Candy Cane Wishes and Chlorine Dreams

Courtesy: Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal

For those who practically live at the pool, arriving on deck in December can feel like coming home for the holidays. The breeze may feel cooler, but the mood on deck is warmer. And team traditions keep spirits light even when the training is heavy.

Sleigh Pulls and Reindeer Relays bring added cheer, and “12 days of Lift-Mas” can make even the dimmest weight room seem bright. Despite their joyful-sounding names, demanding holiday sets are designed with serious conditioning in mind. And training trips to tropical latitudes deliver challenging workouts with festive attitudes. (By the end of your holiday training, there’s no doubt you’ll be ready to “sleigh” the back half of your season!)

Memories are made swimming an Ocean Race with your squad, or becoming temporary land animals, tackling a 5K Reindeer Run. I’m pretty sure you’ll attend a meet notably named Candy Cane Classic, Holiday Champs or Santa Claus Splash. And maybe you’ll assign your lane-mates funny nicknames as well, like Sparkles, Sugarplum or Snowflake.

The scent of peppermint permeates the air, along with a preponderance of pajamas and Ugly Christmas Sweaters. Swim moms arrive, delivering splashes of holiday joy, with hot cocoa, candy canes and a tsunami of sugar cookies — with a merry little mix of fruit on the side.

Secret Swimming Santas come laden with gifts and gear. Overstuffed stockings burst with new caps and goggles, energy snacks, joyful jammies, and essentials to keep your chlorine-soaked hair and skin soft and shiny. (And maybe even a subscription to SwimSwam magazine!)

Teammates will share in the excitement as seniors begin revealing their college plans, and some of last year’s graduates may return home and re-join your lane for training — just like old times. Gaggles of kids will hang up their goggles to show up for holiday shows, dance recitals and choral concerts where their pals are passionately performing.

It’s also a time for thinking of others whose season may not feel as glittery, with team-led toy drives, canned food collections and donations of warm hats and mittens. And for swimmers whose home lives may feel a little heavier this time of year, the swim team family can offer a cozy kind of comfort and a safe place to land.

At the end of a session of holiday training (with maybe only a little complaining), sleepy swimmers fall into bed, with visions of flip turns still in their heads. Dreaming of the perfect race —  that stellar start, unbelievable underwaters, best times and best friends.

While you’re counting your laps, don’t forget to also count your joys and count your blessings. Cherish your victories – big and small. Value the friendships that keep you afloat. Remember the moments that make the season sparkle. For that’s where the magic happens — when traditions turn into memories and your team becomes like a family. Hold onto it dearly, and make it last all year long.

Photos courtesy of Florida Gold Coast Swimming:

ABOUT ELIZABETH SPENCER ROSENTHAL

Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal is a wife and mother of 3 from Miami. She is a passionate swim mom, volunteer and meet official, with a professional background in marketing and public relations. She holds a degree in Public Communication from American University, and loves finding a story to tell.