NAC Master's Profile: Elizabeth Jackson

A new victim!  Enjoy, and thanks to Elizabeth for her help!

When did you join NAC Masters and how often do you swim?

I joined the NAC Masters when they were still at the old pool on Oceola Avenue in 1982.  I was there when John Morse walked in the door!  I try to swim 4 days a week and am really pretty good at hitting that goal.

What is your background as a swimmer and athlete?

As a child I always loved swimming but was never part of any organized group.  In my late 20s I joined in the running craze and during bad weather, would run the inside track at the Green Hills YMCA.  I spotted the pool one day and thought I’d give it a try.  I swam laps by myself for a couple of years.  It was so boring.  I saw an article in the newspaper about the Masters team so I called the contact who was listed in the article, Mary Lee Watson. Mary Lee was the mother of Nashville Master’s swimming, who became my close friend and mentor.  She encouraged me to join the Master’s team and to attend meets.  I think about Mary Lee very often and try to channel her positive attitude about getting in the water at 6:00 AM!

What motivates you to wake up and swim at 6am?

There are so many benefits of swimming.  In addition to the obvious health benefits, I just love my swim friends.  I have met some of my best friends by swimming in the Masters program.  Also, there is a good amount of peer pressure.  I think about my swim buddies being in the pool and I don’t want to miss anything!

Outside of the pool, who are you?

I worked for 20 years for a healthcare executive as his personal assistant.  After his death in 2003, I started working for his son and widow at her home four days a week and have been there since.  I am a grandmother (Grammy) to two wonderful boys, ages 7 and 8.  They were both on the swim and dive teams for Hillwood Country Club last summer and I took great pride in watching them at their meets!

Some people might be surprised to know that...

I can still downhill ski!  After 12 years of not skiing, I went to Vail last Christmas and did great!!!  Not one broken bone.

Favorite Brian Allen-ism:

Just today he told me that I “exude awesomeness”.  I’ll use that one, although it had zero to do with swimming.  Brian is great and understands that to a Masters swimmer, the workout is optional and I think he appreciates that we even show up!