Creak Swims

I went swimming last week and ABC news in Miami watched. We were in Florida at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex working out the details of the as yet unannounced CreakyJoints A-Games. Yes, that's Arthritis Games.

We're putting together a program where people with arthritis can (a) learn to swim, (b) learn to swim better (c) compete in the A-Games (d) swim for fitness in the A-games.

We've decided we're going to have A-Camps before the A-Games, where people can, in their own city, come to a weekend workshop held by our swimming partner, Total Immersion http://www.totalimmersion.net, and learn how to swim efficiently, and painlessly. Fishlike swimming, they call it.

So we were working out the details. Seth was in the water looking like a fish and Ricky Oxenhandler, an 11-year-old member nearby Coral Springs, was lying on his back in the water finding his balance and looking like a torpedo, and Jeff Weinsier, anchor/reporter for WPLG, ABC TV10 was standing on deck talking about how the A-Games can change the lives of people with arthritis all over the country.

So I thought that as long as all of Miami knows about the A-Games, you ought to know too.

We haven't chosen a city yet, but several are in the running, including a few in South Florida, Tucson, Birmingham, and a few in Southern California. We're also not announcing a date yet, but we'll give you plenty of time to get ready.

What I do know is that dogs know swimming is great exercise. And, dogs with arthritis are usually out of shape - just like people with arthritis. After a week, Seth (our 12-pills-a-day arthritis swimming guinea pig), was feeling much better physically. And that's good news.

So, there will be a lot more news about the A-Games coming soon. In the meantime, make sure you're registered on CJ so you get the updates, and check back. As a dog, I can't compete, but everyone else can.

(I apologize for not being nasty, biting children, or talking dirty this time. Must be something in the water. I'll make up for it next time.)