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My Swimming Teammates

01/23/13 | Georgetown, Nike, swimming

To be completely honest I had a TOTALLY different post scheduled for today but two things happened last night to cause me to change my mind. Since the new year I have joined a new gym and attend what they call “swim practice” twice a week.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be going to a swim practice so soon after my collegiate career ended but last night really proved to me how different this hour of swimming is compared to what I was used to. 
 
As a bit of background I was able to swim before age of three and since then I have been a water baby and despite my love and dedication to the sport the only real way I made it through 14 years of competitive swimming was because of my teammates. Last night I with complete strangers and the coach did not know me at all.  But instead of complaining about a fellow swimmer who thought my goggles were mirrored in order to check my makeup (hello, LCM backstroke) and about a coach who thought I was “cheating” when I did a kick set on my back instead of with a board – I am going to stick with what I told  Sharon for the Tiny Heart Giveaway “to laugh more, forgive more, and love more”. 
 
 
This post is going to be a massive thank you to all of the swimmers who got me through, which by some accounts, was 3,200 hours in the pool.  
 
 
From a young age you were the reason I got up at 4:00am to get in the pool at 5:00am. I vow never to see that hour again in relation to exercise but all of your smiling faces were the reason I made it there. 
 
 
 
 
In college you were the reason Friday nights were movie night and Saturday morning I had already been up for five hours before my roommate’s alarm went off.  You may be all over the country but I love you, the amazing nine, and we will be close forever, that I vow! 
 
 
Thank you to all of you who made competitive swimming a magnificent chapter of my life!
 
 
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Comments

  1. Lilly Rocket says

    January 24, 2013 at 7:15 am

    oh, you make me feel so lazy. haha. i should really do some sports, but i’m such a lameass. it’s horrible. 😀

    kissboombang, lilly.
    Bonnie + Kleid

  2. Janice Lunes says

    January 24, 2013 at 6:19 am

    WOw I didn’t know you were so active !! I love these pictures and so nice to know more about your hobby’s beside blogging 🙂

    Kisses,

    Janice

  3. FierceandFashionable says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:31 am

    I played softball in college and miss it dearly! Love hearing about other bloggers athletic backgrounds :)!

    xo Michelle

    Fierce & Fashionable

  4. Emily Marie {Isnt That Charming} says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    How sweet! I played basketball in high school and can absolutely relate – it’s your team that keeps you going!
    Isn’t That Charming.

  5. McKenna Ryan says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    I have been thinking about trying out swimming lately, I have heard it is such a great work out and running has been killing my knees. Thanks for this post. xx. McKenna Lou
    http://www.lynnandlou.blogspot.com

  6. Sunny & Star says

    January 23, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    It’s great that even after your days of competing with your team is over that you think so much of them and the experience that you blog about it afterwards. This is so sweet!

    Jessica @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights

  7. casper+pearl says

    January 23, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    adoring your blog, super cute!

    lots of love from the c&p girls,
    casper&pearl blog
    xx

  8. Natasha xoxo says

    January 23, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    Such a great post! Congrats doll 🙂

    xo, tasha
    twenty-something blog

  9. Kimberly says

    January 23, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    Congrats and great team! It goes to show that sometime we need every single person in order for us to get to reach our fullest potential. Just like in a play, there are no small characters/parts, because each part is necessary, in order to tell the story. ;].

    Thanks for sharing and great blog!

    Kimberly
    KIMBERLYLUXE.COM

  10. Lala H says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    great team! swimming is always fun

    http://delightfulideas.com/

    xo lala

  11. vogueandheels says

    January 23, 2013 at 6:58 pm

    Amazing post! I always wanted to join a team but then decided not to and ended up being a dancer!

