Day 5 - Track Practice & Swimming

Track Practice (for Rob & Mae!!!)

Hot, Thursday morning in Bangkok, the sun is beating down on everyone on the track. Today, Rob's plan is to try out his spikes on the track, and practice the high jump. Rob hasn't attempted the high jump in over a year; the last time was in Edmonton at the 2006 Canadian Games. He jumped 1.5 m there, so the goal for Bangkok would be that or more. A few laps around the track to get the legs warmed up... too bad I didn't wear my running shoes...oh, well, I think I will try some attempts at high jump, it looks like fun. Will my flipflops be good enough?

Right before heading to the hotel, we went for lunch at the Sports Village, where we saw these young girls dressed in Thai costumes...aren't they sweet?

Michael Strilchuk Competing in the Pool

Day 5 was also the second and final day of the Swimming competition. As we spent most of the day at the track, Michael Strilchuk (Bone Marrow) was in the pool and helped us out with a post on his days events...

Well, the night after volleyball saw a lot of broken and battered Canadians limping around the hotel, yours truly included. Needless to say, on the first day of swimming, I didn't bring my "A" game. Not sure if it was my "C" game to tell the truth. So, after getting caught late on the blocks and playing catch-p for most of the race, I finished a disappointing 4th in the 50 fly. Any reaction time whatsoever off the block and at least a bronze, possibly a silver would’ve been possible.

Still hurting that night although a few baht and a troupe of massage girls tried to put things back together at the hotel :)

Day 2 of swimming went better. Three races, three top 5 finishes with the pinnacle being gold in the 200M Individual Medley. For those who aren't familiar, it’s 50M of each stroke, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. And generally not fun. I do have to say, the race before me, which came down to a Brit and a Dutchman, was truly fantastic! My other two races were good although I tried to drown myself in the 50 breast (and I really wanted to say I was a world champion breaststroker...) but finished a close 4th. Again, another bronze that just slipped by. Met a lot of great people, with the US, UK and Venezuela providing the best competition and 4 ot the top 5 of us move up age groups for the 2009 games. Good Luck to Eric of the US, alone in the age group, next time :)

--Mike (second from the top) in the 50m Breaststroke--

Socially and culturally, things have been a little slow since all of our time has been tied up with the games. My old buddy Matthew and his friend John pooped by the pool on the way to Phuket but didn't catch any of my swimming. Had a great dinner with them and caught up on Matt's last 3 years. Hit a championship night at one of the Thai boxing venues last night. Very cool experience and hopefully the British girl sitting beside me will send me a copy of the fight clips she taped.

Still have a lot to see before I head back on Tuesday and time is running out. One more reason to come back...

-----Mike with his buddy Matthew-----