Summer storms

As I've mentioned before, I grew up swimming year-round. Summer meets were held outside and the weather always played a part in whether or not races went as scheduled.

To my parents' chagrin, I wasn't a happy swimmer beyond the age of about 14, but that didn't stop them from keeping me in the competitive swimming world. I prayed for thunderstorms ALWAYS - to keep me from having to practice, to keep me from having to swim another race, etc.

I particularly remember a meet in Raleigh, where I was scheduled to swim the 400 IM in the evening finals (something I severely dreaded), and the father of one of my friends was standing nearby. There was a storm approaching, so of course I was praying for it to arrive in time to prevent my race. Said father leaned over and told me, "I'm an avid golfer. I can tell when thunderstorms will hit. You will not have to swim that 400 IM tonight."

He was right and I was elated!

I'm sure it's sad to some that I have such a fond memory of that night, but in saying so I hope my parents would realize how unhappy I was in spending so much of my childhood in a swimming pool.

Don't get me wrong, my parents are amazing, wonderful people. They've given me my life, my education and happiness. However, even in my adulthood, I don't agree with their forcing me to swim when I felt I was done with the sport. Perhaps they thought I would agree with them by now. I don't.

All I really need to know I learned through swimming

...or by the obligation of going to practice.

Six days a week. 20+ hours a week back and forth in a pool. At least there was underwater music at UNC-Chapel Hill, but that perk didn't come until college.

I don't miss the misery of 6 am practices in an ice cold pool, 5:15 am practices in the weight room or endless weekends spent in the middle of nowhere at random meets in an effort to make qualifying times.

What I remember the most are my friends I made along the way - my closest friends to this day - friends I made before I was 10-years-old. Oddly enough (and of course not inclusive) these are largely my only friends with families intact (no divorce, etc). I have no ideas on any connection there - I've just always found that interesting - faithful friends, faithful parents. Who knows.

Anyway, I learned a great deal from practice, from Robbie (my coach), my parents, my friends and my teammates. No matter how much I may have cursed practice or any individual forcing such practice on me, I know I am a better person for having endured, participated, committed and dedicated myself to my sport.

1. Be prompt: Even if you're the last person to dive in the pool the coach will remember you were there on time.

2. Don't hit (or grab) people: If you find yourself behind someone slower than you, find a way to politely make your way in front of them. Groping their heels is really just not polite.

3. Support your friends: When you're at a big meet, encourage them and do your part to cheer them on.

4. Don't take things that aren't yours: PSYCH! If you are the underdog and you beat the top dog, Good on ya! Keep going even harder. But I must interject here that a girl from a rival high school stole my swim team jacket, tried to pick my embroidered name out of it and pass it off as hers. I still recall the whole situation as one of the most ridiculously pointless and vindictive dealings ever forced on me. Her parents made her call me to apologize, but I could hear her metaphorically spitting on me through the phone. I admit I wanted her to be caught, but I didn't want the jacket back. To want it would've given her the satisfaction of hurting me.

5. It's always nice to share: Goggles, caps, towels, back rubs, "strap massages." Share and share alike. I always admired the kids sitting back in the following heat who would offer up their goggles or what have you to the SOL swimmer racing before them. It happened more than you'd think.

6. Take a nap: Had I ever actually had time to do that during my swimming career I would've. It would've been glorious.

7. Shoot for the stars and believe in yourself: As my closest friends can quote me, When I was 12, I miraculously made my dreams come true. Against the odds and without my own coach's belief in me, I propelled myself in the ranks and achieved my goal to make the All-Star NC team. I placed in the top 4 in 6 races despite being seated no higher than 12th in any given race. I still remember my "goal meeting" with my age-group coach so clearly, weeks before the Junior Olympics, the way she looked at me like my dreams were completely unreachable. And I remember even more clearly the ecstatic cheering, jumping and wild victory-fist pumping of Robbie when I crushed my personal best times in each and every event. I truly wish I could've bottled that feeling. It was amazing.

8. Live a balanced life: Do the time, do the sets, finish practice. When you leave the pool, leave the pool. You might still smell like chlorine, but it's healthy to remove yourself from your sport on a regular basis.

9. Play fair: Don't pull on the lane ropes during backstroke sets or take a dive mid-lap and double-back unless you want to hurt yourself. Cutting a lap = cutting your training = cutting your ability.

