Mielke Family Fun: July 6

Carolyn is happy to be swimming with the Peoria Piranha swim team again this summer. She's been really responsible about it - getting herself up and riding her bike just over a mile each way (through death defying traffic...uphill...in the heat...I exaggerate...except the traffic) when I was teaching summer school. She's had two or three meets and has done well - her times have improved from last year, so that is all we can expect.

Carolyn was excited about this week's meet - it was a 'long course' - meaning instead of swimming in a 25m pool, they got to swim in a 50m pool. So while they still usually swim a 50m race, this time they wouldn't have that 'breather' in the middle when they do a turn. She swam the 50m free, 50m back, and 100m free.

The weather in Arizona is always perfect as long as you're prepared. I wasn't prepared for Saturday's weather. Well, duh: it was HOT. We got to the meet at 7 a.m. and I sat. In the sun. On the metal bleachers. I don't know what I was thinking when I left the house....I didn't put on any sunscreen. I didn't bring a chair (so I could sit close to the pool) . I didn't bring snacks. I did remember water, so that was good. The meet began at 8 and I figured there was at least an hour between each of her races. She placed 4th in the 50m free and 3rd in the 50m back.

Carolyn's in the red suit - there on the right.

Carolyn was in Lane 5.

The last race was about to begin a little before 11 a.m. Carolyn came to say hi on her way to the blocks and said, "I'm a little nervous about swimming 100m." I said, "Well, if you don't want to do it, we could leave." She knew her coach would be disappointed if she didn't swim, so away she went. My my! what an exciting race. My now the crowd had thinned, so I had a good view of the pool and was able to take pictures on the iPad while she swam. I am not 'that parent' when my kids compete: I don't yell and scream (I mean really - they can't hear you under the water anyway!), but I was really cheering to myself in this race. It was close - and the other girl's (who was in lane 7) family was scooting along the pool always right in front of my picture - and it was exciting.