meet on everyone. I’ve been to more than a few surprise birthday parties. And unexpected retirement soirees.
They are a lot of fun.
I think this was funner. Sure, there was no alcohol; but they had water. Lots and lots of water.
And the whole thing was run with an engineer’s precision. Actually two engineers’ precision. Thanks to Meet Referee, Paccar Engineer Steve Ciatti. Do not start talking to him about battery technology. I could’ve thrown things off with an ill-timed question; let me put it that way. And Meet Director, the saintly Marysia Smith. Marysia is a Grad student at WWU and having recently completed her Software Engineer internship, may not be around for long. She’s that talented.
Very special people to have indulged all of us who swam. And all the timers and concession people; thanks WWU. You are the BEST!
And all the attendees. Willing and able, obviously.
I think it shows how “ready” everyone was to return to something resembling normalcy. How long did it take to fill up the slots?
Was it 17 minutes!?
Was I the first to register?
Probably.
It was a little unfortunate that we were without 6 TWIM stalwarts that ventured to Oregon City for the SC meters meet there ON THE SAME WEEKEND?!
What!?
We don’t have regular meets for 2 years and then WHAM!! On the same weekend!?
Sweet luxury!!
Western Washington University!
Home of the Vikings!
I was right at home with my Viking’s disease.
Plus, my middle son graduated from there way back in ’08.
So I was really right at home.
The drive was very familiar.
So it was a split squad weekend. The rest of the team went to that aforementioned Oregon event.
There were only two who made the trip up for this one.
Robert Moore, in a tune-up for Nationals down San Antone-way the end of April, swam the 200 back, the 100 Fly and the 100 IM.
And I, in a tune-up for the PNA Championships, swam all the Back events. In reverse distance order I broke 3 minutes in the 200 back. A personal best 1:22.21 in the 100 and a nice little 36.85 in the 50 back. All three made my day.
Bob’s 1:13+ in the 100 IM was impressive. His 1:10.08 in the fly was even more so (PNA AllTime 10th place!).
And his 2:31.81 200 back put him about halfway up (8th) the PNA Top 12 All Time list in the 60-64 crowd!
Holy smokes.
Did I read that right!? 6 swims and 6 team records!?
Funny thing is, he said his 200 felt lousy. And he felt sluggish in the other two, as well.
Another tune-up!?
Looks like he might be goin’ to the PNA Champs. He says to swim relays with us all but if this guy is gonna go to a meet, he’s gonna do some flexing. You know that. I mean he’s only human. At least I think he is. He’s awfully fast. And he does kinda look like Roger Moore, 007.
Anyway.
An additional tune-up, then.
Hey, that was a long dry spell. He hadn’t swam since Nationals, nearly 3 years ago!
I know I’ll be there.
It’ll be nice to get everyone there together again.
It’s been waaaay too long.
See you all in a month.
We have some unfinished business to attend to.
Delicious!
