^{PLACE :} 

Troy and I get up bright and early, pack up the car, grab Anna and breakfast and head for Eagle Pool.  Lately we've been focused on our coming move to Auburn and departure from the wonderful Bay Area.  Also, I have been struggling with Patellar Femoral Syndrome (tracking issue with knee cap) for the last month.  I haven't been able to do much biking or running.  So a little swim competition between Troy and I (and TeamSoares and TeamJAS) will be a fun change of pace.  And every race is an opportunity to shine for Christ in attitude and effort. 

Troy and I are taking turns watching Anna on the deck.  I'm up first.  I jump in the water and do a few laps to warm up.  Team JaS (Jami and Sherwick) are competing against Team Soares. 

I say my last words for the next hour.  Dale Jackson starts us out...ready and go!  Jami and I are going head to head first.  Tana is swimming between us.  Also, Fast Carla from the 5 am workout is on my other side. It's fun swimming together(=  My goal is to get over 4000 yards (160 laps in a 25 yard pool).

I think for a moment that I can stay with Carla.  No way!  I'm counting by 500's to make it more interesting and hoping Carla doesn't pass me before the first 500.  There's lots of time to think!  I feel pretty strong.  My arms got worked last week at swim practice so I'm not so sure how they'll do.  I make it to the first 500 feeling good.  Troy dips a kick board to indicate the 500 yard mark.  He'll probably do that every 500...that will help me keep track. 

My strategy evolves over the next 500.  I'll focus on getting over 2000 yards at 30 minutes.  And at 3000 yards, I'll start kicking harder and see what happens.  My goal is to steadily breathe every 3rd stroke, alternating to the left and right.

At 1500 I'm in a good groove.  It feels like I'm pretty consistent in pace.  2000 comes along and I'm under a half hour!  Yes!  Thanks Lord!  I feel a little pumped to get to the 3000 mark.  2500 inches by!  I'm getting really bored now!  Come on 3000!  Carla passes me for the 5th time which gets me focused again.

At 3000 I finally shift it up a notch and start kicking harder.  Ok, almost there...wait a minute, 1000 more yards is a long way to go!  Argh!  Press on, press on... Good, here comes Carla again.  Okay, I'm focused again.  3500!  3800!  I start hearing Troy cheering.  4000!  I must still have a few more minutes.  Can I make it to 4100?  Now Troy's voice on the deck is louder.  Oh, gosh it's almost over!  Swim, girl, swim!  4050!  One more 50!  As I approach the 4100 mark I can see Troy and Dale waving on the deck for us to stop.  I was close(=  I'm just glad I made it over 4000!  Thanks God and thanks Troy for keeping track of me and Anna Rose.  She did great out there I hear...she's a great sport!

Watching Robin was inspiring, her turn-over was fast and she stayed strong all the way.  I'm motivated to try for a personal record.. 2.4 miles (4400 yds) the Ironman distance!  I set my timer to beep every 200yds to pace me to 4400yds.

Go!  Oh, I forgot to hit my watch.  I glide for a second and start it.  I'm swimming alongside Sherwick.  He's really fast but I'm still hopeful that today could be the day I finally keep up with him.  My strategy is to glide a long ways after each push off the wall.

I'm keeping on pace, even a little ahead.. but Sherwick is still pulling ahead.  Wow, he must be going for huge yardage!  After 1000 I'm on track but starting to feel tired in my arms.  I'm trying to stay relaxed so I don't burn out.  Sometimes I take a deep breath and close my eyes and try to pull nice smooth long strokes.

Sherwick is lapping me!  I try to stay with him... but after a 100 he's pulled far ahead again.  He really gets me on the wall push-offs.  Even with my extra effort gliding off the wall, he flips and darts away gaining immediate seconds on me.  I keep swimming hard.. you never know.. he may burn-out.

Shewick's lapping me again! And again!  And I'm falling off the pace.  I'm now 50yds behind pace but approaching 4000 yds.  Ok, I gotta push now and see how close to 4455 I can get.  But I check the clock on deck and discover there's only a few minutes left!  I realize I set my timer to the wrong pace of 4250 instead.  I spring the last 100 and end up with 4175.  Well, I was happy it was actually farther than previous years.  And only 300 behind Sherwick..  he really is fast!

An hour straight is a long time to swim.. but it's always a great feeling to push through something long and know you persevered to the end.  Whew!  Time for a nap.