My Vida Loca

My goal for this week was to get caught up on a lot of things - laundry, cleaning, blogging, *sleep*, etc. . . however, things flew out of control when Madison swam *amazingly* last weekend at the Long Course State Championships, achieving some "Zone" times.Accepting 3rd place medal - 100 back

What are Zones? The country is divided into four zones for USA swimming purposes. We reside in the Central Zone. Only the top swimmers in each state are qualified to go, and it is up to the swimmer & family whether or not to take part. Madison found out about Zones last year when she kept hearing someone that she was swimming against celebrate after almost every event she swam that she got a 'zone cut'. Madison took it upon herself to figure out what that was. When she realized it's quite a bit faster than a State cut, she made her goal to get all state cuts this year, and try to get zone cuts next year.

She did get almost all of the Michigan State cuts this year, but had a hard Short Course State Championship Meet in March. She had been very, very sick the week before and it sapped all of her energy. She still swam wonderfully, but she didn't do as well as she had hoped, so she hit a bit of a low point, swimming wise. But, that turned around quickly when she went to a swim camp this summer with her 3 best swimming friends - they had an amazing time together, and Madison was rejuvenated and ready to reevaluate her goals. She wanted to go to zones THIS year. She knew she could do it. Madison is very goal oriented, and very competitive, so Milo and I tried to play down this desire that she had a bit, hoping that her heart didn't get broken. She was close to several of the cuts, but didn't have any and the zone meet was approaching.

Madison, Teagan, Mackenzie & Abbey

Throughout the Long Course season (May-July/Aug), she kept coming closer and closer to her goal. She worked hard, swimming for two different teams throughout this summer, her 'eyes on the prize' the whole time. Her parents, however, didn't remember who we were talking about, apparently, b/c we didn't make any of the preparations to go. So, skip forward to after this past weekend - the amazing swimming, the Zone sign up table. . . the excitement, the panic. . . After having conversations with my sisters, my parents, other swimming parents and a couple of trusted coaches, we finally made the decision on Monday night that Madison and I would be flying out tomorrow morning to Minneapolis, and driving the remaining 5 hours to GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA to participate in Madison's Ultimate Goal - the Central Zone Championship Meet. There are 86 swimmers representing Michigan, ages 9-17. There are 11 girls 10& under. We could not be more proud of Madison. She is focusing on the experience of this large-scale meet over placings, and as a result is not nervous at all, just bubbling with excitement. Thanks to family, friends and of course my amazing MILO for making this all fall into place. . .

I guess the catching up on the sleep, laundry, blogging, etc - will have to wait until next week!!