#54-Feeling Olimpic (circa 1992).

The Piscines Bernat Picorell was a big pool to swim in as it was the competition pool for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Not often does one have the honor to check that box.  Although I have swum in two in the last 8 months (Los  Angeles).

The day started with a long (5 hour) bike tour of Barcelona with Jonathan, our American guide that has lived in Spain for over five years. It was on Sant Jordi day. He took us all over town from Born, Gothic areas to Barcelonetta and El Raval neighborhoods. The tiny winding alleyways were especially tight because of the holiday. After a lunch of fried sardines and sausage at a local tapas bar  followed by gelato it was time to check out a new part of town the-Olimpic Parc.

The Olimpic sporting venues took place on top of Montjuic overllooking Barcelona. What made pool #54 particularly fun was that it was a family affair (ex-Ryan). Walking onto the pool deck it was a big open feeling.

We were all suited up and ready to go until Shannon put her feet in the water and it was cold. Not refreshing cold but...cold!  I thought all three were going to walk away. With some encouragemt they all a finally got in first Shannon, then Sean and lastly Courtney.  They all swam 100 meters and the got out.

I must admit it took at least a 200m to begin to feel moderately warm.  I swam 1100m and then it was time to get out so as not to keep everyone waiting and it was...cold.

Yes-this was a big swim as it was in the Olimpic piscine but also it was Shannon's first 50m pool and her first outdoor pool. She did very well despite the cold water.

A refreshing and great way to end the day and to prepare for sangria time.

Who knows maybe my next challenge will be to swim in all the Olympic pools since I was born. I've already hit three!

#53 Real Canoe, Naticion Club, Madrid, Spain

Tapas muy bueno, sangria muy bueno y la natacion muy bueno but...not one after another!

Spain is the destination for spring break this year. It's a family of four for the first time as Ryan already had his break. Our itinerary has us in Madrid for a few days before we head to Barcelona.  

While we conquered the Plaza Mayor and a few sites yesterday today was the first full day. After a fairly leisurely morning we went for some culture at the modern art museum the Reina Sofia. There was some pretty funky art.  The piece below was in one of the last galleries we were in and I think apropos for this blog-Women in Swimming Costumes.

After the museum we went on a long walk through Parque Del Reitro, a large park in the middle of Madrid. It was a beautiful Saturday with a lot of people out and about. Below is a family pic in front of the Estanque where they use to hold mock naval battles. After our walk we went for tapas in the mid afternoon. Wow, they were good and different and they just kept coming and coming...

With weary legs and a very full stomach we came home for siesta. Not sure what got into me but I realized I had a couple of hours before we took off again so I set out for Real Canoe Natacion Club. My friend Maggie had her college winter training camp there so I thought I would give it a try. It's a health club with a focus on swimming . There are three pools at the club, two indoor 25m pools and a 50m outdoor pool.  The 50m pool was closed for the afternoon so I swam in the newer and brighter of the two indoor pools. With the late lunch I had I was thankful there was no pace clock on deck because I was feeling sluggish in the water after a big lunch and a lot of walking.

Nice clean pool and complex but a tad expensive €22 ($30) for 2200m or as I like to think about it 34 cents a lap!

Glad I sucked it up and did it...mañana I will siesta for sure!!!

Looking forward to Barcelona.

 The pic below is just for fun from the Palza Mayor

#52 North Shore Aquatic Complex, St. Petersburg, FL

Wow-what a great pool and setting and way to start the day!

It's been a while since I have been to a new pool and have blogged. This was certainly worth the wait. After a long flight delayed trip to St. Petersburg , FL I checked into my hotel at 11:00pm and slept so so until my 5;00am wake up for St. Pete Masters from 5:30am-7:00am. I did not want to get up.  Eventually I walked slowly, the short distance from the Vinoy Renaissance in the dark to the North Shore Aquatic Complex.  When I walked into front gate this is what I was treated too (actually this pic was post practice). 

There we're probably 35+ master swimmers in the water. I swam in the Shark group of about 15 people and clearly I was a bit over my head.  We (they) were doing 50's on the 33. I swam with a young fast guy that probably humored me.  I got in a bit late and did 4100 yards of the 5100 yard workout.  The coach of the masters workout was a friend of J. Dwyers from high school. 

