10-meter platform fun at Mona Plummer

There's a big swim meet at my pool this weekend, with many elite swimmers in attendance. Swimming World TV was on deck and captured a few of the SwimMAC guys who were having fun jumping off the 10-meter platform. My swim club does this occasionally, but, these guys are definitely braver than me, as I've only gotten up the nerve to jump off of the 5-meter platform.
http://tv.swimmingworldmagazine.com/events/2011-arizona-invitational/general/11189

I love my swim team!!!!

After our usual "Dirty Thursday" workout, our coach had us do some fun "Run & Dive" practice. The fun part was people would yell out an animal's name and you had to make its sound as you dove in. During one of my turns, someone yelled "Cow", which for some reason cracked me up and I ended up diving in on all fours! FUN!!!! Here's a video of the experience.

Sky and Clouds over the Canary Islands

Can you believe it! I'm not including a swimming-related post, cuz this is just too beautiful to not share!!!

El Cielo de Canarias / Canary sky - Tenerife from Daniel López on Vimeo.

Farewell, Coach Jen

One of my Masters coaches, Jen Beckberger is leaving soon to go back to Canada. Since joining Sun Devil Masters, she has definitely been one of my favorite coaches and I am going to miss her. Jen is a very talented swimmer, who besides swimming for ASU, made it onto the Canadian Olympic team for 2008. She is currently training for the 2012 Olympic trials, and I am sure she will have no trouble making the team.

During last night's practice, I overhead a really funny exchange between her and a guy in the lane next to me. We're swimming long course and he was toughing out the fast 50s when he exclaimed to her "Jen! 24 seconds for a 50 (that's meters, folks). Are you kidding me? 24 seconds?!", to which Jen replied (as she pointed to herself with both hands) "You're looking at 19 years of swimming! 'Nuff said, I thought to myself. She has a great way of putting things in perspective. Since I only have a handful of cumulative years of swimming, I felt so much better about what I have been able to accomplish in the past year and a half.

I'll say it again, I'm going to miss you Jen! Notice the devil's horns and tail on her swim towel. :)

Jen, surrounded by a few of her fellow Sun Devil Masters (l-to-r: Sugarfree, Jen, Me, Kate)

Post-Nationals -- What a great experience!!

I survived my first USMS Nationals meet!! This photo of me was taken just after I swam my last event of the meet, the 100 Free.

Since this was my first big meet, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but my expectations were exceeded in a good way. The meet was run so well and everything ran just like clockwork. Mesa Aquatics (i.e., MAC) did such an outstanding job.

I swam two personal bests (100 IM and 100 Free) and had such a good time. I met up with some people I've gotten to know through the USMS forums and met so many other great people over the 4-day event. I am so glad I did it and can't wait to do it again. Here are some photo highlights of the experience.

Here's a nice overhead shot looking towards the North. The Kino Aquatic Center served the meet very well.

This picture shows one of the two warm-up areas. I had heard horror stories regarding how difficult warming up could be at a Nationals event due to the sheer number of people, but frankly, I had no difficulty and everyone was very courteous.

This image shows the competition lanes. This part of the pool was broken up into two 9-lane competition sections, dubbed the "South" and "North" pools.