Traffic Flow!

Last night the pool was again a popular place. While dunking in the hot tub after our swim, Chris said to me, "That's the way to do it. Lots of fifties." And he was right. I'll take the credit! Even moreso, the first 25 was where we focussed. Fly up, choice back. Cleverly randomly timed to take advantage of the moments where we wouldn't catch the swimmer in front.

Tonight after practice I'll have to pop into Plant and see the plans for ripping up the street replacing watermains on Preston this summer. Yup. It's going to be another long summer.

With respect to last night's meeting on the potential move of the Ottawa Parole Office, here's the newspaper's coverage.

And now, off to get my ears lowered!

Monday Miscellany ...

Yesterday I not only grocery shopped, immediately afterwards my pal and I ventured across the river (in the bucketing rain) and had brunch at the Casino. I confess, not only had I never been in the building before, they made no money from the brunch — Norris had a coupon so the meal was comped and we didn't gamble. In a sense, it was a bit of a working lunch as a mail drop on the 17th notified us that Corrections Canada is considering 1010 Somerset (almost adjacent to Plant, down the street from Devonshire Public School) as a new location for the Ottawa Parole Office. It was most helpful to borrow some of Norris' expertise. Yes, you probably intuitively know where I stand. But creating a coherent series of responses to the online form required extensive thought and some consultation. Neighbours have until April 1 to respond. Oh, and I swam, too.

Thus far today I have finished up the form responses, copied them to my MP, city councillor, and some neighbours, done laundry and subsequently spilled a whole cup of coffee on the carpet. Aaarrggghhhh!

But I also had a cheery email with this picture taken at Provincials attached. Technosport dressed in a tropical theme for the meet. Pictured are myself, Pat A, and Pat N with more teammates in the background; the photo was taken by Anne V. All of us were in Perth together last April.) Oh, and I signed my new passport. It was delivered this morning only two weeks from the day I dropped off my simplified passport renewal form and suitably horrible photos. You'll note there is no scan of those photos here for all to survey!

Still More Crocuses ...

Early morning swim camp, tea and biscuits in the afternoon with Esther & Mel, dinner with Linda at Stoneface Dollys — a fabulous spring day well spent! And the red slingbacks had their first outing! Unfortunately today Blogger is refusing to import this photo in its correct orientation, but you get the picture, right? On the up side, a click will get you really close! While the past few days have been shoe breaking in weather, there is rain in the forecast today, so boots will doubtless be the footwear of choice.

Effrontery!

The Boarder can see these from his post at the open front window! Earlier in the week he saw a %^&*( pigeon, walking in HIS garden. And pecking. Like it belonged there! It was a very good thing the window was closed at the time, or I think we could have enjoyed squab for dinner. At the very least that bird would have had the Fear of God put into it! Yesterday the first yellow crocuses opened, so perhaps I'll stalk them with the camera shortly.

As usual, a click will get you closer.

Just Bits ...

There was light practice attendance last night — it is definitely a post-Provincials recovery week! We have a mini-camp tomorrow morning, so I'll be on deck for that. I, like many others, have decided to give Quebec Provincials a miss. Some teammates will be heading to Montreal, but one month before Nationals, it seems counterproductive for me to head to a three day out of town meet. Especially when I find myself still regrouping from our own provincial championships.

On the weather front, we are to have a balmy 11°C today with bright sunshine this afternoon (once the fog & cloud cover burns off) and a near tropical 15°C tomorrow. Oh, spring feels good! The Boarder is poised to enjoy the sliding glass part of the new windows. I note that there are a number kitty nose prints on various pieces of glass. He came for a nice snuggle this morning before I got up. It must be said that a little time with an affectionate purring cat is a very nice way to start the day!

Thursday Tidbits ...

For those of you on the edge of your seats regarding the Provincials intraclub gender battle, here are the results! Many thanks to our teammate Steve C., who sorted up a storm!

Technosport total points: 11888.5
Ladies total points: 5560.0
Ladies individual points: 3876.0
Mens total points: 5420.5
Mens individual points: 3784.5
Mixed relay points: 908.0

In shopping news, apparently the Gap's spring sale starts today. Perhaps I'll make a trip downtown tomorrow ...

Crocuses!

Click for a closer view of yesterday afternoon out front!

Ruby Slippers!

Picture this shoe, but in a patent colour called red quasar!

Yet Another Swim Bit!

