Tiffany's First Long Course Meet

Tiffany and I spent the weekend in Cedar city at the pool.  She had her first long-course meet.  I assumed that meant that the lengths of the pool were longer, which they are.  However, it also has the affect of slowing down the swimmers times, because there are fewer flip turns.  The Long Course Meet also it creates the opportunity to swim longer lengths.

Previous to this meet, the longest Tiffany had ever swam in an event was the 500 meter.  These events are dreaded among high school swimmers because they take a long time and a great deal of endurance.  Tiffany has swam that event a few times this year, but it was not her favorite event.

We saw the "heat sheet" for this weekend's meet and the 800 meter was listed among her events.  I casually said "No worries, you swim that far at least 4 times in practice every day, it shouldn't be any big deal.  Think of it as a practice set."  Then I saw the 1500 meter. You have got to be kidding.  Tif's first long course meet she is swimming 2- huge events!  Let alone the other 6 events she was in. Crap!  Is the new coach trying to discourage her?  Or break her in? I wondered.  When Tiffany commented that 1500 meters was a mile, I relaxed a little.  Tiffany and I ran a half-marathon 13 1/2 miles a couple years ago together, the word "mile" is not scary to me in the least.

The 1500 is such a long event that they do it as the last event on the last day.  They let all the volunteers who have been timing the meet go home.  Each swimmer must find a counter (they hold a lap count under the water on one end of the pool), and a timer to sit on the other and write down her split times, and make sure the time stops when she hits the pad at the end.

For some perspective to the non-swimmers, in a standard pool the 500 meter swim has 20 lengths (10 laps).  A length means going from one end to the other, a lap is going from one end to the other, flip turning and coming back.  The 800m--only swum in the long course--has 16 (8 laps), and the 1500 has 30 lengths (15laps).

Tiffany found a teammate to be her lap counter and I sat at the other end of the pool to record her time and splits.  Before she began we discussed her strategy.  "Coach says I should go out slow for the first 9 lengths, speed up when I see 9 to a good steady pace, when I see 19 speed up to a racing speed and when I see red (the red blocks signal the next length is finish) I will sprint.  I think I want to swim the first lap fast.  It will get me ahead of the others, and get rid of some nervous energy.  Then I will settle in for the swim."  I remarked "Sounds like a good strategy."

Right before she got on the block to start the event Tiffany said to me "Sometimes when I am swimming for a while I can't really tell how fast I am swimming.  Mom, if you can see that I am getting tired and I am starting to slow down, will you yell, encourage me and tell me to go faster?"  "Of course!"  I said.  "You know I love yelling at you!"  She smiled and got ready.

She dove into the water and began her race.  Her initial lap was strong and quick, then she settled into a steady pace.  Her counter on the other end about length 7 started yelling and wiggling the number in encouragement when she neared that end.  Her coach whistled a rhythm occasionally as she lapped, and when she reached my end I cheered, and yelled positive, "looking great", "great pace", "go Tiffany"

At length 10 I noticed that her time had increased, so I began cheering more loudly and encouraging longer as she approached.  At length 18 I could tell she was working harder to keep the same pace.  Her counter cheered, and wiggled her number more frantically.  Her coach who is usually pretty laid back about the swimmers, began whistling a quicker tempo, and Tiffany found somewhere in her the ability to speed up.

Break Down of her lap times were:
1:05
2:06
2:15
1:34
2:13
1:34
1:32
1:33
2:10
1:30
1:32
2:13
1:28
When she came in at a 22:59:22, her coach, who does not react to the swimmers, punched his fist above his head in a yes!  She was exhausted and red faced as we helped her out of the pool.  The assistant for DART came over and congratulated Tiffany for her first ever 1500 swim, and a couple of the parents told her good job.  We didn't realize until later that Tiffany had swam a near Junior Olympic time.  We were told that with altitude adjustment and an evening of the 4- 2:00 lap times, she could qualify.  When Tiffany checked in with the coach before leaving, he said "Well Tiffany.  Looks like we need to move you up to the Gold group and start pushing you harder."  Tiffany's smile was very broad when she turned to come towards me.

Because Tiffany's birthday is in 10 more days, she swam as the oldest in her age group.  A 17 year old on her team said "Enjoy your blue ribbons this meet, because next meet you'll be competing with 18 year old swimmers--just like me!"  It is true.  We are going to enjoy the first place, 2 second, and 3 third place medals from the weekend, as well as relish in the victory of completing her first ever mile swim.

While re-capping the meet on the way home Tiffany said "Most times I can't hear what you are saying when I am swimming, but I can see you there."  I thought of how this is often true out of the water too.  I hope  my kids know I love them, that I am cheering for them, and that I am here.