National Senior Games in Albuquerque, NM provided good competition and entertainment in an environment that was welcoming for athletes and spectators. I went to participate in swimming and triathlon, but also enjoyed watching athletes compete in a number of different sports. Additionally, my wife and I had a great time experiencing the culture and cuisine
Tag: Swimming
The Western Kentucky Green Gators do a great job of hosting the Barbara Stevens Memorial Swim Meet in Bowling Green each January. It’s not a particularly large meet, but it attracts quality swimmers from the local club and as well as athletes from Louisville, Lexington, and Nashville. The meet is well-run and moves at a
“We should do Chattanooga as a relay.” The statement sounded totally reasonable as the three of us discussed timing and logistics for the September Ironman race. Calendars were checked and within a couple weeks we were committed and signed up to participate. I had been swimming with Barb and Blake a couple days a week
2019 was my third Iron Abe Olympic Triathlon (now Abe’s Olympic Triathlon) in Springfield, IL. During the pre-race meeting, director Steve O’Connor described the course as undulating. He was talking specifically about the bike portion of the race. I knew from previous years there were rolling hills and gradual elevation changes, but nothing very steep
A recent visit to Vandalia, IL yielded a pleasant surprise. Shimoji Coffee opened at 7:00 AM on Sunday. The drive-through coffee shop was established in 2016 and works hard to assure a consistently pleasant customer experience. Shimoji roasts a rotating variety of beans for their shop and for consumers to enjoy at home. Hand-crafted syrups
I started competing in swim meets about five years ago and have learned a lot through the experience. I learned that forward motion after becoming set in the blocks can cause disqualification as a false start. I learned that flip turns are allowed in the backstroke portion of the Individual Medley except when switching to
What would draw a group of men to travel halfway across the United States to participate in roughly a half-hour of physical activity? Mike Freshley, Laurence Walker, Tony Ralphs and Peter Andersen have swum together in San Diego for several years and enjoy the competition of US Masters Swimming. A couple of the men recently
One nice thing about small swim meets is that they move along quickly. One bad thing about small swim meets is they move along quickly. I thought the time between my first two events was really short. That was before I saw my buddy Jon walk quickly from the finish of one race directly to
One of the pleasant surprises during a recent trip to Bowling Green, KY was a stop at Spencer’s Coffee. Knowing I would need some caffeine for the long ride home, I selected Spencer’s. The downtown location has an upscale, coffee-shop vibe. Well-appointed and spacious, the shop’s walls are tastefully filled with original artwork, including a
The Barbara Stevens Memorial Swim Meet in Bowling Green, KY was an excellent January event. The venue was not quite as nice as Western Kentucky University, where I first swam this meet. Bowling Green High School was hosting a volleyball tournament at the same time which made parking a small challenge. But once inside, the