Hmmm. I knew I was really tired yesterday when I typed up my post. But when I reread it this afternoon I realized I may have been even more tired than I thought. That would be because I inadvertently wrote bronze when I should have written gold. D'oh!!! But it's fixed now. Well, at least there's an addendum.

Nepean put on an extremely well run meet, and that makes a long competition ever so much easier. It was tremendous that they had food (yogurt, oranges, bananas, hardboiled eggs) and water for the swimmers, and I hear that the food they offered the officials was wonderful, too! Here are samples of the very classy hardware that was awarded in individual events.



I think tonight there will be a nice pokey recovery swim, followed by a long dunk in the hot tub!

More Meet Bits ...

For me this morning was the 100 fly, immediately followed by the 4 x 100 free relay. The fly felt absolutely awful, but was 1:30.71. I'm not disappointed by it, because technically it is a GUBT, but I went 1:26.2 in the relay yesterday*, so it could have been better. And boy, the hundred free on the relay was not a lot of fun, but was 1:17.7, so not much slower than I swam it as an individual event yesterday when I was much fresher. And we went 13 seconds under the Ontario record. Oh, and speaking of relays, my 50 free split yesterday was :32.7 — which essentially redeemed my individual swim from Friday night.

Then first event this afternoon was the 100 breast, and I had absolutely no legs left after the morning's swims. So I was happy enough with the 1:35.07 I swam. Last event up was the 200 medley relay — the first time I'd swum a mixed relay this weekend. I managed a :36.7 fifty fly, so I'm pleased with that after a hard weekend of swimming. And of course, it tells me that my fly fitness over the short haul is great, and needs work in the hundred. My hardware and ribbon haul for the day was two red, one silver, one bronze. Ed: I must have been really tired when I wrote this ... because the last two words in that sentence should have been "one gold".

Many thanks to Vince and Fiona & Bruce for helping with transit issues. Their assistance is, as always, greatly appreciated! Of course, no meet report would be complete without granting the volunteers their due — there is no meet without volunteers, and they deserve great credit for what they do.

* Only the lead-off swimmer in a relay gets an official time.

Meet Bit (Continued) ...

So, what I thought was a somewhat lacklustre 50 free (:34.80) was still good enough for the bronze last night.

Our 4 x 200 free relay (women 200-239) picked up a red ribbon for the new national record of 10:52.95. Relays get ribbons, individual events medals 1-3 ribbons 4-8. Fiona and Marisha took it out fast, Margaret & I brought it home.

This morning I swam a 1:17.05 hundred free, good enough for fourth place. Fourth place ribbons are black! .4 seconds away from my best time, so it was a good way to start the day.

A GUBT of :42.83 in the 50 breast earned me a silver (the gold medalist was .05 faster).

Our womens 4 x 100 medley relay (age group 200-239, same gang as last night) swam 5:33.06 (I did the fly leg, and didn't DQ us!*) breaking the previous Ontario record of 5:52.84. And no, I have no idea what my split was, but I will say that I finished stronger than last month's race.

My :36.56 50 fly was a couple of tenths quicker than the last one I swam (although I may not have hit the pad hard enough as the manual timers had me at :36.15, and that's an awfully wide variance). So GUBT #2.

I hear our 4 x 50 free relay of Gen, Shirley, Margaret and myself also picked up a red ribbon, although I left before collecting it, so I can't give you an official time (I think it was somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2:20). Last night was a late night with the 1500 — it was after 11:00 when I got home, so I was really ready to exit the deck before the 400's had wrapped up this afternoon.

And ... thanks to Alex's brilliant swim last night (2:12.01) there was a good article in today's Citizen! Masters swimming makes the Saturday sports section!

* The relay was right after the 50 breast, so was the reason for my concern — I had a paranoid fear my arms might be moving underwater by that last 25!

Meet Bit!

Quick meet bit. I haven't found the posting of official times yet, but Alex went well under the WR last night. By seconds. My 50 free was a bit lacklustre, but our womens 200-239 4 x 200 free relay went almost a minute under the Canadian & Ontario records, with the final touch being 10:52 and change!

I'm still quite congested and my back is unhappy, so we'll see what's in store today. Gotta go pack my swim bag!

Spring is Sprung!!

Today we usher in spring, and kick off Provincials! Naturally, I awoke congested. This evening my 50 free will be a great warm-up for the 4 x 200 free relay. I have worked my way from terrified to excited about the idea of swimming anchor on this one — I will have the opportunity to look up at the clock and see a time quicker than 11:49.53. And the first event up is the 200 IM, so hopefully I will have a chance to watch the master in action in the other end of the pool.

