Another year, another meet (and many more to come)

Well, it is another year. We were at another meet. And, we have many more on the horizon.

The day after Christmas Mark met with his coach. They discussed the next 18 months (these are an important 18 months in the lives of those working towards the opportunity to compete in the Olympic games). The two of them (Mark and his coach, Brett) then spent the next few weeks working on "the plan." The plan is complicated. It uses a ton of technical jargon, lots of color coded boxes, various phases, and multiple cycles. Mark is excited about it.

At the end of the day, however (without trying to sound too self-centered), all I really need to know is what does this mean for us... the Gangloff Family?

More meets.

More pool time.

More travel (as long as we don't break the bank).

Mark has always swum in meets, but "the plan" requires him to race more. Once a month or so. Feeling good, feeling bad, going hard, training a lot, tired, rested.... it doesn't matter. He's going to race... often.

Last weekend Mark's new race-a-lot plan started at the Ralph Crocker Invite at Auburn (we miss Ralph terribly and think of him often--he was a great coach and an even better man and will be a part of Auburn forever). Mark swam well (he thinks). When I asked, "How was that swim?" or "How was the meet?" He said that he didn't really know. He has never really trained and raced quite like he is now. Hmmmm.... as a nervous swim wife this is going to be a hard pill to swallow.

I'm not really trying to gush about Mark (really, I'm not), but isn't it impressive that he continues to change, try new things, and take risks?

So, as Mark enters uncharted waters (this is me trying to be clever), Annabelle and I will be there.