After the workout I walked across the parking lot and was rewarded with the following view.  I can't wait to explore new outdoor pools.

What an awesome way to start the morning!!!! Wish I could do this everyday.

Red Tide State Title #22

It's been awhile since I blogged. I guess if I am going to break the dry spell it should be for something good and this is good. Yesterday the Weston Red Tide, won the MIAA Division 2 Boys State Swim Championships at MIT. 

After graduating 90% of 2013's state points with the likes of Ryan, Tommy and Jack it looked like the Tide was going to have rebuilding year. Throughout the season the boys got stronger, faster and depth of the team really began to become fully realized. In the regular season, they won all but two dual meets. The divers, Sean and Garrett got better each passing week and became strong regular point contributors.

As the championship season approached and as the head coaches looked at the psyche sheets there was a possibility that perhaps the Tide could win states. And that they did...

It was an unbelievable meet from start to finish with awesome relays and some spectacular swims by the seniors. Sean had a great meet with some beautiful dives that were critical to the teams success in providing some point important cushion before the 400 free relay. 

This was the third straight title and the 22nd in the Tides illustrious history. The best part about this victory was nobody saw it coming at the beginning of the season. 

Sean had a great season for both swimming and diving. His goal was to qualify for states in both diving and the 50 free-and he did!!! His dives improved meet after meet and he made states at the Newton South meet. Along the way Sean, became one of the fastest sprinters on the team much to everyone's and perhaps his surprise.  In the championship Sectional meet he did something that has rarely been done in Tide history and he swam in the 200 medley relay and then ran to the diving well to compete in his 11 dive program-and did very well. In the State meet it was important for Sean to focus on his diving program. He did great placing 8th above his seated position. I loved watching him diving from the diving well and cheering for the swim team.

We are very proud of him setting a goal,his hardwork and how he balanced diving/swimming and skiing to a successful season for him and the team. It's now time to ski!

Go Sean & Go Tide!!!

#51 The Tide in Maine to Ring Out 2013

I did say the blog would live on and this was a memorable swim event for the journey to continue.

The Tide had their annual trip to Maine and I was asked to help chaperone.  The destination was Bowdoin College for a dual meet against Greeley High School and a Pentathlon meet the second day. We traveled by motor coach with 46 high school kids and the silliness inherent with that. Most notable was solo rendition of White Christmas by one of the boys. The a Bowdoin pool and field house are nice and as expected the Tide won the meet handily.

The Pentathlon meet was a new format for myself and the team. In the pentathlon you do a 100 of each stroke and finish with a 200IM and those with the lowest cumulative time wins. The meet was for high school kids, USA Swimming kids and masters. I told Coach Valz what the heck enter me. As it turned out there were only two masters-yours truly and a wicked fast 26 year old also a Weston coach. The heats are by seed time and mixed with boys and girls of all ages. As you can imagine I looked quite funny up there amongst the kids. It was the first time in many many years I had actually raced in these events.

So here are my results:

100fly 1:08.12

100back 1:11.81

100breast 1:13.31

100 free 58.33

200IM 2:35.01 (I thought it was 2:34.84)

A couple of interesting tidbits 

-100 free: I was in the same heat as Sean (15) who is basically a freestyle skier but a diver and an occasional swimmer for the team. He is actually a good swimmer but doesn't like it and doesn't train that much. He is darn good for about a 50. Well,the announcer says over the PA it's a race between father and son "let's see who wins". Not ideal, Sean and I had enough back and forth already and I didn't need the extra pressure. He swam a 57.95 and I was a 58.33. He beat me but age adjusted I think I won. Apparently, the announcer commentated the whole race.

-200 IM: I miseeded myself with a 3:00! My high school kids very nicely pointed out that the average age of the heat was 11 years old-and with me in the heat the average age was 15!!! The kid next to me came only up to my waist-seriously. I won by at least 30 seconds-very embarrassing.

-Sean won 3 of 5 events vs me. I crushed him in the 100 br, and we were a few seconds off in the other events. It was very, very close with respect to the lowest cumulative time but I eked it out the win 706.58 versus 706.65. Very lucky.

We had a fun time going back and forth with it. Very fun to compete with each other. Sean is a tough competitor.

