Swim Meet Time

This past weekend, I spent hours in a natatorium. At least it was a really nice pool but it was 4-5 hours on Saturday and Sunday spent watching Peyton compete. It was the first time since COVID hit (and she started swimmingly competitively) that we were allowed to watch. 

I'm learning how to be a swim mom. It's definitely a change from being a soccer mom. You have to bring your chair (even though there are bleachers). Their goggles need some extra ties called bungees so they don't break. Their suits need to be tight so they don't create drag. Luckily, I have some friends who have been around it for a number of years to show me the ropes including how to track your kids' swimming events and times on an app.

Anyway, it's a whole new experience. So Saturday, Hailey and I were at the pool before 8am to watch Peyton compete. (Austen was competing in Indiana on Saturday for soccer so Tom took him and Hailey drew the mom straw.) Peyton had some solid performances shaving some milliseconds off of her times. Of course at her age she is still all about the place she comes in but I'm trying to encourage her to look at her times more since that's what really matters. Sunday, I went again solo to the meet so Tom could take Austen to drivers ed (and Hailey could get a break). Peyton did really well in 200 backstroke shaving a whole 10 seconds off her time. Kicking and counting the flags,  and working on those backstroke flip turns really make a huge difference. She ended up coming in 1st too in her heat and looked really strong. See video below. 

She petered out after that as she had been swimming some distances and only ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and no refueling snacks in between. She looked tired and spent so we need to get on the refueling kick. She doesn't like to eat in the morning or in between because she has some nerves but the reality is her body needs it so she has energy. Working on that in future meets for her. But overall she did great swimming in 8 events over the course of two days with most being 100s or more. It was fun to see her so confident and in her element. I'm so glad she loves to swim and found what makes her happy. 

200 Backstroke - Peyton in Lane 1 (closest to camera)

First Lane - Breast Stroke