Important JP update!!!!

There has been a change in warm-up time for saturday and sunday. 12 & unders will now have warm-up at 10:30....So if everyone could be there at 10:15 life will be grand. Also important to note is I won't be there for warm-up tomorrow. I have a lab exam to ace, and after that I'll do my best to run to the pool from school without dislocating anything down the path. If I'm not there by 3:15 someone should send a search party.

On the Third Day of Christmas....

...my swim coach gave to me:

Three sprint 50's
Two 200 IM's
and One 400 Free.

The 12 days of Christmas....

...starts on saturday, November 24th. But what does that even mean?

This saturday....

...is the 5km pool championships. I can't wait to see everyone from Elite Development go through 200 laps like a hot knife through butter. This will be all the more impressive considering our practice is only an hour on saturdays. I'm not even sure I'll be able to sleep friday night in anticipation.

Poppy Invitational

To say I am pleased with how the poppy meet went would be an understatement. Everyone in every group had swims they can be extremely proud of. Elite Development had some major time drops very early in the season which should set up well for the JP Fiset and right into the new year. This meet had many first 200 IM and 400 freestyle's and it pleases me to see how well you responded when facing a difficult race.
A HUGE thank you goes out to all the parents and volunteers who allowed this meet to happen. It really makes my life easier when I can pawn your children off on another adult, and you were all very helpful. But seriously, this meet went very well with all the last mnute changes and I sincerely thank Joe and all who helped for running it so smoothly.
While there were too many highlights to count I will list just a few:

• Olivia "O-Town" Anderson hammering out her 400 free B time. Congratulations Olivia!
• Haley and Emma pushing through their first 400 free. It's a tough race but they did it....with only mild complaints. Actually Haley did awesome in her first 200 IM as well and had some terrific backstroke swims. Emma also had a major breakthrough by doing flipturns in all her freestyle events (including the 400!). That's a huge step Emma!
• The fighting Irish, Tim McGarvey rocking the house on his first 50 fly. He even figured he had enough time to stop with 15 meters to go just to check out what's going on around the pool
• Sarah Peddie manhandling her 200 free. I'm pretty sure Sarah just has one gear (even when talking), and that gear is top speed.
• While this next highlight has nothing to do with Elite Development, it is worth noting that Brendan Elford devastated Julie Therrien in the 100 fly. B doesn't let any 17 year old girls stand in his way.
• Keeping with the Elford's, Halle put in what I think is her best meet ever. Her 200 IM showed lots of guts, she even went out a best time in her butterfly by three seconds. Four more seconds to go until she wraps up her B time!!
• I had Harvey's for lunch today
• Langley showed everyone that the best type of training is the kind where you leave to Costa Rica, take two weeks off and then throw down best times. That's a program I'm willing to sign up for.
• Ally had a great saturday with my highlight being her BIG best time (dropping 5 seconds) in the 50 breaststroke. Her time of 55 seconds is one of the fastest in the whole group.
• Megan Wirachowsky, after just getting her arm cast off managed to not only go lots of best times, but she also managed to win the 25 backstroke. If we can keep her off the monkey bars this girl will be dangerous.
• Kathleen Doig, despite all her protests of "I can't do (*insert race here*)" really impressed me this weekend. Not only could she do 100 free, 100 back and 50 fly but she did so with improved streamlines and turns. Confidence Ms. Kathleen, all it takes is confidence.
• Brooklyn Janzen...where do we start. Great 400 free, great 50 fly, great 200 IM...within striking distance of her B times...but can somebody please glue her goggles and glasses to her face...Just kidding Brookie, you swam awesome and those B times will come no problem.
• Last but certainly not least, Rebecca Schamber. Taking the top points scoring in the eight & under girls category, Rebecca flexed her muscle at any 13 year old who dared to look in her direction...I wouldn't want to face her in a dark alley, and neither should you.

My fingers hurt, which means it's about time to wrap this up. Everyone did awesome....but seriously, what does a guy have to do to get a rice krispie square around here.