After the meet we went to Sugarloaf, ME for a few days of skiing. I was so bushed the first night I sent the family out to dinner and I went to bed. We had a good time despite the cold and Sean's and my bi-annual visit with the ski patrol (nothing serious).

2013 was an awesome year! Looking forward to all that 2014 has to offer!!! 

I am blessed by family, friends and opportunity!

100x100's with the Tide during Christmas Break.

It's the journey...not the destination.

We've all heard the above truism in the past reminding us to enjoy the moment as we strive for a goal and that sometimes what we learn on the journey could be more valuable than the goal itself.

This certainly holds true in my journey to swim in 50 different pools in one year. It sounded like a fun birthday project to celebrate turning 50 but it was so much more...

Here are the numbers; I swam in 50 different pools, in 4 different countries, in 16 states and swam nearly 110,000 yards in 353 days!!! 

But it was more than just the numbers...

I went to foreign countries (Morrocco, Canada, Turkey) and experienced new and different cultures. I planned and researched travel to find new and unique pools. Who would have ever thought there would be a beautiful 50 meter pool on a small island in the Sea of Marmara or one in the middle of the Bosphorus Strait. I had to beg and plead to get into some pools notably in Turkey and Santa Barbara. I was even given my first senior discount along the way (ugh).

Most importantly, was that family and friends were involved and supported me along the way. I had an awesome trip to Turkey with my nephew Spencer, Dad and Bill joined me for the grand finale, Shannon swam with me (yes, you read that correctly) the kids encouraged and indulged me and my wonderful friends encouraged me, got me into pools and provided new ideas and suggestions. 

And yes, I enjoyed detailing my adventure on my pool spreadsheet and this silly little blog read by small number of family and friends that are bored or are insomniacs.

Since I have had so much fun this last 353 days I see no reason to stop chronicling new pools and swimming adventures both near and far so...the blog will live on!

Yes-it is all about the journey and I am looking forward to where it will take me next!!!

Pool #1

Pool #50

#49 & #50 The Finale...Santa Barbara Bound!

A good friend told me I shouldn't end this 50th Birthday Celebration project with a run of the mill YMCA or community indoor swimming pool but to go out-BIG!

I took his advice and decided to cap this adventure off in Santa Barbara at two of my most favorite pools. To make it extra special Dad and Bill made the journey from Portland and Denver to be part of this journey. We did it right by staying at the Four Seasons Biltmore making it a combination "boys trip" and Christmas party. 

The first pool (#49) to tackle was a community pool, Los Banos Del Mar located by the Santa Barbara Harbor. It's a great outdoor long course pool built 50 years ago (kinda ironic) where you can see the sunrise over the mountains and boat basin. I have swam at this pool a few times in the past and was able to swim yet again with the Santa Barbara Masters morning crowd. It was a good workout and I recognized a handful of guys from past visits. Such a great feeling to swim outdoors!

After breakfast at the Cajun Kitchen it was time for a little culture at the Santa Barbara Mission. We took a self guided and learned of the important role the Franciscan friars had in the early history of California. We then knocked around State Street checking out old haunts. Late afternoon found us enjoying the luxury and holiday atmosphere of the Four Seasons in Montecito. To fuel up for the final pool the next morning we went to Los Arroyos for Mexican food and margaritas. 

The grand finale and 50th pool was the historic private Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club that sits on Butterfly Beach in Montectio. While I've had the opportunity to swim here in the past, every time I go I am blown away by this awesome outdoor 50 meter pool that's literally steps from the Pacific. Bill joined me for this swim and dad was there as the photographer and videographer to memorialize the occasion. 

We capped our easy going workout off with a 50 fly (37 sec) followed by a jacuzzi overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Always thinking and one step ahead of the game, Bill thought the event wouldn't be complete without a dip in the chilly ocean. Speedo-clad we jumped in the ocean with the hoots and hollering of a bunch of surfer girls (in wetsuits) paddling past us out to the break. 

Two awesome outdoor pools in beautiful Santa Barbara in two days with Dad and Bill I can't think of any better way to put a bow on this 50th Birthday project!

Looking forward to the next trip and many more swims in Santa Barbara!

Mission accomplished and ONWARD!