One Last Time...

On Saturday November 23rd my 2024 race season wrapped up (finally) as I swam at the 11th Annual (it was my 11th time swimming) Germantown Masters Solstice Meet at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center. I swam 2 individual events and on 2 relays. Here are the dedications for each event I swam that day. I've decided that I'm making this blog post a little on long side by doing the meet event dedication as well as the event recap. It's taken some thought to write but it's well worth it as I like finding the right words to express everything.

Event 3 - Mixed 200 Short Course Meter Butterfly

Race Dedication

My first event of the Solstice Meet is dedicated to the late and great Margot Pettijohn. Margot was a fellow Ancient Mariner who sadly died from her battle with lung cancer in December 2018. Margot and I swam the 200 Butterfly many times together; whether in the same heat and many times in the lane next to one another. I always admired Margot's love and dedication to swimming. Margot wasn't just a flyer with so much grace and power; she also swam the 100 Breaststroke and the 400 Individual Medley at swim meets. She was in her late 40s when she picked up masters swimming and swam into her early 70s. I thought how amazing it was that Margot swam the not so easy events. If Margot could swim those events at her age; so could anyone. If and when I get to that age and I'm still able and lucky enough to be swimming; I'd love to honor Margot by swimming all the events listed. There was more to Margot than just being an accomplished swimmer. She volunteered her time at a therapeutic horse farm called Great and Small in Boyds, MD. When I found out about this; I was in complete awe of what she did. It takes a special individual to work with those who have special needs and I can picture Margot being such a good fit for it.

Event Recap

I always wear an Ancient Mariners swim cap, goggles over the first cap, then another Ancient Mariners swim cap on top. I didn't have any baby powder in my swim bag so the ANCM cap on top wasn't in good shape. I tried getting that cap on over my goggles, but it broke instantly right as the whistle blew. As I carefully got up on the blocks, I was more concerned about my goggles coming off than I was about swimming 8 lengths of butterfly. I kept pressing my goggles into my face making sure to hear the suctioning sound every single time. As I heard the official say "Take Your Marks" I got myself in position for a clean start telling my goggles to behave. As I heard the beep; I dove off the block and made sure to hold a tight streamline under water while doing at least 3 dolphin kicks before coming up the surface to start the first 25. I reminded myself to go easy as there was so much more butterfly to swim. The second 25 felt good and powerful but I felt myself going too fast. Going into the third 25 I slowed it down because I was tired with a very long way to swim. I was happy charging the wall knowing I only had four more lengths left. I was physically and mentally exhausted which was something new, so I just had to keep going. The last four lengths or last four 25s (however it's easiest explained and understood) were the hardest. I knew I could finish the 200 Fly but this was only my first event of a long day at the pool. I just counted down the lengths. My mind kept saying "Stop", "Quit", and "Climb Out" but I wasn't going to. I thought about Margot and how she never gave up; so I didn't. I was relieved when I touched timing pad and was DONE. All in all; the last time I swam the 200 Fly in 2024 wasn't the fastest but I it got done. 

 

Event 14 - Mixed 200 Short Course Meter Free Relay and Event 18 - Women's 200 Short Course Meter Medley Relay

Race Dedication

These two relays which were almost back-to-back because relays go fast are dedicated to my master's swim team or as I call it the Swim Fam; the Montgomery Ancient Mariners. I don't know if I fit the team as it's been hard to find a good fit with any team of any sort in any sport I've done; but I mostly feel a sense of belonging and there are some awesome people that I get to spend time with mostly in the pool but also outside the pool. I also like that being a part of Montgomery Ancient Mariner allows me to swim relays as we have a good showing at local meets to put a few together. I also want to say that Montgomery Ancient Mariners has given me a chance to be more than just a swimmer; I've gotten to help out with various team things from volunteering at the teams' spring meet The Albatross Open to being part of the Board. It's been nice to feel welcome, to feel a sense of community, to have other interests outside of swimming in common with these swimmers, and to be able to get a chance to learn about my team-mates (and surprisingly finding something that helps me connect and click).

Event Recaps

Mixed 200 Free Relay

I was the third leg of this freestyle relay. My friend Deb led off the relay, then Neal swam second. As soon as Neal dove in I got up on the blocks pressing my goggles into my face; even though at that point I had obtained a second Ancient Mariners swim cap. I got ready to dive in as Neal charged the wall but waited for him to touch the timing pad as clean starts are essential; no one likes disqualifications for leaving the block early. For a 50 freestyle (2 lengths of the pool) my goals are to over kick (since I have a weak upper body), not breathe between the flags and the wall (especially before doing my flip turn), hold a tight streamline off the flip turn and wall with as many underwater kicks as possible before breaking the surface, and once I get to the flags I have to keep the same pace to the wall so Ken (who anchored the relay) could have a clean start. I was beat as I did push hard and hopped out of the pool to cheer Ken in along with Deb and Neal. Fist bumps and high fives were given as we swam a strong relay and cheered each other on the whole time.

