After a winter of swimming on and off and competing in a few meets here and there, I buckled down for the month of April and really focused on a few weeks of nothing but good practices. And you know what? It pays off to practice.
USMS Spring 2011 Nationals were held in Mesa, Arizona during the last weekend of April. It was 4 days of competition, over 1,800 competitors, and perfect weather-- warm, sunny, and slightly breezy.
For Christmas, my Uncle John gave a plane ticket to me for a 2011 adventure. I used it to get myself to AZ. Not only was there swimming to be had and records to be broken (OK, I didn't break any records), but the best part and main reason for going is because that's where my Rachel lives! In case you live under a rock and haven't heard me mention her, Rachel is one of my very dearest friends.
She and her husband are expecting their first baby-- a girl! If there is one person on this Earth who is having trouble containing her excitement about this news, it's me. Orrrrrrr their mothers. But still, I'm a close runner-up.
Here are the highlights of my trip:
-Taking the longest cab ride ever from the airport in Phoenix to the pool in Mesa. Who knew it was that long of a drive?! Geez. It's like my time on the East Coast has made me forget that in the West, things are s p r e a d o u t.
-Going for cheapish Chinese (Chineese, eh Rachel?) food, lo mein of course, and getting to catch up with my adorable friend.
-Adventuring to her man made work pond. She had no hand in man-making it, to clarify.
-Waking up at the ridiculous hour of 2am to watch, love, and analyze the Royal Wedding with Rachel.
-Waking up by myself again at 5:15am to watch the kiss on the balcony.
-Making "English" breakfast with Lady Rachel daahhhling in honor of aforementioned Royal Wedding. Scrambled eggs are kind of like eggs benedict, right?
-Almost missing my 50 free but then setting a personal best for my Master's career (what, like, 4 meets? Still.)
-Reminiscing about high school days and past silliness
-CUBBIES GAME! Homerun, hot dogs with purchase of ticket, the win.
-Swimming a personal Master's career best in my 200 free and having Rachel there to watch (sorry your bum hurt from having to sit there forever on my flat-as-a-pancake towel.) I think it was good practice for her upcoming soccer mom days to have to be there for so long. No? Ok.
-Making pineapple burgers and watching Black Swan with not only Rachel but also Devin, the soon-to-be-daddy and outstanding husband in this senario.
-Waking up stupid early to spend all day Sunday at the pool. I got to watch my teammates race, my relay kicked serious ass (26.46 split for me) and placed 3rd (ooo big medal!), and I went sub-one in my 100 free. I also got tan, which is probably the very best part of this day of the meet.
-Painting little baby Claire's crib with Rachel (and accidentally painting a big of the fence, some plants, some rocks, and my toes). I'm not a good painter, I learned. I liked just painting and talking. This was maybe my favorite part of the whole trip.
-Eating steak and potatoes (from a box, which is a delicious way to make potatoes, I'll have you know)
-Wandering around the Arizona State campus early in the morning before I light-railed to the airport (MUCH better than a dumb cab ride). After climbing into a parking garage and hauling my suitcases up some stairs, I found the swim team outside already practicing. They were swimming 100's on a minute 20 or 30 in a 50 meter pool. YUCK. I also found a bagel place. This must be noted because a large orange juice and a blueberry bagel with honey almond cream cheese is noteworthy.
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