Good-bye KMSC

Monday was a holiday here....a much needed three day weekend! A super busy weekend with puppet shows and concerts, good-bye dinners and lunches, and a trip to Kanazawa. And plus the excitement of a big earthquake only 200km away. The swim team usually practices Monday night but the pool was closed so I suggested to some of the ladies that we get together for some food and dinner! And of course it turned into much more. They picked up both San Tache and I 30 minutes earlier than expected and we went to Majorca, a Mediterranean restaurant in the next town over. It was super delicious--salads, pasta, paella, wine, dessert and coffee! Plus I got a few gifts--goggles, a cap, towel, and keyboard keychain! Super cute and useful!! The conversation was a bit forced at first but after the first bottle of wine everyone started having a good time. Unfortunately we drank two more and the next day I thought I was going to puke during my good-bye speech in front of 300 elementary school kids. But I made it through!! Here are some pics from the evening. They are a crazy group...I'll miss my Monday nights!!

KMSC 1700m

400s
200p
200k
100p
100k
100s
100k
8x50k
8xstarts

Total: ~1700 100min.

Today was it-last day! I brought Ferrero chocolates and left them on the sign-in desk with a little 'thank you' note for everyone. It was a pretty easy good-bye compared to others earlier in the day. I made plans with two of the women to go out drinking--finally!! There were a few requests for good-bye hugs and kisses by older men that I politely declined. The women commented on how thin I've become, not sure if they are making conversation or maybe the stress is starting to add up!

During the starts practice I finally got some help--they noticed my all time biggest problem. When I do a start I sit down, stand up and then jump. It's so slow and it's something I've always done. I just can't break the habit! But I think I figured it out. I am too flexible, so I don't start in a low enough seated position. I start with my legs too straight and not bent enough. I need to start with my knees more bent. And I don't look up, I just go. I have absolutely NO IDEA how I get from the block to the water. It's like a black out for that split second. I have no idea where my arms go or how my body enters the water. The masters swimmers say it looks 'beautiful' but I have no idea...I can't feel it!

Biking Around Town

Went for two short rides this weekend! Felt nice to get out and about...went down to the ocean one day and went to the river one day!

Total: 25-30km

KMSC 1950m

300s/200p/200k/300p/100s

11x50 pull/kick/combi/dash(x2)+ez(x3)

10x25 starts

50s

Total: 1950m 1hr. 30min.

No coach again today, but not many swimmers either. July is "start" practice, so I think attendance is down. Anyway, we had 15 minutes to swim after everyone finished their warm-up before we practiced our starts. So I suggested the 50s. I think everyone in the lane finished.

I hate practicing starts because I feel totally incompetent. I need to go to a week-long start clinic, a one-on-one start clinic with a really friendly and very patient coach. Today after I did about 6, I was given the whistle! Hurray! Wow...they trusted me with the whistle! A few people came up and had to correct my style...but I got it down by the end. A few others were given 'whistle' privileges and really screwed them up. We were almost peeing our suits on the deck! A few swimmers almost fell off the blocks in hysterics because the whistle call was so off!! After the official practice was over, I stayed and watched more people do their starts. It's really amazing how people have such different styles for the same basic function...jump off a block and dive into the water.

I think next week might be my last practice! Sad!