Here we are, back in Ypsilanti at Eastern Michigan University for the State Finals. It is very exciting to be here, to watch the best swimmers in Michigan compete for the right to say they are the very best. I'm proud to be part of the host team, and proud to say that we have 60 kids here competing, and that Lexy is among them. It's quite an accomplishment.
Lexy swam one event today, the 200 Freestyle at the 10 & under level. Being 9 for one more week, this means that she will be able to compete in the event at next year's state finals too! Today, Lexy swam against 26 other 9 & 10 year olds, and she finished 24th overall, just 7/10 of a second off her best, qualifying time at 2:57.93.
Since I was on deck helping today, I wasn't able to get a video of this event, but Ed should be here tomorrow and ready to catch Lexy in full High Def for posterity. Tomorrow's events include the 400 Medley Relay, with Lexy swimming the breaststroke leg as part of her team for 100 Meters, as well as the individual 100 Meter breaststroke. For this event, she is ranked 20th of 21. We will be cheering as loud as we can! Love you Lexy!
Here's what the kids do when they're NOT swimming. Remember when we had to put a quarter in the machine? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InvTBzc2Xvs
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
And Now For Something, Well, 2/3 Different
I wanted to quote Monty Python in my title, but today's event wasn't "completely" different. Lex still suited up and got in the pool for a race, but when she got out, she had to run to her bike, ride that for a couple of miles, then get off and run a half mile. She was NOT happy about that last part. More on that later.
It was great to see lots of people bring their kids to Midland's first kids-only triathlon, benefiting the fibrous displaysia foundation. I'm still not sure I know what that is, exactly, but we were glad to help out. It was also nice to see lots of Midland Dolphin and CUDA families there: the Kiekhafers, the Woodburys, the Carpenters . . .and lots of kids I didn't recognize with Dolphins shirts on. Dolphins were well represented.
Kali Dent, one of the Dolphin swimmers in the 13-14 age group, really did well. Not only did she take first in her age group, she won an extra special prize: lunch with two of the Great Lakes Loons players! I hope they get to go someplace nice.
This was Lexy's first experience with a triathlon, and I am impressed by how well she did. The first event was a 25 yard swim (one length) and they organized the kids in heats of six, from youngest to oldest. The girl from the previous heat had not even gotten out of the pool yet when Lexy finished. Lex then jogged out of the pool area, over to the transition area to don her shoes, helmet and number for the bike ride. I watched her jog her bike out of the transition area and make her way into the throng of kids already in motion.
When she arrived back it was time to rack the bike, ditch the helmet and start running. Well, jogging. Ok, walking. She did her best. Too bad the triathlon didn't have more swimming, but you can't have it all! She managed to finish 6th in her age group and 51st overall, out of 264 entries. My hat's off to her.
Results available here: http://www.trikidstry.com/
Afterward, she enjoyed some of the activities they had set up on the football field, and by the time everyone had finished, the sky was starting to turn black and we could hear the thunder in the distance. They wasted no timing giving out the prizes, including the Grand Prize bicycle, gave all the kids their applause, and we headed for the cars. About a half hour later the skies opened up. How nice for it to hold off until they were done!
It was great to see lots of people bring their kids to Midland's first kids-only triathlon, benefiting the fibrous displaysia foundation. I'm still not sure I know what that is, exactly, but we were glad to help out. It was also nice to see lots of Midland Dolphin and CUDA families there: the Kiekhafers, the Woodburys, the Carpenters . . .and lots of kids I didn't recognize with Dolphins shirts on. Dolphins were well represented.
Kali Dent, one of the Dolphin swimmers in the 13-14 age group, really did well. Not only did she take first in her age group, she won an extra special prize: lunch with two of the Great Lakes Loons players! I hope they get to go someplace nice.
This was Lexy's first experience with a triathlon, and I am impressed by how well she did. The first event was a 25 yard swim (one length) and they organized the kids in heats of six, from youngest to oldest. The girl from the previous heat had not even gotten out of the pool yet when Lexy finished. Lex then jogged out of the pool area, over to the transition area to don her shoes, helmet and number for the bike ride. I watched her jog her bike out of the transition area and make her way into the throng of kids already in motion.
When she arrived back it was time to rack the bike, ditch the helmet and start running. Well, jogging. Ok, walking. She did her best. Too bad the triathlon didn't have more swimming, but you can't have it all! She managed to finish 6th in her age group and 51st overall, out of 264 entries. My hat's off to her.