10. There is no "I" in team: While swimming is a highly individualized sport, there are also relays, and more importantly the necessity of a support system. If you think about all of the athletes most likely to crack under pressure (ice skaters, gymnasts for example) this idea should be quite clear. Individualized focus is fine, but keeping things in perspective is even more important. I don't think I could've gotten through a single swim meet completely on my own. I know for certain I never could've gotten through a Robbie swim practice without my teammates - my friends.

So thanks Robbie, Robin, Dad and Mom; and of course Kerry, Mark, Susan, Anna, Amy, Elaine, Suzanne, Alex, Scottie and many, many more Wahoos. I admit that I was often a bitter teenager loathing my plight, but I know that I wouldn't be the same Tracey had I not been "Tracey the swimmer." I know I'm a better person for it.

Wahoo Reunion

Scotty D flew into town on Saturday for a layover, so Kerry and I made plans to meet up with him in downtown Raleigh for dinner. Neither of us had seen Scott in more than a decade, but WSY bonds are hard to break! I mean really, if you spent hours of almost every day of your childhood swimming back and forth, staring at a black lane line, how could you not forge friendships with the others trapped with you in misery? (Mark we missed you!)

My evening began with Sydney's bathtime, pictured below. She's still a little chub rock, but always damn cute.



The WSY trio enjoyed dinner at Irregardless Cafe (one of my favorites from my days as a Raleigh resident), and I'm pretty sure we closed the place down.

I had every intention of having our waiter take our photo, but a credit card snafu and a stealthy extra-drink-sneak by Scott derailed my carefully laid plans. Therefore, we have the self-portraits below, taken in the circle drive of the Sheraton.


I never would've posted the below photo (as I look surprised, crazy, or let's just say unattractive) but I thought it was a great photo of Scott and Kerry.



Kerry and I LOVED seeing Scott, and we're expecting another visit in LESS than 10 years! Scott: Happy wedding day to you and Jennifer! Have a fabulous honeymoon and be sure to tell her we can't wait to meet her!

Quote of the day, with a shout out to LAF

"As soon as the doctor said, 'You've got cancer,' I said, 'Hey wait a second, I've got trials.'"

-Eric Shanteau, 2008 Olympic swimmer, upon hearing that he has testicular cancer

But as we know, Eric did go to trials and he made the USA Olympic swim team. He didn't make the finals in his event, but his courage to race has given hope and inspiration to everyone touched by cancer. After some hard news this past year, I was also inspired by Eric to join the Lance Armstrong Foundation and I wear my LIVESTRONG wristband with pride.

LAF appealed to me because it is an organization that is not specific to one type of cancer. Yes, we all know Lance Armstrong conquered testicular cancer, but his organization fights for and supports anyone stricken by cancer of any kind, type or diagnosis. I encourage everyone to view the LAF manifesto video.

I should have some LIVESTRONG wristbands available soon, so if anyone is interested in one ($1 each) let me know. Here's to hoping Eric wows us all in 2012 in London, but most importantly that he wins his battle against cancer.

Farewell Water Cube

Just like the bloggers from the Baltimore Sun, I will dearly miss the Water Cube of the Beijing Olympic Games. I am a former swimmer who does not miss the training necessary to be wildly successful, but I cannot get enough of watching those whose talents fuel my nostalgia for the sweetest of victories.

There is no doubt that the likes of Natalie Coughlin and Katie Hoff tremendously dwarf all inklings of my athleticism, but the memories triggered by their successes make me feel like I could've won each and every gold medal.

Here's a shout out to Natalie for winning six medals - more than any female swimmer at a single Olympics ever. Completely overshadowed by Phelps' quest for glory, I hope all who realize her achievement will join me in congratulating her on being one of the greatest athletes of all time! (Not to mention that she is gorgeous).

The United States' Swim Team is truly faster and deeper than ever. The competition is becoming the tightest of any other sport in the world, and while those who place 4th and 5th at Olympic Trials might not agree, I think there is something to be said for being the 4th or 5th fastest swimmer in the U.S.

Until London 2012 - Go Team!

