Look, Ma! I Won Something!

This morning was the 3rd open water swim in the Rogue series, and it was my best time yet for 1 mile, 32:48. Not only that, but because I completed the entire series, I was 3rd overall female. Woo-hoo! Now, I think there were only 4 women who completed the series, but I’m okay with that. This may be the only time I get an award this year. The award, by the way, was the same as that given to 1st place (see prize in photo - transition bag).

It’s not often that I get an award for any sort of physical activity or achievement. The last time was in high school, when I placed 5th in the solo dance competition at Nationals in Washington, DC. Got a big trophy, a medal, and my photo in the Austin American Statesman. That's me on the left (please don't laugh). This is not the photo that ended up in the paper, thank God. My mom made my costume, and I love it. It's still hanging in my closet, although now it would probably only fit over my forearm. I received two awards prior to that in 5th grade. I got 1st in the track meet for the 400m relay and I got a blue ribbon (still have it). But the big 5th grade award was when my teacher, Mr. Rudy Landeros, put our class through a semester-long “Astronaut Training Course” where in addition to academics (essay, class project & presentation) we had to do a physical fitness test. This included an obstacle course, bar hang, and 100m dash (Why a 100m dash and bar hang of all things? Not sure, but we were in 5th grade). Anyway, I placed 1st out of the entire class! That year in grade school was my most memorable, and Mr. Landeros is my all-time favorite teacher. The next year he quit teaching and entered the Police Academy, and he’s now the Asst. Chief for APD.
Anyway, I'm thankful for these four little awards. Let's hope my next one doesn't take another 20 years!