Yesterday there was more progress out front — more shoots pushed further up, and some flower heads were visible! Maybe today a flower will appear ... wouldn't that augur well??

Shoot!

Well, more accurately shoots. I liked the luminosity of these crocus tips as the sun headed lower in the sky.



And these — like so many of us they're ready for spring to be underway!



As usual, clicking gets you a better view.

The Boys vs. The Girls ...

Yesterday Coach Duane sent us all an email. But first the backgrounder. Last year Technosport won nationals with 1979 points, 557 of which came from the women's side. The twofold challenge for Provincials: for the women to beat the men, and for total team points to exceed 1979! It's a fun aspect to what should be a great meet. But before we get too caught up in placings and point scoring, let's also remember that a big part of sport is challenging ourselves and seeing just what we're capable of.

On the swim front today, as it is March break, Miss Emma and I are going for a lane swim and having lunch with her mom and sister afterwards. A little water may fall from the sky, but it will be very balmy out, with a forecast high of 11 or 12°C (over 50°F). Perhaps we will see if The Boarder is interested in the window with the glass up ...

More Miscellany ...

We are to have a gloriously warm sunny day today — those celebrating St. Patrick's Day here won't have to shovel or get out the umbrellas. Personally, I'm going to celebrate by going to practice. In shoes. Wearing a green ring. For those gals who would like to carry their green rather than wear it, this Sissi Rossi bag would be a fun choice.

I have begun the annual spring tradition of tracking down a new pair of jeans. Who'd have thought a big issue for me this season would be pockets? Folks are slinging pockets lower on the butt this year, and my cheeks end before the pockets do. And in case you hadn't guessed, I won't be wearing a boyfriend jean! Or jacket for that matter. The best I've found so far is a dark wash style from Paige denim. They're certainly not inexpensive, but I've found my lifestyle right now doesn't demand much in the way of dressy clothing, so on a cost per wear basis the money is well spent. In the three seasons that are Not Summer, I pretty much live in jeans.

Emilie at Holts tells me that each size is individually fit and cut, so the pockets actually hit higher. It is not coincidental that Paige herself is a retired fit model. And I note that if you go online you can also find petite and maternity sizes. Current styles + my body means everything I have tried on anywhere needs to be altered to sort out the gapping issue. Because really, it is nice to have a pair of jeans you don't need to wear a belt or blousy top with! Emilie also tells me that these jeans give less over time than most. So that then led to a size crisis. The 29's fit like a glove off the rack, and felt like my most favorite pants already. This of course, is usually a very bad sign, because once washed and worn a few times most jeans are too big. The 28's are a little snug, but what if they don't give enough? Nothing is ever simple or easy!

Of course while searching for bottoms I found a gorgeous pair of candy apple red patent slingback pumps by Stuart Weitzman ...

More Link Love ...

Breaking news on the literary front: Ursula K. Le Guin will be featured May 2 at the Writers Festival here in town!

For Ceej, here's another way to use buttermilk. I add dates and sometimes nuts to this recipe — these muffins are very popular with friends!

Joel sent me a great handbag link yesterday — for those of you who can carry totes in your hand, this is truly adorable. For those, like myself, who can't, a delightful option would be this Bottega Veneta dream bag ... I am so smitten!



And finally, for a unique view of Fashion Week in Toronto, please check out Final Fashion!

Just A Little Linkage ...

At short course nationals last night, Annamay Pierse swam a blistering 2:17.50 200 breaststroke to break Leisel Jones' world record. And I watched it through the miracle of live streaming. Sometimes I heart teh interwebs. And there's even a small blurb about it on the CBC sports page. Sigh.

Over at Swimming for ME there's an informative post up about the effects of sports and activities on children.

Speaking of activities for children, there was much of it down the road yesterday in celebration of St. Patrick's Day — Kate and Georgia threw a wonderful party. With Guinness cake. I now also heart Guinness cake. Plus you have to do something with the leftover ingredients, right? Because Guinness doesn't come in one third or quarter cup measures ...

OCD (Among Other Things)

I confess. I have heat sheet OCD. Enough said. Really. Except that I'd really like those heat sheets to have been online, oh, say, yesterday!

One of my teammates mentioned this morning she had reached the phase of taper in which achiness spontaneously appears. Check.