Women's 200 Medley Relay

This last relay was a medley where Cathy (the team president) started off the relay swimming a 50 back. I'd never seen Cathy do a back stroke start but I can tell you it was good (and anything better than I could do). Her backstroke seemed nice and fluid. As she made the turn, Deb got on the block as she was up next swimming breaststroke. As soon as Deb dove in I got up onto the block; told Cathy her backstroke was good including her start and cheered Deb in. As Deb approached the flags I pressed my goggles into my eyes and as soon as she touched the pad I dove off the block. Tight streamline; 4 underwater dolphin kicks (as my goal is normally 3), broke the surface and remembered why I LOVE swimming Butterfly. I felt strong and powerful not caring that I took a breath after every stroke, two hand touch at the wall to head home. Bertha; who is a new swimmer to Ancient Mariners and to swim meets if I heard correctly was standing on the block. I told myself to keep an even pace from the flags to the wall so she could have a clean start. I touched the pad with two hands and immediately saw Bertha go over me which meant a clean start. I climbed out of the pool to help cheer her in. She touched the timing pad; as high fives, fist bumps and even hugs went around as we had a strong relay. I didn't have too much time until my final (thank goodness) event of the long day.

Event 20 - Mixed 200 Short Course Meter Individual Medley

Event Dedication

This event is a favorite event to swim when it's placed right. I decided to dedicate the 200 IM to the ULTIMATE swim mom; my late mother Dorothy Goldberg who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in April 2011. As Julie (my twin sister) and I were growing up and got our start in competitive swimming with MCSL at the Calverton Swim Club; Mom would always be  huge presence at the pool. She would time at Wednesday night B meets and would cheer loud and proud for every swimmer who came into the lane she timed. I think she enjoyed it though I never remember asking her about it. From Calverton MCSL meets, to year-round with City of Plano Swimmers in the Dallas Texas area, to summer swim team with the Plano YMCA, and even through high school swim team at Plano Senior High School; Mom showed up in full force to cheer Julie and I on and other teammates; regardless of sitting in the bleachers or timing. I could make this a long dedication because Mom was the head cheerleader; not just at swim meets but at triathlons and road races. I also wanted to dedicate this event to Mom because this is one event that Julie and I both like swimming at meets as we have such different taste in events and distances at this point in our long swimming careers. If Mom were still here today; I know she would still love watching Julie and I battle it out in the 200 IM.

Event Recap

Finally the FINAL event of my day had come; the 200 Individual Medley. 50 Fly 50 Back 50 Breast 50 Free; simple enough. I had one goal for the 200 IM; all out as I was tired and wasn't sure how fast I could go. I stepped up onto the block one final time for the 2024 masters meet season. I noticed that not many showed up for the event as only 3 of us were on the blocks. I squeezed my goggles into my eyes to make sure they sealed. By the time I heard the official say "Take Your Marks" I was in my track start position waiting to hear the beep to dive in. As soon as I heard the beep; I dove off the block one final time with a lot of power. Tight streamline, 3 fast dolphin kicks, broke the surface and GO. It was all out. I had already swam 250 meters of butterfly what's another 50 but this time ALL OUT? On the first 25 I breathed every other stroke until I approached the flags and until the wall for the two hand touch open turn; I breathed EVERY STROKE to make sure I saw the wall. The final 25 was a mix of HARD and ALL OUT mixed together. I swam fast into the wall. Two hand touch then onto my back. Bubbles out of my nose as I tried to do 3 dolphin kicks under water before breaking the surface. Backstroke; I can laugh at myself because my backstroke needs work (and it hasn't made the progress I've wanted to make in all the years I talk about it). Constant kicking, one arm then the next until I got to the flags. I knew I had to do 3 strokes and then turnover to be somewhat near the wall to do my flip turn to head back. After the flip turn I held a tight streamline, maybe 3 dolphin kicks (I wasn't keeping count) then broke the surface. Fast kicks one arm then the next. I was happy to see the flags at the timing pad end which meant my least favorite stroke was done-zo. Touched the wall, pushed off, strong steady breaststroke pullout under water, then it was GO GO GO for breaststroke. I usually hear the GO GO GO (it's a swimming thing) being shouted by teammates as my head pops out of the water each stroke but I wasn't sure if anyone was shouting it so I self-talked it in my head out loud. I loved this 50. I approached the first wall, two hand touch, turn and do it all over again until the timing pad side of the wall. Once I two hand touched the timing pad it was onto the final 50 of Free one last time. I wanted to be strong and powerful. Tight streamline, a few dolphin kicks then nonstop kicking, breathing to the left but occasionally the right. Fast and powerful flip turn on the other end, streamline off the wall with fast dolphin kicks and heading towards the finish. My breathing wasn't coordinated but I over kicked so I got to the wall quick. I touched the timing pad one last time and WOOHOO my 2024 season was complete.

Final Thoughts

That was FUN. Talk about a team togetherness sport; masters swimming is it. I LOVE going to meets to dive off the starting block and swim hard; but I also enjoy seeing all the swim people and being with my Swim Fam. I didn't train much for the meet as once again my training was consistently inconsistent, but I went out and swam my best with all my heart and desire as competitive swimming was just the start of a now long journey in other sports as well. I smiled all day long and by the time my events were over I was depleted of all energy I had when the meet started. I was hungry and wanted to sleep as being in chlorine world effects the brain in the weirdest of ways. I loved sporting the custom Montgomery Ancient Mariners temporary tattoos I got made by MyRaceTatts; and so did the rest of the swim fam. They brought us together and we had another way to show team spirit as we all swam that afternoon.