So Far So Good in Magical Realism

We rang in 2016 at the top of the new One World Trade Center Observatory with amazing views, fireworks, and champagne. You know you’re up high when fireworks look low/small. It was nicer to take the elevator 102 flights up instead of running up the staircase.

I left for China less than a week later. A was supposed to come with me for the whole trip but some work stuff came up so he didn’t join until a week later. I met my swim friends in Beijing, we headed up to Xining up in the Tibetan region. (Culturally this area is Tibetan but techically China right now.)

We did the test swim for the Yellow River Extreme Crossing which was a bit technical due to a very strong current. I nailed it on the test swim but then got my safety buoy tangled with two of the Russian girls and was a bit too conservative with my line during the actual swim. Met a tribe of international triathletes living in China who are sponsored by the government to compete in events there. Tempting. I would live in Hong Kong for sure, Shanghai maybe.

Won money but overall disappointed by my performance. Went to beautiful temples with my friends and spent a snowy evening in natural hot springs in the Tibetan mountains. The women were in one side of the springs and the men on the other, and they sang songs back and forth in the dark. Magical.

Headed back to Beijing and met up with the larger group. Did the tourist stuff, walked the Great Wall instead of running a marathon on it, and finally toured the Forbidden City. Foot massages at Silk Road Mall. A got in that night and it was great to see him.

The next day we took the bullet train to Jinan. Test swim in the Jinan Lake. M pushed A in the lake - I think he was jealous. The next day was the real swim. Again I performed dismally - got a good start and was with the lead back for the first quarter. I am out of shape and couldn’t hang. Towards the end I got passed by one of the Russians and I didn’t even care. Won money but I didn’t deserve it. I love the Jinan Lake though, always misty and beautiful:

Epic party that night - I’d say too much firewater but even a little firewater is too much for me. The only thing surprising was that I didn’t get sick or even feel sick the next morning. Ganbei.

Then next day we drove to Zhouzhang, the ancient walled city in Taizerhuang District. This is always a magical place for me. I love swimming in the Grand Canal. It was very cold but they made a beautiful pool for us. We had to choose one event and I did ice butterfly for the first time. Wonderful. I got to do a relay with A but it was right afterwards and I was shivering uncontrollably on deck. Once I got in again I was okay. Once I got out I felt good again, good enough to pose for oodles of photos with the local swimmers. Gala banquet again that night, with presentations. Then back to Beijing via bullet train and one more night in the city. Said goodbyes and flew home with A.

Got home on Wednesday, had a short work trip the next week, and got home the day before the US Championships. Got there at the crack for interviews and then swam all the individual events and two relays. Overall gold in both breaststroke events and silver in the sprints including the 25 free which I did butterfly. I am out of shape so wasn’t happy with my longer events but what can you do. Was invited to swim in the IWSA relay and an all-female ice fly relay. IWSA was a big honor and we got bronze. Not bad.

The next day we went to Coney Island to swim with the Polar Bears, it was a much nicer day but I just couldn’t bring myself to get in the water. I do this every once in a while. After that we went to a Russian Banya which was really fun. We drank, dipped in all the pools and the Russian guys did a platza on each of us in the sauna. It was so interesting -such an intense power exchange in the hot air being hit/massaged with birch branches. We said our goodbyes but I was going to see everyone in England just a few days later.

That Thursday I flew to Glasgow, my friend Karen picked me up and we drove to Windemere in Cumbria, England. We dipped in the lake, hot tubbed, and went to a gala/awards dinner that night. The next day was a long one. I swam all the individual events with about a hour’s break between each. 450 freestyle, 120 free, 30 breast, 60 free, and I was invited back for the IWSA relay again. Strong English girls, especially in my age group, I only won the breaststroke and we got first in the relay. It was pissing rain the entire time.

My old crush was there with his new girlfriend and their BABY. He said hello to me and I didn’t even recognize him, he looks like he’s aged 10 years since I last saw him a few months ago. There was limited time after the awards so I didn’t even bother showering for the Barn Dance. Dinner was tasty but the speaker went on way too long and it was kind of lame afterwards. I had to be fairly fresh for the 1000 the next day anyway.

Sunday I was in the first heat at 9am and did the 240 and the the 1000 right afterwards, I never really rewarmed but it was okay. Still raining and lots of mud but water wasn’t too cold. I think I got silver in the 240 and gold in the 1000, but there were only 2 girls in my age group for the 1km. Drove back to Scotland with Karen afterward and crashed at her place before heading to the airport for my 9am flight Monday. Flight got in early and I was home and unpacked by 1pm NYC time. Did work the rest of the day from home, worked from the office on Tuesday, then headed out on a short work trip Wednesday into Thursday.

Made it to Newark where I met up with A and we flew to Stockholm. Short layover and then on to Skelleftea, just below the Arctic Circle. Met up with everyone in the airport and caught a ride into town with some of the event organizers. I did some work, then we went to some presentations, watched a few folks test the water, then went to a group dinner. The next day I swam the 25 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 3 relays, and the 200 freestyle. The distances were short but there was a wicked current the first lap of the 50 and the odd laps of the 200. I was the only female from USA so I swam twice to give the guys a shot to swim (each relay needed at least one female) and then I was invited to swim with IWSA again which was too good to pass up. These were breaststroke relays so I was able to be a real asset to each team.

I was so cold though - did two consecutive heats, then a pause, then the last relay. Went straight to the sauna in hopes of warming up enough before my 200. It wasn’t ideal but it went okay. All golds in my age group, first overall in the 200, and gold for the IWSA relay. Our USA-A team relay was 4th so we basically beat ourselves there.

Beautiful Swedish ice pool.

I thought Roman was joking when he asked if I wanted to do some ice fly with him, but he ended up being serious, so we did it. So much fun. We had awards right after the swimming, then a dinner, the boys got wasted and we walked around during Skelleftea’s pride weekend (this is a town of 75,000 people.) Got up way too early in the morning to take the (cheap and convenient) bus to the airport, connected through Stockholm again, then on to NYC. I slept the whole way home and woke up fairly productive that afternoon NY time. I was a little bummed/cranky because it was my dad’s birthday and Valentine’s Day and A hadn’t gotten me anything, but when I got home the new Chanel shoes I’d ordered for myself had arrived so I wore those around the house and drank a glass of absinthe and felt much happier.

Monday I worked and A had the day off, I came home for lunch and we hung out together. Worked out Tuesday, did lunchtime yoga and then HIIT after work with A, then Wednesday morning back to back HIIT and then vinyasa. Packed and headed out for work trip later that afternoon, and it’s been a productive few days.

I am almost at zero inbox, but not quite. Dare to dream. And with some luck, I will be home by 11pm tomorrow evening, cuddled up with A.

Last updated February 22, 2016