My swim schedule will be slightly off next week as it is March break and afternoon lane swims revert to leisure swims. Note to self: Must swim earlier in the day Thursday or take it as rest day. Confusing.

Official results are up for last weekend's meet — 50 fly :36.84, 50 breast :43.11.

The Boarder is still a great big fan springing out of bed for morning practice. Although technically it wasn't a practice, as I was part of the mini-camp coaching team this morning. But as I was sitting waiting for Fiona to kindly come and scoop me up, his eyelids were getting heavy!



Ed: Heat sheets are now out. I can now change OCD focus ...

On Hats & Shoes ...

A young lady came into the locker room yesterday and caught my eye immediately. The first words out of my mouth were a greeting of sorts, I suppose. That would be if you count, "Oooh, are those Fluevogs??" as a greeting. Clearly she did, as she instantly identified me as a "shoe person", told me they were her birthday present, and let me have a good look at them.



By contrast, once in the water on a set break, one of the guards said, "You are a machine!". I guess at least I am a machine with fashion sense!

In another pool across the province, records continue to fall at short course nationals (full results are available here — go to Swimming Canada for livestreaming of finals at 17:45 EST.)

One week to Masters Provincials, and the excitement is building. Coach Duane & our teammate Vincent have cooked up a scheme so the swimmer coaches will be easily identifiable on deck. Naturally, you think to yourself, well, everyone on the club knows us, right? But there's method to this! Visors are being made up with the words Technosport Coach. So as not to interfere with our own race preparations, the team will know that when we're wearing our visors, we quite literally have our coaching hats on. But no visor = we are swimmers. When we are swimmers, it will be important to let us focus on our own races. When we are coaches, we'll help others focus on theirs!

P.S. Still no word from the adventurers near the bottom of the world. This internet black hole business has serious drawbacks!

Thursday Tidbits ...

I made minor discoveries in two separate outings yesterday:

♦ Apparently I was not part of the target audience for Slumdog Millionaire. While I found the first part of the movie gripping and visceral, I was not at all swept up in the game show and romance. I'd recommend it, but for me it was not all that and a bag of chips kiddie combo. I think I can safely say Lise agrees.

♦ I am, however, definitely part of the market segment Milagro Grill is after. I had a wonderful dinner with AD & M, good food and excellent company.

In swimming news:

♦ six Canadian records fell at short course nationals yesterday — Brent Hayden claimed half of them (200 free: 1:42.35, 50 free: 21.83, and as a member of the 4 x 50 free relay).

In weather:

♦ I find myself not such a big fan of La Nina this week. Ah well, spring's on its way. Right?

In humour:

♦ A LOLcat The Boarder would definitely approve of!


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Off Day ...

There was a nice clip on Canada AM this morning featuring Ryan Cochrane and Pierre Lafontaine at short course nationals. There's even a link to the Swimming Canada site on the Canada AM page (although "short course nationals" is not too descriptive for anyone who doesn't follow swimming). There will be webcasting of finals if you'd care to tune in.

On another one of those 24 hour periods where it is supposed to get mild, then the temperature drops like a stone to the bottom of the negative double digits, I find myself trying to scratch and claw my way through brain fog. And not wearing new shoes. Sigh. A little bit of congestion seems to go a very long way! It's my day off the pool though, so I'm going to make the most of it. Plans are most definitely afoot ...

Bobs & Bits

The Great Wall weather station reported 2°C and sunny 2 hours ago with a 20% chance of precipitation, so hopefully things are going well for the Antarctic adventurers! Go Jenny! Go Brent! And JK & T! Certainly there are lots of people wishing them well in their running today. Here, well, it is -4°C — and that hardly seems right, but there you have it! Unfortunately it will not be the kind of weather today in which you wear a new pair of shoes to practice ... and soon all shoe breaking in will be put on hold until after Provincials.

The Boarder reports we are not quite settled into DST. At all. It is confusing to know when treat time really is! He did however, test the new front window this weekend. When that glass slides up (smoothly and easily!) and the only thing between you and the external territory is screeen, it is wildly exciting!

In other news, the hot tub at the pool is hot, but not bubbly. So after last night's swim former guard Colin & I were in hot water. Chatting. But if you can position yourself smack dab in front of one of the recirculating jets ...

The Sky is Falling!!!

No, really, I'm SURE of it.