    -Vogue&Heels
    vogueandheels.wordpress.com

  12. Kelly { Messy.Dirty.Hair.} says

    January 23, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    ahhh this brings me back to my swimming days!! i hated it, my mom made me do it. the waking up early killed me. haha! i remember when those one piece speedos were allll the rage! bahaha! love you kell! xoxo

  13. Marsa says

    January 23, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    i had no idea you were a swimmer! thats awesome 🙂 i suck at swimming. i can keep myself from drowning but thats pretty much it haha

    -Marsa
    The DayLee Journal
    Mint Top GIVEAWAY

  14. Melissa says

    January 23, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    Thanks for stopping by my guest post and commenting!! I am not a swimmer but I always seem to have swimmer friends!! Great post!

    Melissa
    amileinherboots.blogspot.com

  15. Mademoiselle Michael says

    January 23, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Wow—the only word that comes to mind is that you have this “legacy” of swimming that you left behind to each of your respective schools. What commitment and hard work that all must have taken. You go girl!

  16. Diana Marks says

    January 23, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I never knew you were a swimmer. What a great emotional post!

    LA By Diana Live Magazine

  17. The white cabbage says

    January 23, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    ciao Kelly ,

    really pleasant blog ! I’m a new follower …..come to visit me and if you like follow back

    ave

  18. Viola says

    January 23, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    This is awesome!!
    Love!

    caughtinvogue.blogspot.com
    xx

  19. Megan, TfDiaries.com says

    January 23, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    AWESOME Love Swimming! Xo Megan, http://www.TfDiaries.com

  20. Shannon says

    January 23, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    That is so awesome! I would love to be a better swimmer. It’s such great exercise and fun too! 🙂
    http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

  21. aree1997 says

    January 23, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    Amazing! Swimming is my dream sport 😀

    Enter My International Giveaway
    Aree With Umbrella

  22. Always Maylee says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:44 am

    I love learning that you were a competitive swimmer!

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

  23. TheTinyHeart says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:40 am

    I had no idea you swam competitively! It’s clear from the photos that you have such a strong bond with your teammates! PS thanks for the giveaway mention 🙂

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart
    January Group Giveaway!

  24. ZxM Style-Squared says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:27 am

    wow, that is amazing girl!!!!good for you!!!)))you and your team mates look incredible!:)

  25. Agnieszka (Aga) Guerrero Olesinska says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:14 am

    Cool picture
    Kisses
    Aga

    Lace shorts!!!
    GIVEAWAY with MSDRESSY!!! Win $80 voucher!!!
    http://www.agasuitcase.com

  26. ChatterBlossom says

    January 23, 2013 at 10:03 am

    What a terrific thing to be a part of! Teammates can be the best friends you ever have!
    -Jamie
    http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/

  27. Angela says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Great blog, I am a terrible swimmer but had a similar bond with my gymnastics team, I miss those girls so much xx

  28. b e a t r i c e says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Great blog , nice post! Ofc I’m your new follower! Don’t forget to visit my blog too!

  29. Teresa says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:36 am

    While I always refused to compete, I used to swim with the swim team when I was in middle school. I kind of miss it now! Thanks for stopping by my blog; I am so glad to have found yours! (:

  30. Анна-Алина Гевелюк says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:27 am

    wow!great photos!

  31. Eshna says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:21 am

    Such a cute post. I am so ashamed to admit that I dont know how to swim!

  32. Jessica says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Beautiful photos!!

    The Fashion Heels
    Facebook
    Bloglovin
    Twitter

  33. Lauren says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:05 am

    Sounds like swimming was a huge part of your life growing up. It’s so neat that you’ve found a way to incorporate it into your adult life. Hopefully you’ll develop great relationships with these new swimmers as well!

    Fizz and Frosting

  34. Little Rus says

    January 23, 2013 at 8:26 am

    Such a great post! x

  35. Heather says

    January 23, 2013 at 8:11 am

    Aw this is awesome – sounds like lovely ladies you have to support you!

    XO
    Pearls & Paws

  36. Mica says

    January 23, 2013 at 8:05 am

    Such a lovely post, sounds like you had such great team members 🙂

    AwayFromTheBlue.blogspot.com.au

  37. superfakekids says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:48 am

    Wow its impressive!

  38. Karla says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Aw! So cool! I always wanted to try swimming! Takes such dedication! =)

  39. becca says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:05 am

    what a great team you have

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

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