Results available here: http://www.trikidstry.com/
Afterward, she enjoyed some of the activities they had set up on the football field, and by the time everyone had finished, the sky was starting to turn black and we could hear the thunder in the distance. They wasted no timing giving out the prizes, including the Grand Prize bicycle, gave all the kids their applause, and we headed for the cars. About a half hour later the skies opened up. How nice for it to hold off until they were done!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Dad's Birthday and Another Q1 July 18, 2009
Dad, it's 10 minutes to 9 pm, and I JUST NOW REALIZED that it's your birthday and I didn't call. I'm so sorry. I've been in swim meet mode, which I realize is no excuse, but I hope you will forgive me! My dad is 78 this year.
But what a wonderful birthday present -- to watch Lexy swim the 200 Free and get another Q1 time. Wouldn't that be wonderful? It would -- if I hadn't left my video cam in the car. . .But let me explain. If I HAD the video camera, by Murphy's law, she wouldn't have gotten the time. And, even if she still DID get the time? There's no way you would have been able to see the finish because I was positively shaking.
We are at EMU again for the Club Wolverine invitational, which is actually a great pool when it's not blazingly hot outside. Lexy's first event today, as I mentioned, was the 200 Freestyle, and her best time was a 3:01.42. She needed a 3:00.19 to qualify for the state meet which is located back here in two weeks. She is already qualified for two events, but needed only to better her time by a second and a half to get the 200 Free time. And today, in a very tense swim (for me, not her) she pulled out a better-than-expected 2:57.27!!
I could hardly believe it, and when I ran down the bleachers to congratulate her, apparently some of our team families were quite worried that I was going to do a face plant. It's a pretty steep set of bleachers. I was pretty worried about that too! But I arrived at the bottom and gave her a great big smile for her accomplishment before she got out of the pool. I tried hard to hold back the tears but a few of them sneaked out.
Afterward, I got back to my seat and just sat and fanned myself with the program. Too much excitement.
A lot of the kids from CUDA got state cuts today, so we are looking forward to tomorrow and hoping that Lexy will get one more in the 50 Freestyle. Even if she doesn't, we are mighty proud.
But what a wonderful birthday present -- to watch Lexy swim the 200 Free and get another Q1 time. Wouldn't that be wonderful? It would -- if I hadn't left my video cam in the car. . .But let me explain. If I HAD the video camera, by Murphy's law, she wouldn't have gotten the time. And, even if she still DID get the time? There's no way you would have been able to see the finish because I was positively shaking.
We are at EMU again for the Club Wolverine invitational, which is actually a great pool when it's not blazingly hot outside. Lexy's first event today, as I mentioned, was the 200 Freestyle, and her best time was a 3:01.42. She needed a 3:00.19 to qualify for the state meet which is located back here in two weeks. She is already qualified for two events, but needed only to better her time by a second and a half to get the 200 Free time. And today, in a very tense swim (for me, not her) she pulled out a better-than-expected 2:57.27!!
I could hardly believe it, and when I ran down the bleachers to congratulate her, apparently some of our team families were quite worried that I was going to do a face plant. It's a pretty steep set of bleachers. I was pretty worried about that too! But I arrived at the bottom and gave her a great big smile for her accomplishment before she got out of the pool. I tried hard to hold back the tears but a few of them sneaked out.
Afterward, I got back to my seat and just sat and fanned myself with the program. Too much excitement.
A lot of the kids from CUDA got state cuts today, so we are looking forward to tomorrow and hoping that Lexy will get one more in the 50 Freestyle. Even if she doesn't, we are mighty proud.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Matin a la Piscine - BAYS Beat the Heat Sunday
Sunday dawned drier and chillier - to the tune of about 55 degrees. While it got up to about 65 or so in the sun by mid-morning, the kids were freezing in their wet suits in the shade.
Lexy had hopes of a better day on her mind, and she did manage to make good on her Sunday, with two personal bests. In the 50 Back she shaved off about half a second and won the heat, while in the 100 Free, with a little last minute coaching from Coach Boychuk, she dropped about two seconds and managed to win that heat as well.
Watch Lexy's Sunday events:
100 Breaststroke:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G80YUX_74k0 This one is crazy because they look so even at the beginning, and then the girl in lane three just turns on the afterburners.
50 Backstroke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYU8Oawg38Q Lexy has been trying to break that 50 second barrier for months now. She finally does it! 50 meters in 49.72. Not the easiest thing to do when you can't see where you're going and the sun is in your eyes.
100 Free:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-mHWUZo6k This video is awful. Just when I realize Lexy is pulling ahead and is about to win the heat, I practically drop the camera. My apologies.
100 Fly:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATDQ7lfQCgU
Lexy does great the first half of the first length, then it just falls apart.