Okay, it may only be snowflakes right now, but when they're finished, I'm sure we'll find the sky is falling! Coach Duane sent out the relay rosters for Provincials last night. Rx: Repeat to self as needed "the coach knows what he's doing". I have checked several times, but the swim order doesn't seem to be changing.

Now, I pretty much knew I'd be swimming fly on medley relays. When Duane asked if I would swim the fly leg on the 4 x 100 medley relay, I told him if the person swimming freestyle knew to stand and stay put on the block until I touched, because those last few meters are (and I put this gently) problematic. But it never even occurred to me that I might be swimming the anchor leg on a freestyle relay — let alone all three of them! Note: I have competed in one 200 freestyle as an adult, and I paced it too slowly — let's hope the pendulum doesn't swing the other way on the 20th! I am now most fervently hoping that the other ladies will build me a nice big lead ...

If you are a bit out of sorts this morning, and can't blame the weather (or your relay assignments), you are welcome to blame springing forward!

Sunday Snippets ...

A LOLcat for a glorious Sunday morning in which we have sprung ahead and I feel completely off. But still, I am determined to wear shoes to the grocery store.

However yesterday was capped off by a very nice dinner & gift exchange with Ann (I know, it is just so wrong that we hadn't seen each other since before the Evil Bus Strike!) followed by a fluffy film.

And for your running related reading pleasure, here's today's Sutcliffe.

A Nice Little Meet Report ...

I signed up for the 50 fly & 50 breast this morning with the intent to time the second half of the meet, however, the entries were light (we used no more than 4 lanes per heat) so my skills (such as they are) with a watch weren't needed.

The 50 metre fly was a GUBT* of :36.7, a little over a second faster than I swam it as an individual event last year (I went :37.4 in a relay at Nationals). It was also well under the standard for USMS nationals (short course yards conversion to :33.low). Note to self: if swimming breaststroke after fly, be sure to stretch toes. Right off the start in the 50 breast I got toe cramps! Evenly split, though, one per foot. In my head I said a very bad word. LOUDLY. No matter, I went :43.1 so .7 quicker than last season. I'll take that, for sure.

Watching my teammates swim is always fun; today's highlight was watching Alex swim a 2:15.0 200 IM, under the current world masters record for his age group by .3 — his first race in 20 years — with his kids cheering him on! But it was by no means the only well swum race today, and I'm excited about the next meet on the agenda. Provincials! In two weeks ...

* Grown-Up Best Time

Friday Miscellany ...

The Boarder would like the idea of a cat flap, but this one might be just a bit over the top! Personally, I think I'd enjoy a bit of Alice in Wonderland on the back deck (but I don't think I'd enjoy overseas shipping charges!).

You know spring is approaching here in the nation's capital, because the fresh potholes can swallow whole vehicles. But the pilot patching program may come to the rescue! And when the summer months arrive, perhaps we can invest in yet another kind of tech suit — self-drying swim togs!

Here's a tidbit from Toronto — if you were twittering Monday you had a chance to hoist a pint with LeVar Burton. Really!

Finally fellow footwear afficianados, I ask you, when I head downtown to do mailing errands today, dare I go pick up the brown nubuck mary janes I left behind last month?

Thursday Tidbits ...

Warmer weather is on the horizon! It's -12°C now, but the forecast high tomorrow is +13°C — now that will certainly be a breath of fresh air! So the canal will close for the season tonight at 11:00. It's bright and sunny today — a gorgeous day for that final canal skate if you can squeeze it in!

News from afar: Jenny & Brent are on a city tour of Buenos Aires right now. Jenny still has a cold, so let's hope it improves quickly over the next few days!

Lacking anything else of substance this morning, I bring you a LOLcat. And a picture of my new charcoal (I repeat, charcoal, not black!) pumps. Yes, I know, the angle fails to show that they actually have heels! Maybe in the coming weeks there will be a photo of me wearing them, as proof. But first, a new tin of spray protection is in order.

Swim Bit!

Not long ago one of the best swimmers on our club posted a video on Facebook. Last night at practice I asked him if he would also post it to YouTube, because there were some folks I thought would benefit from seeing it. This morning when I checked my email, he had already done just that and sent it along. Do we have a wonderful team, or what? Encore une fois, merci monsieur!!

J-F is a strong and accomplished swimmer, but where he absolutely excels is off the starts and turns. His streamline and underwater dolphin kick is A Thing of Beauty — I just love watching him race! So take a peek at his 50 scm fly from Nationals last year in Quebec City (:27.34). Or take more than one. I certainly have. He's the fellow in the bright yellow cap.



