NYC Parks & Recreation Lap Swim Awards Party, 2014

Woohoo!! For those who don’t follow my blog regularly, every summer the Citywide Aquatics department of NYC Parks & Recreation sponsors a lap swim contest. People who swim 25 miles get a tshirt proclaiming their accomplishment. There’s also a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophy for the man and the woman who swim the most miles in their division at their pool in the first five weeks.

I came in 2nd place in my division (Night Owl swimmers, women, at the Tony Dapolito pool). That’s me draped in my tshirt and holding my trophy.

There’s a party at the end of the year when the tshirts and trophies are given out, with music and food and a relay race. (More pictures below.)

My pool, Tony Dapolito, apparently has a tradition of always coming in last. Last year was my first year in this program, and I swam in the race that summer, doing my part to keep up the tradition. But this year it was up to Adolfo, Diana, Anna and Daniel.

This is Anna Jardine, the 1st place winner at my pool, waiting to swim her leg in the relay race. Anna also came in 1st place citywide. She swam more miles than any woman in the entire city (115.8!! I know, insane, right?). And please look at how freaking long this pool is! (Olympic-size.) I remember when I raced last year, halfway through the race I looked up to see how I was doing and I couldn’t believe how much longer I had to go.

This is Anna with her trophy, a beautiful art deco-like work of art.

Finally, I made a short movie of part of the race. I didn’t get Adolfo’s leg (I’m sorry!) but I got a little of Diana’s, Anna’s and Daniel’s.

Thank you so much NYC Parks and Recreation Citywide Aquatics! This is a fabulous, wonderful program. It’s fun! It’s healthy! I can’t tell you how grateful I am.