Five Things..

1.) On Wednesday LAC (the kids USA Swim team I coach) had our first ever TALENT SHOW! Don't get me wrong, but I doubted on whether it would be a flop. I was the opener to break the ice and get the ball rolling. I did a magic trick....that was awesome! :) But then every act after me topped my performance!! THESE KIDS ARE AWESOME! From a 8 yr old dressed in drag, to a sister combo (ages 4 and 6) singing WHILE jumping on a pogo stick and hula hooping, to the big girls (high schoolers) video and hip hop dance routine... It really was a fun afternoon! It was great to see the kids have the confidence to go in front of parents, coaches, and peers and show us their stuff. It was great to see what else these kids are good at, having perspective about sport and talents is necessary! I can't wait until next year! :)

2.) I got a new book recommended to me from my M.A. Sport Psych friend. I can't wait to read it, especially since she thought it was the best book shes read! Its called The Man Watching by: Tim Crothers, the UNC soccer coach who was voted Top 25 coaches in 25 years! I'll do a review after I read it.

3.) Taper taper taper. Pacific Short Course Masters Championships start TODAY! I'm only tapering my swimming, which basically means I'm on a recovery week from the other 2 sports as well. I have become anxious (more than once) this week about missing some bike and run workouts, but I have to keep telling myself IT IS OK. You ask why?! Why is it ok when your "A" race is an ironman and not a pool swim meet?? Well, call it rationalizing but I am a swimmer first and foremost. My team is co-hosting the meet, and I am on the board; which therefore obligates me to be involved. And then most significantly, this may be the fastest I swim for the rest of my life. Depressing? No, I'm ok with it. I will be my fastest not that I am super well trained right now (I am in descent "masters" shape) but because US Masters can still wear "cheater" suits until June 1. The suits that all the 2008 Olympians wore, that are now banned in USA/Olympic competition have taken awhile to be banned from US Masters. I am one a huge supporter of banning these suits, because they are ridiculously fast in and of themselves (like putting a motor on a bike). But I got a suit (actually 2) for FREE! And by gone if I'm going to wear this ridiculously fast suit and feel fast!

4.) My pool events for this weekend:
100, 500, 1000, 1650 freestyle
50, 200 butterfly
400 IM

5.) One more thought about this swim meet this weekend. I am on a masters team with my big brother and my mother. Well, not that my big bro isn't an awesome swimmer (b/c he is) but my MOM is going to set a TON of records this weekend. She is in the 55-59 age group, and like most other sports (running or tris if you're more familiar) once you get to a certain age the competition just dwindles down. So, my awesome mother is RACING this weekend and I guarantee you she will set a team record in EVERYTHING she swims. I'm so proud of her. I'll give you her race report (written by yours truly) after the meet too!