Well It's About Time

Mom just sent me an email to tell me that the 26 year old Cambridge High School boys 200 Medley Relay record was broken last weekend. So now my name is finally wiped off the record board. I don't know if any of the other guys who were on the relay with me still hold individual records, maybe Brad and Chris do. The new record was set at the Region meet while ours was set at State. We had the luxury of timing our taper for State since we competed in such a crappy Region. Hopefully this year's relay has saved a little bit for State and they'll break the 1:42.00 barrier. That would be smokin'.

I have to say that participating in the prelims at State in 1982 was probably the most fun I've had in an organized sport. We swam at old Cooke Hall on the U campus, and boy was that a wild pool to swim in. I think there was seating for about 1000 people and the footprint of the building was so small that the risers of the "bleachers" felt like they went straight up. Everything was so cramped everywhere, but in a real way I think it added to the tension and the excitement. Even though it was a crummy facility, it never seemed to hinder the swimmers from breaking records. I really believe the cramped, raucous atmosphere was probably good for a few 10ths of a second. I have such fond memories of that old dump, and I think going there year after year was part of the attraction of the U of M for me and the reason I eventually transferred there.

Remembering the State meet reminds me why I like spring so much. After spending the winter in the pool in 2-a-day practices, rarely seeing the sun, feeling your hair freeze when you went outside, it was absolutely the best feeling in the world to emerge from all the hard work and long hours into what felt like a new world. The State meet meant temperatures were warming up. It meant no longer having to get up early for morning practice. It meant being in the best shape of your life. It meant actually seeing the sun again. There was nothing quite like the end of a swim season, and I envy the kids who are finishing up the year right now.

It would be a lot of fun to get myself up to the U to catch the boys State Meet this year, but I don't know if scheduling will allow it. I'll be gone Friday down to Red Wing, and Saturday is karate day. Hopefully the relay will get past prelims into to finals. It must have been about 15 years ago that the U built a new swimming facility. This relay will have the privilege of swimming in one of the better swimming facilities in the country. I saw the NCAA championships there, and the Big 10 championships are held there quite often. I'm sure it will be terribly exciting, but it ain't no Cooke Hall.