[clear - refresh] ---THE ETCH-A-SKETCH BLOG--- [created by may]


13/06/2004
toa payoh pool saw nine people, 3 women and 6 men, who came, pitted themeselves and left, satisfied with the magnitude of their success and the amazing strength they had to pull off such a result at the end of the inter-constituency swimming competition.

we were one of the smallest teams around. just enuff to make a relay team for the guys, sadly none for the ladies. it was a waste, one of the swimmers ruled out at the last moment due to problems with the address on her ic. she was to be the fourth swimmer and to make up the girls' relay team. but well, what the heck, we still did it.

yee tee came in fourth overall. last year, with 10 people, we came in second.
this year, the 90 points we got was just one less from the 91 we had amassed last year. the competition has indeed grown stiffer.

i saw so many familiar faces and i truly enjoyed myself yesterday. it was swell. way cool. it was racing in a relaxed atmostphere, unlike the cutthroat kind i'll probably see during the schools nationals, where each school bays for each others' blood. *ugh*
ac swimmers here and there, old friends, and of course, the wonderful weather really helped to make everything just as wonderful.

i myself, i swam in 2 individual races and 2 relays. the 50m breastroke i swam was a poor time for me, i did a 36.04, hardly applaudable. i was looking to go below 35 for the first time, but i faltered. the moment i plunged into the water, i panicked and i hurried my strokes, and being such a short race, basically couldn't find the rhythm that is so impt. the butterfly lap was good. it's my first butterfly race ever, and i did a 34.75. i know my time can continue to go down, who knows i may be looking to a 32 in the future, how cool is that. from not being able to swim butterfly properly a month ago, i've managed to bring myself up to this level. for ur info, the winning time for the fly was sub 25, posted by another ac swimmer. i know i can certainly improve. my goggles spent the whole race residing on my nose, the race was perpetually a blur. i can correct my hand strokes, my hip movement is still amatuerish, there's more to work on. i found myself in 11th place for breastroke and 14th place for butterfly in the overall standings.

i was the only one in the team who didn't get any points. it was just pretty watching all those points pile up against the names of my teamates. i'm happy to share their joy.

the rigorous training i've put in over the past month has seen good results. namely, my fitness has been a telling factor. i was able to pull tru my relays quite well, and unlike last year, with which i draw a direct comparism, i was still standing and ready for more after each sprint. the medley and free relays were held almost immediately after one another, which gave us minimal time to rest. i found myself able to do a 35.95 for my breastroke, improving slightly , and a 29.42 for my free.. breaking the 30 second barrier after trying for almost three years already. it's worth it.

i have no prizes to show for, no medals, no cups, no trophies. but i have all the fun memories and the spirit of the relay team embedded in me. and the small family of the yee tee swim team has given me much to cherish, and that i 'll do so fervently.

it is a warmup for the nationals, back to more training.

wizzing away on 10:03 PM

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