Polar Bear

This weekend was Gwen's first fall swimming meet - this time swimming for Orinda Aquatics rather than CCC.  In this league, there are no 6 & unders, so Gwen swam in 8 & U and 10& U events, including her first time swimming a 50 yard race.  I had noticed great improvement in Gwen's form and speed under the tutelage of Coach Mark (who Gwen says is too 'yelly') and she had the times to prove it.

In butterfly, she popped about 6 seconds to post at 34 second time.  Of course, it helps that she hasn't swam that stroke since time trials back in June.  Her time was official thanks to a very lenient stroke and turn judge.  She also popped her time in breaststroke, but was DQ'd.  The most impressive feats though were her free and back times.  In backstroke, which she consistently swam in the summer, she popped her time by a whopping 4 seconds to 30 seconds - her first Silver time!  I wish I had her swim the 25 free, but instead, I thought it might be neat to try a 50 free.  Gwen had never swam a 50 before, not even for practice, and she did great!  She finished in 56 seconds with a noticeably slower second lap and came out of the pool saying "That was tiring!".  Luckily, she won't need to do that again until she's 9.

Sporting a new shirt and sunglasses that we picked
up at the meet - were we at a meet or the mall?

Baby's first DQ in breaststroke for pulling her
arms too far back.