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.jpg) Yes, Christmas came and went so quickly this year. All we have up
here in the Northwoods is snow, then ice, then more snow, then ice – you
get the picture. My cousins in Colorado cannot believe we have swimming
up here when this is hockey country. But swimming is really big here.
The Spring River Penguins are now becoming a feared swim club. People
from Woodbury, River Falls, and even Mankato don’t want to swim against
us, because going home is long and lonely if a little itsy bitsy town
beats you. We absolutely crushed Lacrosse; and Duluth should not have
even put on their suits. Yes, our town is about swimming, not hockey.
Coach says always be humble though – you’re only as good as your last
lap.
Homework is nothing short of a concentration camp. You name it we do
it; and then some more. Book reports, math/math/ and more math, English
literature, Spanish, computers, and I almost forgot we write three hour
reports for PE. Mom and Dad just flirted in that class, and now I have
to write long reports on stretching exercises and polo. It will never
end. I can’t wait until High School. Five hours of homework some nights!
I may not need High School. Our whole Penguin Team will just head to
college with Advanced Placements considering the amount of homework we
get dumped upon us. It is like our teachers see snow and feel we’ll be
locked inside and have nothing to do but homework. There is light at the
end of a long tunnel. Yes, more DJ dances, parties, and even bigger
swim meets are coming. I’m trying to get sleep as my slow but lovable
Dad says I need nine – yes nine hours every evening.
Swim
workouts have been impossible. Lunges around the pool for every 50 you
swim – who thought of this? Descending 100 yard dashes – like 30 of them
– until you drop! I’m building to a 400 IM and have done well in the
200 IM. Zones are coming to Kansas this year. Isn’t that near the
equator? They are about basketball in Kansas. But oh well, Mom says
she’ll take any place above zero degrees! Yes, my goal when I turn 15 is
58 seconds for the 100 IM. A big 24.98 in the 50 free has helped our
team to a third place finish in the Polar Bear Swim Meet at the
AcquaJets pool. Our little Spring River Swim Team after training so hard
got a third at the Polar Bear meet. I placed 7th in the 100 free with a
54.96 – my best. And I was right near the top with a 5.42.90 in the 400
IM. Upcoming is the FoxJet Winter Classic in Eden Prairie, Minnesota –
the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers pool. This is a big big deal
and a huge chance to put Spring River on the map for freezing cold swim
clubs. My cousins say we are dreaming and that it is the fish below
your ice auger that are doing the swimming. They don’t get it.
We had an ice skating party in our back yard as my Dad has constructed a
large rink with lights and music. All the neighbors skate over; and
some even volunteer to hose the rink at night. Is this rink ever smooth!
And with new Christmas ice skates I’m in heaven. My legs already hurt
so much – beyond Aleve! I might as well skate all night. Our whole team
came over and skated and what did we talk about? Only swim practice and
meets. Nothing else! The big deal was the 25 pushups after each 200 IM
during practice. Coach gave us a talk-to about steroids last week. Who
would actually do this to their body? I’d rather finish last than have
to deal with all these side effects. Can you believe the Eastern
Europeans and Russians athletes used to ingest gobs of these drugs – so
much so that voices changed, bodies turned into total muscle, and hair
grew everywhere. Many died or couldn’t have kids. Sad! Yet they never
have proved that these drugs even help with swim times! Our coach said
that was all part of the Cold War and everyone tried to beat each other
in everything – from swimming to ping pong. We indeed have a Cold War up
here with the Spring River Penguins brutally fighting it out amongst
the Northern freezing cold swim teams in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Off to
my nine hour dream in bed of winning the Olympics. Minus 45 degrees
wind chill tonight! Our pool will probably ice over! Go Packers!
Jenn Smithson – Captain Spring River Penguins
Written by Jenn Smithson
Monday, 31 January 2011 21:30
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