The Miller Memoirs

IDAHO FALLS SPOOK & SPLASH

October 24-25

We traveled to Idaho Falls for Hailey's last swim meet of the season. It was a really long drive, and normally we don't travel that far to go to a swim meet, but Hailey really wanted grandma and grandpa to come (they live in Idaho Falls). Hailey was so excited to show grandma and grandpa her skills--she couldn't wait for us to get to the meet. When we finally arrived, she couldn't relax until she saw grandma smiling down at her.

Grandma, and Grandpa Elkington, Piper, and Aunt Gene were able to come watch Hailey on Friday night. They watched her swim in the 100 yd freestyle. Hailey did fantastic in this race. She placed 5th overall, which is quite an accomplishment. Her last race for Friday night was the 100 yd IM, which Hailey had never raced before. The 100 IM consists of a 25 yd butterfly, a 25 yd backstroke, a 25 yd breaststroke, and a 25yd freestyle. Hailey did fabulous in this race! It was so fun seeing her do all of the strokes all at once. She actually got DQ from this race, because she started to bring her arms out of the water on the butterfly, but she then decided that she was too close to the wall to complete her arm movement, and she reached for the wall instead. The rule in butterfly is that if you start your pull down on your arms, then your arms must come out of the water to complete the stroke. It really was a timing issue...the lady who was judging Hailey's event actually disqualified almost every kid she judged. I guess in some ways it is good, because they know what is expected of them...in other ways, it seems too strict. Hailey was disappointed, but truly she did an amazing job!

On Saturday Hailey swam in three events-the 25 yd freestyle, the 25 yd backstroke, and the 25 yd breaststroke. In the 25 yd freestyle we were ready to race, the announcer had announced the race, and all of a sudden we were both struck with fear as we realized the race was starting on the other side of the pool. We had raced the night before from the side where we were standing; however, the races the night before were longer races, and all races are started, so that everybody ends in the same location. When Hailey and I realized our error, and we heard the announcer announcing the racers to get in the water, we panicked! We took off running around the edge of the pool as fast as we could. It was like the scene in "The Princes Bride" when Fezzik and Inigo were trying to get through the market quickly, but to no avail. In the movie, Fezzik yelled out "everybody move", and finally the sea of people parted to let them pass. We really needed Fezzik to yell in our behalf...I was so sure the race was going to start without Hailey, but fortunately we made it to the other side just as the racers were ready to start. Hailey jumped in the water, wiped away her tears (the poor girl was crying), and put on her game face. The next race Hailey raced in was the backstroke. I think this is Hailey's strongest event. She has only been able to race in this event twice, because it has always been raced on a Sunday (so we don't participate) during the meets. With only racing this event twice, Hailey is right up there with the best of them. It truly blows Bryan and I away. She has truly exceeded what we thought was possible. Her last race for this meet was the breaststroke. It was so fun to watch Hailey in this event. When a simmer swims the breaststroke they move up and down in the water. Well, when Hailey was on the "up" portion of her stroke, she was constantly checking out her competition...she kept looking from side to side just to make sure she was still in the lead. It almost seemed as if she was just working as hard as she had to...not really pushing it as hard as she could--she figured she was in front, so why push so hard? At the end of the race, one of the girls that was racing against Hailey got so upset that she changed her kick to a butterfly kick just to pass Hailey (the other girl got DQ). Hailey placed 1st in her heat, and 5th overall. Fifth place must have been her lucky number for this meet, because in every event (besides the 100 IM) she placed 5th.

Hailey starting off the blocks. (This always makes her a bit nervous, but she is truly doing great at it!)

Piper and Hailey
Hailey was so glad that Piper came to watch her swim. She was so excited to have the support of our family, and her best friend and cousin-Piper!

Piper, Amber, and Hailey

Hailey with her coach, Matt. We are truly grateful to Matt for his ability to teach kids how to swim. We started swimming with no intentions of ever competing. We truly just wanted to have peace while playing in water. Matt has helped us find that peace, and he has also added a dimension we never expected. It has been a fun and crazy ride!