Speaking of fly, Duane and I had a brief conversation about the 4 x 100 medley relay on the Saturday at Provincials. Logic dictates I'll swim the 100 fly (womens 200-239), and Fiona will have to stand on the block and wait till I touch. Those last few metres in particular aren't much fun for me, so we'll be better to have a slower exchange rather than a DQ! Saturday will be the busiest day for me: 100 free, 50 breast, 4 x 100 medley relay, 50 fly, and the 4 x 50 free relay.

In weather news, it's warmer again. Heading for a high of -3°C today! And instead of the ECT that had been forecast for the weekend, now they're calling for wading! I should get my puddle jumping boots out ...

Yesterday ...

I want to revisit yesterday's practice again today, mostly because I woke up this morning energized just thinking about it. A few weeks ago, Joel asked about emailing between coaches and swimmers. After I coach a practice I usually send our head coach a note about anything unusual that has gone on, or any circumstances he should be aware of. Most often it is laconic. Today it was not. Duane asked for permission to share it with the whole club, so I think it'll be fine to share with you.

Hi Duane,

I know you are well aware of what a great team we have, but I'd just like to say what a pleasure it was to be on the deck yesterday morning. ** (And I say this in spite of the fact that it was morning!) We had swimmers who have been with the club since its inception, a new swimmer out for her first practice, highly accomplished and emerging swimmers -- all in the pool at the same time -- and all striving to get the most they could out of the workout.

It is so encouraging to see people working hard and having fun at the same time. It's terrific to have swimmers ready and willing to start the next set -- not standing around and needing encouragement to get underway. It's exciting to think about how their hard work will pay off at Provincials and down the road! It's gratifying to have folks help pick up boards and pull buoys so we can leave the pool the way we found it. And it's so very nice to have swimmers say thank you for being there when they get out of the pool.

I can hardly wait to see this fine bunch of people racing and supporting each other at our upcoming meets!

Cheers!

Wendy

** But this doesn't mean you get to sleep in on Mondays from here on in!

Monday Miscellany ...

In the Olden Days (when I was in university) I used to coach Monday morning practice at Ottawa U. It started at 05:00. It is doubtless a sign of age and infirmity that I was up a full hour earlier today than I used to be then in order to stand on deck for a practice starting thirty minutes later! But there you have it. I was this morning's Practice Delivery System (thanks to Mike who scooped me up in the minus a billion degree weather*, and to Lynne who also offered to) — so all credit/blame for the substance of the workout goes to Duane. Also, it occurs to me that Days of Yore I could stay up late that same day (and the night before) — and let me assure you that is so not going to happen tonight! So other than to say that o'dark thirty comes very early, I can tell you it is nice to cross paths with folks who don't swim at night. Not so nice I'll be doing it on a regular basis, mind! I've now Officially Relived the Glory Days. And I'll see most of those folks again at Provincials!

The Boarder, for his part was absolutely delighted to see the lights go on! A little confused, but delighted. I will point out that he is a much better napper than I am! In fact the sunspot is currently the ideal napping location.

I would be remiss if I didn't wish Jenny and Brent safe travels beginning tomorrow — and the adventure of a lifetime on King George Island with JK & T and a host of others running the 10th Antarctic Marathon (or half-mary as the case may be). Buenos Aires and untold wonders await! And hopefully a fancy pastry or two. I can hardly wait to hear all about it!

* Alright, -21°C — but after Friday's +7°C, it felt much colder!

Sunday Snippets!

The vagaries of the winter season are still with us, but it didn't prevent Timothy Carter and I from venturing out to Starbucks/Chapters Rideau to meet in person. And enjoying a hot beverage and some conversation. Time positively flew! This picture proves it happened, but unlike my brother's nice new technology, was taken with an archaic (5 year old!) digital camera.



As far as training numbers this past month — February is in the books and the yardage was better than expected. 32,650 metres in a short month. I'm a few metres short of 190,000 since September began. Next Saturday morning we'll have our last tune-up meet before Provincials. I'm planning to swim a couple of fifties at the outset of the meet, and time for the rest of it. That means my first 100 breast of the year will be at Provincials, so I've actually been doing some (gasp!) little whip kick sets to build up for it. And I'm still walking, so that's a good thing! I'll continue to increase their intensity over the next two weeks, and before you know it we'll be having a little taper fun!

And for your reading pleasure this morning, I bring you this week's Sutcliffe.