Meet Noura:
1. Name: Noura Hemady
2. Zodiac sign: Sagitaaaaarrrriouuuusssss
3. Hometown: Timonium, MD
4. Your favorite stroke: backstroke! but I'm becoming more of a mid-distancer.
5. Lane you swim in and why your lane is better than the other lanes on the team:
Lane 5. Which is kind of like lane 6 but with less attitude.
6. Tell us a little bit about your aquatics/sports background?
I grew up swimming at the Towson YMCA outside of Baltimore. I played soccer until middle school and lacrosse through high school. Unfortunately, my high school didn't have a swim team but Y swimming was as much fun as could be. I swam for the same coach for 12 years, so college swimming at GOUCHER was a big change for me. BUT... Goucher was amazing, the swimmers were (and still are) some of my best friends.
7. When and why did you join DCAC (any interesting stories associated)?
Joined in September '09 when I moved to DC for grad school. The story associated isn't that interesting... one of my coworkers told me about it, and I read some of the workouts that are posted on the website and I was impressed by how legit the workouts were!
8. What is your favorite kind of swim set/workout and why?
I like workouts that have variety to them, but also enough consistency so that you can work your way into a rhythm. A nice mix of 200s, 100s, and 50s, mixing up the stroke, kick, drill, etc. I have major swimming ADD, so if the set is complicated, it keeps me entertained. If the set is too monotonous then I remember how hungry I am and get distracted.
9. Do you have any swimming/sports goals for the coming year?
I just want to maintain my times as best as possible. In races, I want to get out of the water feeling like I left it all in the pool. I got into this bad habit of feeling like the pain of competing wasn't worth the bad times I would always see on the board, and it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
10. What do you love most about swimming?
The hot shower and big meal afterwards. Oh, and the camaraderie, obviously. I've been around swimmers all my life...we're really a different species.
11. What do you dislike most about swimming?
Getting in. And breaststroke.
12. What is one of your favorite things to do out of the pool?
I really enjoy bikram yoga although I don't have time to do it that much. Other than that, I really like to sit around with friends and wine and food, or go for walks. I'm really not that exciting since all of my favorite things tend to get shafted for un-fun things like studying.
13. What is something that most other people on the team don't know?
I'm totally addicted to chapstick and probably attempt to crack my joints, when not in the pool, at least once every five minutes, if not more. I am a fiend for a good back cracking session.
14. So, allegedly, you are a student. What’s the deal?
I lead the sad, sad life of a grad student. I'm doing an MA at Georgetown in Global, International, and Comparative history. It has the snazzy acronym of MAGIC, and it department-wide emails faculty like to address us as "magicians," which makes us sound even more loser-y than we probably already are. Also, I'm aware that Global, International, and Comparative all sound like the same thing. Apparently there is a difference, but I'm usually spacing out in class to much to have a clear idea of what they actually mean. This is only my second semester, so don't ask me what my thesis is about. It will have something to do with the Middle East. Probably.
15. What kind of name is “Goucher” anyway?
Minister John Goucher, founder of the school. You got a problem with the name Goucher?
16. Double strap or cross strap and why?
I hope this is about swim suit styles. In which case, cross strap. Don't know why.
17. Have you ever peed in the pool?
No, and I think it's really gross when people do.
18. Which male dcac swimmer do you think would look the best as a woman?
Ryan Sprengel. I think the beard would add a nice touch.
19. Are you ever afraid that your lanemates will suck the youth out of you to look younger?
Are you jealous that they might have the opportunity to do so?
20. Please describe DCAC in three words or less:
weird. tiny speedos.
