Training camp

As everyone knows Zac was able to attend UT swim camp the week after his birthday and he LOVED it. He is full fledged nut about swimming and can't wait to go back. Due to his ability he was bumped up to the second to highest group the blue group. (they break the kids into 4 different groups orange, white, blue, and red)

At 1st he was happy until the the 1st practice, then it was over. The average age range in the blue group was 15 and my poor little guy was just 14 and small little guy. ( man kids now a days are huge!!) He was not use to swimming 3 times a day and then do the dry land exercises. His day was like this:

6:15 get up and run to the car ( I had to drive in which with traffic could be from 30 mins to 1 hour, not good planning on Mom part, sorry)

6:30-7:15 eat, get dressed and brush teeth in car (swimming is great way to burn thru food, all the kid did is eat and sleep)

7:20-9:00 walk 4 city blocks to pool (zac swears it was all up hill) for morning swim practice

9:00-10:00 watch videos on strokes (he said he fell asleep more then once during this)

10:00-11:00 Dry land train ( they did different things for this to include weights)

11:00-12:30 Lunch

12:30- 1:30 more stokes videos

1:30-2:30 walk back to the pool for afternoon swim practice (which was given by guest coach, usually someone who made it to the Olympic team to include his fave guy and we could watch that practice so guess where I was everyday fun fun, poor Dave and Ari, got alot of video though)

2:30-5:00 Social time ( better know as nap time)

5:00-6:00 Dinner

6:00-8:00 walk back to pool for evening swim practice

8:30 go home (eating in car for the long drive back and sleep)

Needless to say that after the 1st day the little man was wiped out and even muscle hurt. He and I discussed going down a level because he was so small and having a hard time. However after I informed him that we (Fix's and Askew's often lose but never quit) he bucked up and gave it his all.

On Thursday was he named swimmer of the day by the head coach for never giving up and working his butt off. (he didn't have much to begin with poor guy) I don't think I have ever seen him so proud. He said they were swimming the mile in morning practice ( which has always been hard for him, he a sprinter not distance guy) and one the last lap he was last like normal (he went from top dog at swim school to bottom of the barrel at camp) and the coach walk beside his lane and started to cheer him on, by the time he hit the end of the lane, the whole group was cheering him. When he hit the wall and was trying to catch his breath the coach decided that he should be swimmer of the day and the group agreed. I had quite the happy boy that evening.

He got to have an autograph session with the Olympians and was thrill to see his fave guy remember him from March. He was to tired to take any pics however.

He is already looking forward to next year. (same deal stand he has to pass all classes and no detention for the year) We are very proud of him! Now he just need to grow! (the coach's kept telling him that) Plus we have moved him to a different swim school that practices more and competes more often. He starts that in Sept. It was great and I will definitely be planning it better, less driving and staying in a hotel. Daddy will most likely miss this too because he has to go to ANOC sometime in May and won't be back in time. :(

^