Extraordinarily talented athletes also possess extraordinarily large hearts

I am so impressed, touched and in awe of the camaraderie that is evident between many of the American athletes competing in Beijing. In particular the swimmers - their attitudes and phenomenal outpouring of team support have rendered me almost speechless. I guess because many of them do not train together or have a past team affiliation on which to build a particular bond, it is refreshing to see such a collection of talented people come together as a force to be reckoned with, especially when one teammate is courageous enough to divulge the details of a very personal battle with cancer. I am still bummed that Eric didn't final in the 200 breaststroke, but I congratulate him on a personal best time, and even more so because of the fact that his semi-final swim time would have placed him 7th in the final!

While on a much more amateur level, I suppose the Olympic team is a bit like the Zone teams I participated on in my teens. Similar to the Olympic trials, the Zone team members were selected based on athletes' performance at the state Junior Olympics. The top 5-7 performers were selected to participate on a team representing the state (for me, North Carolina).

In the case of Zone teams, most of us actually did know each other pretty well. While we certainly didn't all train together, we spent many weekends competing against each other across the country and formed friendships along the way. In fact, I'm fairly certain that I was far more acquainted with many of my swimming competitors than I was with most of my classmates.

I have recently reconnected with several of my former swimming peers. As stated in my previous blog post, I'm sure the ongoing Olympics is fueling my nostalgia, but I must admit that for the first time in a very long time, I'm finding myself missing the swimming pool. However, the key bit of info is that I don't miss training, but I'm only missing the connection I shared with some fabulously talented athletes - those who pushed me to try harder, picked me up when I failed, congratulated me when I succeeded and carried me through a 15-year underwater career.

I was never an Olympian, but I was a 2-time high school conference MVP, a state finalist in the 200 I.M. and 200 free and I qualified for Y Nationals in the 400 I.M., 200 I.M., 200 free and 100 free.

And to attest for the power of support, I must say that I felt most successful after swimming the 200 freestyle my senior year at high school states, with my dearest friend Kerry cheering me on. In and out of the pool, she has always inspired me to be a better person.

As for the Olympics, I will now focus my attention on the women's marathon, directing all of my good thoughts to Blake Russell, the sister of my friend Blair Phillips. Kick A$$ Blake! We are all behind you!

My life as a swimmer

As most of my dearest friends are aware, I spent a great deal of my childhood and early adolescence in a swimming pool. To be exact, I began my "serious" competitive swimming career at age nine and didn't come to a full stop until my junior year of college at age 21. (Of course the nostalgia is running rampant with the ongoing Olympics).

The early years were fun and full of fresh adventure, but soon after my fourteenth birthday the novelty was a distant memory and bitterness set in. I hated swimming. I hated that I had to go to practice every day while my peers led their carefree lives. I remember my coach giving us a speech, telling us that while we might think of our lives as boring and regimented, surely there were hundreds of kids who would have preferred to be in our shoes. I still beg to differ.

In spite of my misery and bratty disregard for the sacrifices my parents made to support me in my athletic endeavors, I was afforded reasonable success. Nevertheless, extenuating circumstances and life-challenges ensued, bringing my rise to stardom to a screeching halt. But to this day, my greatest friends are those I met while swimming. For them, all that was endured was more than worth it. Kerry, Mark, Susan, Caroline and Scott - you are my treasures, gifted to me perhaps for enduring the Bob practices we grew to hate. You are all forever close to my heart.

Blue Monday

Mondays in their entirety aren't always all bad - it's the Monday mornings that get me. Since the end of my days as a competitive swimmer, I've become increasingly less fond of hours prior to 9 a.m. You would be, too, if you were forced for most of your life to wake at the most indecent of hours, only to plunge into freezing cold water and push yourself to physical limits I couldn't begin to comprehend now. Honestly, I often think back to those days and wonder how I didn't go absolutely cuckoo spending so many hours staring at a stripe on the bottom of a swimming pool; back and forth, back and forth; my mind constantly counting down the laps until I could go home and eat and go to bed. I used to dream about my bed...

My current physical regimen is quite modest, but it does require that I rise before 7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - therefore I hate those days except for Friday, because well, it's Friday.  Next Monday will be day three of vacation at the beach, so I'm actually looking forward to next Monday, but for now I'll look forward to Tuesday. (I'm starting to feel oddly Seussish).

And I still dream about my bed... 

Quote of the day from the August 2008 issue of Real Simple Magazine:

"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far."

-Neil Simon