Day 0 - Flew into Pittsburgh on US Airways Express. Little plane but easy trip. Registered at Marriott Hotel City Center, one of 6 downtown hotels being used by participants. Most of Team NC was at the Hilton, since I had registered a little late.
Day 1 - Team NC photo and registration for Games. This is when you get your National Kidney Foundation US Games gear, bag and shirt, and pick up mucho freebies at the Expo. Companies and organ donation causes set up shop and make nice with thousands of adoring fans, who happen to love free stuff. The coolest thing was a spray water bottle/fan that my girls got.
Next up, the first day of swimming at Carnegie Mellon University pool. Track & field also occurred on this campus. The facility was adequate, but lacked in spectator space. But, being that only two events happened, 100 Individual Medley (IM) and 500 yard freestyle, not too crowded. I've heard different reports as to why we didn't have access to University of Pitt's pool.
I was in lane 1 for the IM, which is never where a swimmer wants to be, but so be it. I won silver, since Jerry Missel from Team Michigan was just too fast! After coming off the wall from breastroke to free, I knew my streak of golds was soon coming to an end.
Opening Ceremonies at night, about 3 hours worth. Each team lines up and marches into the convention center to cheers from all, especially any Tarheels. It is fun and inspiring, where many stories are told and songs sung from the stage. There was more than one recipient who shared the stage with their donor family. Also, a woman who has been waiting for a liver said her hope was to paricipate in the 2010 Games as an "athlete."
It was an honor to lead the benediction at the close of the ceremony. And, it was too cool when Team NC gave it up for me after I was introduced. I smiled as I walked to the podium.
Day 2 - All day swimming. In the morning, I competed in the 100 yd breastroke, 100 backstroke & the Men's medley relay. I was third in my heat in breastroke, but thankfully won the age group. I was beaten by an athlete from Arizona from the 30s and NC's own Jim Gill, from the 50s.
Backstroke went well, except I didn't hear the starter say take your mark. I only heard the beep and watched the rest of the swimmers take off. In lane 1 again, it was hard to hear, and the starter didn't speak loudly. Yes, I told him so after the race, in a nice way, of course.
The men's medley was a thrill. I secretly believed we had chance for bronze. Mike Worsham, who has swam in previous games but missed 2006, could swim breastroke. This freed me up for back, kept Jim Gill in butterfly, and David Rinker (13) could bring it home in free. All went according to plan, except the end when we came in 4th by less than 1 sec! The race was so exciting & fun, but I so much wanted to stand on the podium with young David.
We had a brief award ceremony, and they allowed my father, H. Richard Barndt, to award me my gold medal for the 100 backstroke. It was touching to see so many family & friends at the awards, cheering and crying. The afternoon had the 50 backstroke, which is probably my strongest event. I won and was pleased with my time. Another 4th place for the Men's Freestyle relay. I led off and swam next to Ray Velasco from Team Northern California.
As rewarding as the day was, the downside was that Rachel was sick and back at the hotel. Which meant that Caroline was also back at the hotel & unable to watch the swimming. It is just the way things go, but it was a total bummer.
more to come...
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