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| Siblings, Terri MacDougall, Johnny Hewerdine, Sheila Treleaven All will be competing in Masters World Swimming Championships Montreal, 2014 |
Well, here we go! Two weeks today our swimming convoy, of my sister Terri, her family, Johnny, me, and our Dad and Pat, pack up and drive to Montreal for the 15th FINA Masters World Championships.
Wow, hard to believe I just said that. Where did the time go? I actually feel like I've just started getting into a "training for swimming" groove, now that the kids are not in school and many of their activities have been put on hold for the summer. But, it's actually time to taper!!!! I guess with saying that I am as ready as I will be for this event and what happens, happens.
Yeah Right.
Some of you will already know this, as I posted them on my Facebook page, the Psych sheets are now available for World Championships. As I was scrolling through them, I nearly had an anxiety attack when I saw the rankings! I'm not kidding. I entered my times expecting to be Top 5-10 in the international pool of athletes. To my surprise, I'm ranked a little higher than my expectations. Immediatey, I panicked and began to add pressure on myself hoping that I could live up to the rankings in the program. Past memories of swimming, and the associated pressures, flooded my brain and I felt a little ill. Looking at the women surrounding me in my events, I was overwhelmed with their accomplishments. Erika Braun, went to US Olympic Trials in 2012, Claudia Poll won Gold in the 1996 Olympics and 2 Silvers in 2000, Lisa Blackburn has swum for both the Canadian and Bermuda National Team, and as recently as 2013 competed on the International Stage and not for Masters swimming. This is just the tip of the iceberg, the talent runs deep. My next thought was how can I possibly hold my position with this group in my races. I took 13 years off, I just started practicing on a regular basis after 2013 Ontario Provincials, and even that was only 3 -4 hours a week. See- Panic, anxiety, stress, the fun was disappearing.
It was so aptly pointed out to me, by a good friend, that my main objective is to have fun, not necessarily to win; although that would be an excellent perk. I was reminded that I have trained hard for the time I am able to commit, on top of a full time career, 3 active girls, a busy husband, helping to run a small real estate portfolio, and taking care of my own home and family. Regardless of where I place at these World Championships, I have already accomplished a lot, and have shown other people like me, and my kids, that it IS possible to pursue a goal and reach it no matter what age, background, and the current life challenges that are knocking at the door.
So, I am going to head off to Worlds to see many of my new, and old friends compete along side me. I am also going to ask for autographs and get pictures with the many Olympians that are swimming at the meet. This is going to be an amazing experience, and a fun family trip. I can't remember the last time I went on a family vacation with my brother, sister, and Dad.
I have posted my ranking for you to see why I felt a little panicked!
For all of you going to World Championships in 2 weeks, I wish you the best of luck. Go out, swim hard, and have fun! See you soon!
