August 2018 Updates
A lot has happened in August. We want to thank the amazing local clubs that hosted our homeless swimmers this past July. The beauty of community is that I didn't even have to reach out and ask. People contacted us, knowing that we have this "really odd group of adults who swim". (They always ask, "do you race against other teams??) And they heard our pool was full of mud.
Could they help? The Fox Chapel Golf Club hosted us for two weeks of early morning swims. Check out a sunrise
from their pool! Chapel Gate Swim Club has one of the best views in all of O'Hara and FC. Community Swim Club doesn't ever seem to cloud over. We even survived crossing a bridge and swimming at Longue Vue one rainy am (best view of the Allegheny). The Thelma Y offered to house us and we were welcomed back into the FCHS. As much as I love swimming outdoors there was a calm that week back inside at FCHS-- back stroke flags, clocks. For that one week after all of the flooding, I didn't miss the frogs and crayfish, the mud, the rain and worrying about how to cancel practice, and were the roads open to get to the pool. But it is lovely to be back to out normal schedule
We celebrated Matty Mo's turning... 40. A surprise brunch and 4000 yards with balloons, berries, coffee cakes and coffee greeted him last Wednesday am. By now you must realize that if you spend a few practices in the water with us and Matt or I figure out your name, or Lhea renames you and it sticks-- you are a FFH. We aren't an OR team. We are an AND team. As well as touring the pools of the area our swimmers have been busy. I am aware that I am likely missing events. Jay Cribb is in France right now competing in the Gay Games, both in the triathlon and the swimming. Josh Dorfzaun won his age group at an open water 5k in Minnesota earlier this month. Rabih Chaer participated in another Half Ironman. Lhea Wiese (see below photo) tried to convince us she did some serious open water swimming in Michigan on break. Katie Stutz is at the Pan American Masters Championships in Orlando as I type. Debbie Guild brought her mom to practice today and most importantly Coach Matt worked on his breast stroke technique.
We had a team gathering at the Narcissi Winery and had wood oven pizzas, we decided that we absolutely need to go again. There is absolutely no evidence that it happened because Cory Siri was not there.....
As we coast well into August--- we look to welcome swimmers from Team Pitt as their pool closes for 3 weeks. Please contact us with any questions!
And look to our schedule tab for up to date practice listings.
