First Swim Meet

Yesterday was Collin's first swim meet.  It was also Daddy and my first swim meet.  Neither of us was on the swim team growing up nor had friends on the swim team so we did not know what to expect.  It was like camping but not spending the night. People were EVERYWHERE sitting in folding chairs or standing.  The kids were playing electronic games while waiting for their turn or "heat".  We were there from 5pm until 9pm.  Wow, not what we expected.  We will plan better for next time...especially bringing Mommy more food.  What was also interesting was how the kids were marked for the races.  They all had their names written on their backs.  Some groups even included on the kid's arms which heats and lanes they were in.  Even other groups included "Eat my bubbles" and other saying on their arms or backs.  Our "Cuda Keeper" was not as creative which was fine with me.  Someone was going to have to talk all of that marker/writing off later.

Collin's first heat for the Barracudas was a mixed relay with his age group.  His team included two 5 year olds so we were not too surprised when they finished last or 6th place.  He did NOT like that.  "I was last!" and then he went and cried a little on Daddy's chair after throwing his ribbon on the ground.  He got over it and started playing games with his friends again while waiting for the individual heats.  Daddy and I got in a lot of quality time too while waiting so it was really hard to complain about how much time we were spending there (other than Daddy needed to get back to work and to see Grandma H who was still in the hospital).

I did ask Collin about his first race and how he thought he did after he calmed down a little.  I could tell by what he talked about that he was really nervous because he did not know what to expect (that's just like I would have been). It did not help that one of the other swimmers had a false start so they all had to swim back to start over after they had already swam half the length of the pool.  Now he know what the yellow rope across the pool means. 

Collin playing games on my iPhone

Guess who this is

I love this picture of Daddy and Collin before his first race

The 6 and Under Boys

Collin is in Lane 2 (start from the left)

He is the swimmer with his arm in the air

After waiting for 45 minutes, Collin's next heat was freestyle.  He started in lane 2 again.  We found out that the kids swimming in lanes 3 and 4 are the fastest so Collin swimming in lane 2 meant that this was not his strongest.  His start could use some work because he jumped in instead of diving which put him back a little.  He came in 5th and was happy he was not in 6th.  Improvement already.  :)

Look at that smile!

For the last heat he was in, he swam Backstroke and was in the 4th lane.  That meant this was his strongest and the Coach thought he could win 1st place.  Collin had the best push off and was swimming strong.  He was 2nd until he kept on pushing hard.  It was close with the swimmer in Lane 3.  If Collin did not look over at the swimmer in Lane 3 he would have gotten 1st place.  He got 2nd place instead and was supper excited about that.  He did not know the color of the ribbons and asked, "What place is this?" when the Lane Keeper handed him a red ribbon.  Now, the 6th place ribbon was not bad and he loved holding all of them. 

Collin is in the 2nd lane from the bottom

Beckett, Brody, Collin, August, Ali, Conner and Davis

We had a great time.  Collin was hungry when we got home.  He would have eaten while at the Meet but he was too busy playing with friends.  At least we know what to expect for the next Meet this Thursday.