Rediscovering the Heart of Swimming

Posted on June 8, 2011 | Comments Off

Let’s just say this blog parallels my life in the swimming pool of late. I’ve checked in sporadically at best. Yes, I’ve been working and traveling more than usual. But to be honest, it’s the shoulder injury that has messed with my head and heart and has kept me from my regular workouts. I’ve been focusing on keeping the pain below the ibuprofen level instead of focusing on my technique and the joy of being in the water.

Perhaps I’ll get a jolt of inspiration by helping out this weekend at the Pacific Masters EXCEL Weekend swim clinic. Olympian and U.S. Masters Swimmer Rowdy Gaines will give a talk about the role that “heart” plays in swimming. Bring it on Rowdy – I need it!

I’m excited to meet many of the folks who will be coaching throughout the weekend. I’ve been chatting with the Clinic Development Team via email for months, and I can testify there’s a whole lotta love and effort that has gone into planning this event. The fearless leader, Marin Pirates Masters Coach Cokie Lepinski, has been tirelessly maintaining the momentum. She is the definition of heart!

I am attending the weekend’s swim clinic to assist the coaches, and I will not be participating in the workshops. I have no doubt though, that I will learn many things and will apply them when I’m healthier. Some of the many workshops include topics like

  • How to swim more efficiently (A never-ending quest, right?)
  • How to perfect a turn
  • Open water swimming – how to sight, swim in a pack and corner buoys

I’m also looking forward to the Saturday night social event and meeting swimmers and coaches from California, Georgia, New York, Washington and Nevada. Mostly, I'm hoping to forget the shoulder injury and rediscover my unbridled enthusiasm and love of swimming.

 

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Posted in Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming News

125 Swim Drills to Improve Your Swimming

Posted on May 12, 2011 | Comments Off

Friend and Marin Pirates Masters swim coach, Cokie Lepinski, has just released her first e-book – "There's A Drill For That!"

Cokie Lepinski's e-book, There's A Drill For That!

 

Cokie's description of her e-book follows…

Ever noticed how technical swimming has become? There are so many fine points to all four strokes. You really need to break the stroke and its components down and work on them separately, and then put the stroke back together. In the process of doing this, you begin to understand much more about the stroke and about yourself.

One of the best ways to refine your stroke, find efficiency in the water, and translate that to faster swimming, is to regularly build swim drills into your swim practices.

In this eBook, you will find 125 drills covering freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and even sculling. Each drill has a title, a purpose, and a thorough description of the drill, along with key points to focus on when doing the drill.

Not only will practicing drills help your stroke, your efficiency, and eventually your speed, drill work will also help liven up your practices, making them much more interesting and challenging. Doing so under the guidance of a coach and support of a team is even better, so find yourself a team. You won't regret it.

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Posted in Swimming News, Swimming Tips

Swimmers Needed!

Posted on April 21, 2011 | Comments Off


Swim Laps to Protect the Vulnerable

The second Annual "Swim for Life" is coming June 25.  Swimmers of every age group and ability are being asked to swim laps and raise money to ensure the vulnerable among us (the elderly, disabled, young and ill) will be safely evacuated during disasters.   

 

 

All money raised will help provide SAFELY OUT™ evacuation kits to those in need.  Every $10 raised puts one more kit in the hands of someone whose life may be saved. For complete details, click here.

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Posted in Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming News

Swim Meet Tips

Posted on April 6, 2011 | Comments Off

Marin Pirates Masters Coach and Pacific Masters Swimming EXCEL Weekend Clinic Director, Cokie Lepinski, recently posted an awesome article to help you through your first swim meet. I wish I had known these things! I arrived at my first swim meet – about 4 hours from my home – with only one swim suit, one towel, one pair of goggles, one swim cap and 2 power bars. I was signed up to swim in 4 events that day. I can honestly say I was completely unprepared.

In Coach Cokie's article, found on the Pacific Masters Swimming EXCEL Weekend Clinic website, she gives you a detailed packing list (remember to bring your USMS card, extra swimsuits, spare goggles and swim caps, warm clothes, nutritious snacks/meals) and lets you know what to expect throughout the day. You can read her full article here.

 

Cokie and a number of other Pacific Masters Swimming coaches will be hosting a special swim clinic June 10-12 at the San Mateo Athletic Club (San Mateo, CA). The clinic is for coaches and swimmers and is designed to "challenge your mind with information and ideas while infusing new energy and excitement into your swimming and coaching." The featured presenter is Olympic Gold Medal winner Rowdy Gaines.  The central theme of the clinic is Technique & Heart. Everything in the EXCEL Weekend clinic builds around this theme. The goal is for participants to go beyond where they are now as a coach and/or swimmer.

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Posted in Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming News, Swimming Tips

*UPDATE* – Pacific Masters Swimming EXCEL Weekend Swim Clinic

Posted on March 26, 2011 | Comments Off

New Keynote Speaker = Rowdy Gaines

 

The Pacific Masters Swimming EXCEL Weekend swim clinic will be held June 10-12, 2011, in San Mateo at the San Mateo Athletic Club on the campus of College of San Mateo. The club has a beautiful and spacious facility with two pools: a 50m pool and a 25yd pool on a hillside with a gorgeous view. Two weeks after the clinic, the San Mateo Marlins Masters host a long course meet here.

The EXCEL Weekend clinic includes pool sessions, dryland training, filming, an open water session at Half Moon Bay, and an advanced pool competitor session. The central theme of the clinic is Technique & Heart.
 
