The Ultimate Penultimate

Ask any swimmer which is the most crucial leg of any race, and they'll tell you it's the second-to-last. The third 25 of a 100 is where you explode off the wall; the third 50 of a 200 is where your legs beat the water like a bully. Jenn is constantly talking up the importance of the penultimate to the team. (I have another theory that she just thinks 'penultimate' a cool word, but that's fodder for another time.) 

We live and train for the penultimate leg. Friday morning was our penultimate practice in California; fittingly, we rocked it with an intra-team time trial session. Each swimmer raced a 100 free, 100 stroke, 50 free and a 200. Though the air was chilly, the hot sun and exciting racing made for a fun morning of fast swimming.

Galen warms up before time trials.

Doing our daily pre-practice shoulder exercises. 

Rachael, gearing up her shoulders for another day at the pool.

View from the three-meter diving board.

Robby, cheesing between sprints.

Genay, Ellen and Tazi take off.

Sara cheers on the 100 backstrokers.

Jo dives into a final sprint.

We would also like to extend a huge thank-you the Banks family for another wonderful night in your home. The kumquats and delicious food were just the thing before our last day in the sun!

Cold in California? Hail no!

Yesterday morning the team tucked into a beast of a set that included periodically throwing on shoes and running around the track before jumping back in the pool for another round. As if to prove to us that southern California weather is not entirely predictable, dark clouds and intermittent sun gave way to rain, which turned into a short hailstorm. Needless to say, running through falling hail around a track in a wet swimsuit and running shoes was one of the more hardcore training trip moments in Whitman swimming history. The bizarre weather continued with more sun, rain, wind and heavy clouds, but everyone pushed through for a great 8,000-yard morning workout.

Tazi cruises around the track during one of the rare sunburst moments.

Claire and Kendra are all smiles during the run.

Gathering at the rain-protected shoe station.
 

Tazi gets ready for another run.

Katie and I huddle up against the cold. 

Claire going in for the win.

The distance crew dives into more IM work.

                                                  

Karl, always photo-worthy.

Paul in relaxation mode after the set.

Congratulations are in order upon a successful finish!

Beach Day in Balboa

It was our annual beach day today, which we spent bummin' around Balboa Island. Thank you Banks family for letting us, once again, use your house for the day! 

The whole group in Balboa.

Tazi, Claire, Kendra and Jo ditch their training suits for a morning at the beach.

Genay and I happily hit the sand.