Last week TYR tweeted a link to a very cool Buzzfeed article called “24 Amazing Pools You Need to Jump in Before You Die.” So far, I’ve only swam laps in one pool on the list, Colorado’s Glenwood Hot Springs (#20).

I’d probably most like to check out the 1 kilometer long San Alfonso, Chile pool (#3),

And with enough peer pressure, I’d probably hop into the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls (#19), just to say I did it!

The list got me thinking about all of the pools I’ve swam in over the years, and which ones are my favorites.

Obviously, I’m partial to the absolutely gorgeous University of Georgia Gabrielsen Natatorium and my current training ground at the Dynamo Swim Club.

I always raced well at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, had one of my best meets ever at Stanford’s Avery Aquatics Center, won a National Championship in Purdue’s Boilermaker Aquatic Center, and LOVED swimming in the temporary pools set up for 2004 and 2008 US Olympic Trials in Long Beach and Omaha.

None of these pools made Buzzfeed’s list, but in my opinion, they are just as incredible as any ocean-view infinity pool!

A pretty pool is nice, but definitely not required for fast training. My fastest times in high school came while I was training in a South Carolina pool that was literally in my coach’s backyard. I remember frogs getting in the drains and doing underwaters to stir up algae on the bottom on at least one occasion! It was too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, but ALWAYS a fun place to be. A pool is a pool, and a lane is a lane. And as long as there’s water in it, it can make you a faster swimmer!

Have a favorite pool? I want to hear about it! Leave a comment or tweet me a pic!

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I have a new 1 mile PR!

The Hogpen Hill Climb is the only road race where I can run a 5:14 first mile and a 10:07 9th mile, and  still call it a great day!

That’s because the Hogpen elevation graph looks like this:

And my heart rate graph ended up looking like this:

And the faces I made during the race looked like this:

But I wouldn’t keep coming back to run Hogpen year after year if it wasn’t a great race, run by great people, and full of great athletes.

Heavy rain, thunder, tornado warnings and a downed tree threatened the race this year, but the amazing race directors were not deterred. After a short delay to clean up the tree (it was a HUGE tree and definitely beyond my hurdling capabilities), the race was off!

My buddy George Darden was racing Hogpen for the first time this year and my 5:14 first mile was just an attempt to keep my fleet-footed friend in sight! Eventually I settled into a more manageable pace and chatted a bit with Sean the “Run Bum,” though I was a little glad he pulled away before the road turned skyward and  I really started huffing and puffing.

Once on the “hill” I was completely focused on getting the most out of every footfall and keeping my thoughts positive. Despite being wet and cold and mostly alone, it really wasn’t too hard to stay happy. The road up Hogpen is gorgeous and winding, with lots of pullouts where spectators in cars were stopped to cheer. I appreciated the cheers from Matthew, Elle, Tanya, Mark, the Atlanta Tri Club crew, aid station volunteers and everyone else SO much!

Miles 8 and 9 are completely uphill at a 12-14% grade. My goal this year was to run mile nine in less than 10 minutes. I missed it by seven seconds, but that just gives me another reason to come back next year!

I  made it to the top about a minute faster than last year, first female, and 4th overall! George won the whole thing, which means it was a Dynamo Masters Swimmers/Coach Matthew Rose Athlete sweep! Go Green!

As usual, we had a pretty big Dynamo crew at the top. Lots of course PRs and some good mental training and team bonding to kick of 2014! Thanks Hogpen, I’m sure we’ll be back again next year!

Some of this year’s Dynamo Crew: Elle, Tanya, Maria, Erin, Chris, Stacy, Ron, George, Me, Thomas, Linda

Scotty with his new Great Dane puppy, Murphy! 

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Dynamo Masters Swimming’s Coach Maria Thrash is FAMOUS for coming up with long workouts that FLY by. This past New Year’s Eve workout was no exception. Our 10,000 meter main set was done as five rounds of descending distances. We took two minutes between rounds to grab snacks and refill our bottles of Osmo. (And do a little chatting, of course!) Equipment was optional, as was strokework on the 50s. (I did them all backstroke.)

Long swim sets are all the rage this time of year. My fellow Dynamo swimmer Katie did a great recap of her 10k+ NYE swim on her blog. And Coach Brent’s 100×100 Riverwood High School swimmers were even featured on their school website! Join the fun and try it out!

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It’s Twitter and Facebook official folks, I’m the newest Smashfest Queen!

I could not be more excited to kick off the new year wearing SMASH apparel!

I’ve been a big fan of SMASH co-founder Hillary Biscay since our first conversation five years ago. I was a slightly discouraged 12 and half hour Ironman finisher but my coach worked his friend of a friend connections and convinced Hillary to give me a ring. Hillary was so inspiring and motivational on the phone that the next day I opened a savings account and started diverting money from every paycheck for the day when I quit my job and went pro. That’s right, Hillary told a 12:30 Ironman finisher she had a shot! (And she was RIGHT!)

Yes, I took notes from that conversation. And Yes, I still have them!!

Over the years we’ve kept in touch and even got to meet at a few races. I also met a lot of Hillary’s athletes who are some of the greatest people in the age group (and now pro  – Alyssa!) ranks. And of course, there was that momentous occasion when I managed to find myself getting stitches the day before Ironman Brasil, and who was there asking me questions about my old job to keeping me from freaking out?! Hillary Biscay!

Last month I met Hillary’s SMASH business partner, Michele Landry and quickly understood why these two ladies made such a powerful team. Hillary and Michele are two women with incredible work ethics, business ethics, and serious creative talent! I could not be more proud, excited, and thankful to be associated with these ladies and the other SMASH ambassadors, Alyssa and Anabel.

Stay tuned as I plan to highlight some of SMASH favorites (like the LavaBerry kit I’m wearing above!) and cheers to a fast and stylish 2014!!

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