Gwinnett County Swim Meet

About halfway through the swimming season, Christopher decided he really likes swimming. A lot. He made it a goal to make it to County next year when he is 10 (he is in the 9-10 group so is one of the very youngest in his age group). He worked hard and really improved this year, shaving seconds off every meet.

He took a few lessons and briefly considered year-round swim team, but decided that would cause too much issue with baseball. Nevertheless, I think we're looking at year-round lessons.

All this background to say it was very exciting when we got a call from the lady that heads up our swim team to ask if he would be willing to help round out the 11-12 relays. We were short two boys and Christopher and Ethan were two of the 9-10s they thought could swim "up" so those two guys could go swim at County. He was so happy.

We went and signed up for one more lesson to work on flip turns and dives and just to get some time in the pool. Since he was swimming up, he would have to do two 50s instead of his normal 25s. Fortunately, he was going to do the free leg for the medley relay. We were feeling pretty good about things until we walked into the recreation center at Georgia Tech. Immediately the nerves hit.

The very thing that made this exciting was the very thing that made it so scary. It was big. It was full of people. And, it was the home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games swimming events. Talk about intimidating.

He settled down and before long our two-hour wait was done and it was time swim. (I acknowledge the pictures aren't great. I thought basketball and cycling were hard, but at least in those you are either close or you have good light. Here neither. You'll just have to deal with it.) Christopher and I both really like this picture. It takes me right back to the moment when he dove off the blocks. My entire universe was centered right on him and the top part of his body. Everything else around me was a blur. I held my breath, hoping and praying he didn't hit belly first. I wonder if that's what he felt. (He didn't...not his best dive, but it wasn't bad at all.)

In the end our two 9-year-olds did phenomenal. Our team came in 7th in their heat...our two little guys had good solid Relay C times....for 11-12 year-olds.

Austin, their coach, was sooo proud of them. He was so encouraging all through the season. Christopher really enjoyed having him as a coach.

Soon it was time for the next relay. Christopher would be the anchor leg. I suspected he would be the last one in the pool...I just hoped it wouldn't be for long.

He stretched and got his goggles ready.

Then, he was in the pool. We were in dead last when he started. (There were some mechanical issues on the first leg. Poor Ethan's googles were slipping - very distracting for him.)

He swam his little heart out. As I watched I saw that he wasn't losing any time. I think he even made up some time on some of the slower lanes.

In the end, we did come in last but he wasn't that far behind. What a great experience, especially if he's still loving swimming next year as much as he is this year. Swimming in the Olympic pool...how cool is that?

More Swim Team

I admit it. I'm all about the pictures and the stories they tell. Christopher is always encouraging his teammates whether it's on the ballfield or at the pool. I love that about him. Sometimes I forget these little microcosms of what's going on until I reminded in the pictures.

Backstroke isn't exactly his favorite, but Keith wasn't there for the entire meet and that was about all he did before Keith left. Oh, yeah. Did I mention that Keith had to take all the pictures we have at the meet because I was having to time? That is worth a post of its own...timing, not Keith taking pictures. He's a pretty good photographer himself.

Sometimes I think the most fun at the meet is all the snacks you can cram in from the concession stand between events. Sometimes I wonder how we make it through a meet without some kid....well, use your imagination. I have never been to one, though, where the pool had to be closed down. They were selling the sour Skittles and I think these were racing to see how many they could cram in. Christopher may have won, but I think it was a short-lived victory. It took his mouth a few minutes to recover.

The best way to fix a sour mouth. Something sweet, of course!!

Should be a fun swim season. He has improved so much since last year and really wants to get better. He thinks it'll help doing triathlons, which he wants to give a go again this year. More on that front real soon! Y'all have a great week.

Christopher's Post

I promised more visits. Today I am sharing a link to another favorite blog. Click here to see Christopher's most recent blog post.

Swim Team

Tonight was Christopher's one and only swim meet.  We have missed so much because of baseball, general schedule and swimmer's ear.  He hadn't even been to practice in a couple of weeks and decided he was just too tired to go to practice this morning.

Yep.  That's green hair.  River Rat green.  I remember kids having green hair from the chlorine, but this is hair spray to show team spirit.  (We actually converted from a chlorine-based system to a salt-based system - lot of ear infections, swimmer's ear and other sicknesses to the jury is still out.)  You should see some of these kids.  

I was so proud of him tonight.  He has a very distinct approach.  He "streamlines" or stays underwater as far as he can before he starts his stroke.  For the 25 free he went almost the entire length of the pool.  Unfortunately, he was so into his swimming he didn't realize he was drifting out of his lane.

Such great form.  I was able to watch him in one event (missed the others because I was timing) - there was a group of guys James's age standing around me.  They thought it was so cool that he was able go half the length of the pool underwater.  They went on and on.  It was a cool moment for a mom.  He was about even with the two other leaders at the turn.  

He really turned it on the second half of the second 25 and won by a decent margin in his heat.  We didn't stay to find out exactly how he did, but I was so proud of him.  He really gave it his all.