How hot can it be?

Shortly after 8 a.m. this morning the sun topped the trees and began to bake our group of swim team parents who had camped out poolside  to cheer for the Gators in the annual Divisionals swim meet.  We were competing in Division E this year, which was a stretch for our ladies and gentlemen.  But the team gave it their best and ended up 4th out of the six-team division.  We had some amazing efforts by our swimmers, including a new pool record set by one of Claire’s best friends in 15-18 girls breaststroke.  And they did it with temperatures nearing 100 and the heat index going to 105 degrees and higher.  How hot can it be?  It was brutal.

Andrew made divisionals this year in two races, the 15-18 boys 200 meter medley relay (swimming backstroke) and the 100 meter breaststroke.  The relay boys were up against some tough competition, but knocked time off their personal best.

But it was in the breaststroke where Andrew had his best race of the year.  Swimming in the first heat (meaning there are six boys with better times in the second heat), he started strong and made his final turn neck and neck with the swimmer in lane 4.  With a great finish, he took first in his heat and knocked about two-and-a-half seconds off his personal best.  Woo hoo!

On to the team banquet tomorrow evening, then we’ve finished summer swim team for another year.  It is a bittersweet feeling.  I’ll enjoy getting my Saturday mornings back (I’ve missed the gym and farmers’ market) but it also signals that summer’s a little more than half over.  And as Andrew and Claire push toward the end of high school, we only have one more of these special summers left.

Gretchen Rubin reminds us that days are long, but years are short.

How true, how true.

More to come…

DJB