Well, we have one week until our last official meet of the season, and then two more weeks of practice before states. Can't believe it's already the middle of July!!
Lexy had hopes of a better day on her mind, and she did manage to make good on her Sunday, with two personal bests. In the 50 Back she shaved off about half a second and won the heat, while in the 100 Free, with a little last minute coaching from Coach Boychuk, she dropped about two seconds and managed to win that heat as well.
Watch Lexy's Sunday events:
100 Breaststroke:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G80YUX_74k0 This one is crazy because they look so even at the beginning, and then the girl in lane three just turns on the afterburners.
50 Backstroke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYU8Oawg38Q Lexy has been trying to break that 50 second barrier for months now. She finally does it! 50 meters in 49.72. Not the easiest thing to do when you can't see where you're going and the sun is in your eyes.
100 Free:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-mHWUZo6k This video is awful. Just when I realize Lexy is pulling ahead and is about to win the heat, I practically drop the camera. My apologies.
100 Fly:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATDQ7lfQCgU
Lexy does great the first half of the first length, then it just falls apart.
Well, we have one week until our last official meet of the season, and then two more weeks of practice before states. Can't believe it's already the middle of July!!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
BAYS Beat the Heat, July 10-12, 2009
July is here, the sun is hot -- Lexy's swimming is not! Well, that's not entirely true (or fair), but she has been on fire the past couple of weeks -- this weekend seems to be the great leveler.
My suspicions about perhaps why she was really off this morning were confirmed. . .a delicate matter not to be discussed in a family-oriented blog. In short, a cuppa joe woulda fixed the issue.
Friday evening, Lexy was on deck to swim a 400 I.M. -- two 50M lengths of every stroke. A bit daunting for a kid who hasn't really made a habit of swimming IMs during the long course season! It was an honest mistake on my part -- I wrote down IM when I really meant freestyle. In the end, that's exactly what she swam -- the 400 free -- in a very respectable 6:31.49. The coaches were kind enough to help her find a spot in one of the 12&Under heats. That's an A time, by the way, just 11 seconds shy of the Q1. Really outstanding for her first try at this event! We all went out for sushi afterwards.
Saturday morning was a whole different story. We woke up to a thunderstorm, but it cleared up by the time we got to the pool. Once the sun came out, though, it heated right up and the humidity soared. I feel badly for the folks who have to sit out in the blazing sun this afternoon. The die hards will be using their umbrellas for relief from the sun, not the rain.
Lexy swam the 200 Free, the 100 Back, the 50 Free and the 50 Fly today. She had no personal bests, but you have days like that! Lots of her teammates had fast times and slow times, so I'm chalking it up to the changes that can happen during an outdoor meet -- too hot in the sun, too cold in the shade, etc.
On the video side, I'm not too excited about the quality today. To get the starts I had to shoot into the sun, and I could never tell exactly where I should be looking. So they were shaky at best. I'll spare you, and we'll leave videos until next weekend.
Tomorrow, Sunday, Lexy has four more events, so we'll be hoping for the best.
My suspicions about perhaps why she was really off this morning were confirmed. . .a delicate matter not to be discussed in a family-oriented blog. In short, a cuppa joe woulda fixed the issue.
Friday evening, Lexy was on deck to swim a 400 I.M. -- two 50M lengths of every stroke. A bit daunting for a kid who hasn't really made a habit of swimming IMs during the long course season! It was an honest mistake on my part -- I wrote down IM when I really meant freestyle. In the end, that's exactly what she swam -- the 400 free -- in a very respectable 6:31.49. The coaches were kind enough to help her find a spot in one of the 12&Under heats. That's an A time, by the way, just 11 seconds shy of the Q1. Really outstanding for her first try at this event! We all went out for sushi afterwards.
Saturday morning was a whole different story. We woke up to a thunderstorm, but it cleared up by the time we got to the pool. Once the sun came out, though, it heated right up and the humidity soared. I feel badly for the folks who have to sit out in the blazing sun this afternoon. The die hards will be using their umbrellas for relief from the sun, not the rain.
Lexy swam the 200 Free, the 100 Back, the 50 Free and the 50 Fly today. She had no personal bests, but you have days like that! Lots of her teammates had fast times and slow times, so I'm chalking it up to the changes that can happen during an outdoor meet -- too hot in the sun, too cold in the shade, etc.
On the video side, I'm not too excited about the quality today. To get the starts I had to shoot into the sun, and I could never tell exactly where I should be looking. So they were shaky at best. I'll spare you, and we'll leave videos until next weekend.
Tomorrow, Sunday, Lexy has four more events, so we'll be hoping for the best.
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