26 hours of swim

By Alan Tapley

Editor’s note:  Alan Tapley is the parent of two female swimmers, ages twelve and fourteen.  Over the past eight years he has been with them at hundreds of meets and practices.  He has had countless conversations with swimmers about what they would like the public to know about their pursuit of this grueling sport.

7:00p My daughter has returned from a day that included a high school swim practice in the morning, a long day of school, and an afternoon swim practice with her club team.  It’s cold and dark as the carpool drops her off at our door and she enters slowly, throws her wet swim bag by the closest, her school bag by the table, grabs a chocolate milk from the fridge in the garage, and asks what time dinner is ready.  I’m just thrilled that the car pool got her as everyone’s schedules are all over the place.

7:45p As our daughter goes upstairs to do homework and go to bed, my wife and I try to figure out who will take her to morning practice.  If it’s a high school practice it isn’t until 6:30a, but it’s a club practice, so it’s at 5:15a.  At least she has a ride to school from practice.

9:00p My wife said she’d drive in the morning, so I quickly make a lunch that can easily be grabbed and stuffed in a backpack at 4:55am.

4:30a The wife and daughter are up.  I assume the daughter has her lunch, her school bag, a swim bag with two suits and two towels in it, and maybe a cold muffin that I left on the table for her. 

4:55a I hear the coffee grinder go off, but minutes later I hear the garage door open and close.  The coffee maker beeps minutes later implying that the coffee is now ready.

6:30a I’ve had my coffee, but my wife is taking off again to get my daughter from practice to school with a stop at Starbucks on the way.  Carpool issues.

6:55a Change of plans.  They are coming home first before school, no Starbucks, and a request that I make breakfast for her.  Needs to be fast because they need to leave the house in 30 minutes. 

7:30a Wife drives daughter to school.  Fortunately, youngest daughter has a late start day and doesn’t need to leave until 9:00a.

3:30p Carpool picks up daughter from school and speeds to pool for 4p club practice.

4:00p Practice is difficult and lasts until 6p, is followed by half an hour of dryland.  To make things worse, most of the other swimmers got out early and skipped dryland due to their taper meet coming up.

6:00p After feeding youngest daughter some dinner, we load the car full of her swim gear and head to the pool for her practice.  She swims three days a week, same pool, different hours.

6:30p Dropped off one kid, picks up the other.  She’s tired and hungry, but there’s a spaghetti dinner that night for the team.  I ask where, and which team?

8:35p After returning to the spaghetti dinner and picking up one child, I return to the pool and pick up child number two. 

9:00p It’s dark and cold when we finally get home. Both daughters grab a chocolate milk, throw their swim bags near the closest, only one asks for more dinner, and my wife and I discuss who is driving to practice for tomorrow morning’s practice.  Tomorrow could be tough.  High School practice, class is over at 1:50p, physical therapy session at 3:00p, afternoon club practice at 4:00p, no, make that 5:00p.  Most of the team and our car pool is gone due to the travel meet, practice was changed.  Oh, and there’s a spaghetti dinner, high school this time if she’s going.  I quickly make a lunch that can be easily grabbed and stuffed in a backpack….