The keynote speaker is Rowdy Gaines who will join the coaches Friday night, provide the keynote speech Saturday morning, and then work with coaches and swimmers throughout the day. Rowdy is a world record-breaking masters competitor and a true ambassador for masters swimming,
 
All sessions are built with the goal of getting swimmers and coaches to go beyond their current levels and advance their knowledge and skills. No matter what your experience level, you have much to gain by attending this clinic.

The clinic is free to Pacific Masters coaches and assistant coaches with teams registered with Pacific Masters.

Coaches and teams must hold 2011 USMS registration. If you opt for ASCA certification training (Fri June 10th) there is a fee. There is also a fee if you register to receive Swim Power Test filming from Global Sport Technology.

Swimmers pay $130 if registering before May 15th, and $150 after that date. Coaches please help spread the word to your swimmers about this special clinic. Reservations close June 3rd.

To read more about Excel Weekend, see the costs, the clinic schedule and make online reservations (opening this week), visit our: Excel Weekend website.

 

Pacific Masters Swimming logo

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Posted in Open Water Swims, Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming News

Pacific Masters Swimming EXCEL Weekend Swim Clinic

Posted on March 17, 2011 | Comments Off

Pacific Masters Swimming has developed a swim clinic for USMS coaches and swimmers. This clinic, EXCEL Weekend, is scheduled for June 10-12, 2011 at the San Mateo Athletic Club on the campus of College of San Mateo.

No matter what your level (novice, intermediate or advanced) you will absolutely gain from attending this clinic.

The theme of the clinic is Technique and all sessions are built with the goal of getting swimmers and coaches to go beyond to advance their knowledge and skills.

Workshop sessions will be held in classrooms, pools and in the open water at Half Moon Bay State Beach.

The program for coaches begins on Friday, June 10th. The program for swimmers begins Saturday, June 11th, at noon.

To read more about Excel Weekend, see the costs, the clinic schedule and make online reservations, visit the Excel Weekend website.

 

 

Pacific Masters Swimming logo

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Posted in Swimming News

Lane Lines to Arctic Tundra – U.S. Master Swimmer Attempts Alaska’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race

Posted on March 9, 2011 | Comments Off

Looks like I'm not the only U.S. Master Swimmer with an affection for Alaska's Iditarod Sled Dog Race!

 

Angie Taggart at the ceremonial start of Alaska's Iditarod Sled Dog Race

Angie Taggart is a Masters Swimmer who began mushing in 2001 when she worked for veteran dog musher and cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe.  Both Angie and DeeDee are currently on the Iditarod trail. This is Angie's first attempt to complete this legendary race.

You can read Angie's full bio at the official Iditarod website (http://www.iditarod.com/) and follow her along the 1,000-mile trail via her blog at http://www.mushingadventures.blogspot.com/ and via her Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angie-Taggart-following-her-dream-Iditarod-2011/108318815904912.

Pre- Masters Swimming, I lived in Alaska for seven years and fell in love with dog mushing. I twice completed the Norman Vaughan Serum Run '25. (The Serum Run is essentially the non-competitive version of the Iditarod.) Swimming is absolutely solid training for this long-distance dog race – you need incredible endurance to meet the challenges along the trail. I wish I had had all those pool miles under my belt before attempt this Arctic feat.

Good Luck Angie!!!

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Posted in Photo of the Day, Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming News

Swimmers with Sinus Problems?

Posted on January 12, 2011 | Comments Off

Swimmers, do you suffer from sinus issues? I’ve been having a ‘sinus thing’ for the past week or so, and I relayed my symptoms to some of my lane mates. (Well, what do you talk about between sets?) I discovered then that many of them experience various sinus problems throughout the year.

I turned to my friend and all-things-swimming expert, Coach Cokie Lepinski, by posting a sinus-related question on her Marin Pirates Masters Swimming website. Boy did she come through with some helpful information!

Check out her entire article here, as it is filled with information and tips to keep you in the pool with healthy sinuses.

Cokie first turned to the U.S. Masters Swimming website for answers and it turns out there is an ongoing post related to sinus congestion dating back to 2002! You can read that entire post here.

Do you ever suffer from sinus issues? Have you ever missed a workout from clogged sinuses? What do you to keep your sinuses healthy?

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Posted in Swimming Miscellanea, Swimming Tips

Men Who Swim

Posted on January 7, 2011 | Comments Off

I’m sitting at home right now waiting to watch the documentary “Men Who Swim.” One of my TCAM lane mates gave me a heads up this week about this humorous swimming movie. It’s about a group of men of (ahem) a certain age who found unlikely fellowship as members of Sweden’s all-male synchronized swim team.

Male synchronized swimmers from the documentary, "Men Who Swim"

Here is a full description of the documentary taken from the film’s website:

What began as a weekly escape from the daily grind of work and family responsibilities, gradually evolved into a more serious commitment. By day, they are train conductors and meat buyers, archivists and teachers; but by evening, they channel Esther Williams and become earnest and passionate exponents of the sport.

After initially believing themselves to be the only all-male synchronized swim team in the world, they’re surprised to discover that other countries also have teams including Japan, Ukraine, Holland, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain. And the first-ever All Male World Championship in the sport is coming up soon.

The team enters the competition, but they quickly realize they will have to train hard if they are to have a chance at the medals. Drama flares as their competitive spirit collides with differing opinions about how to train and who is in charge. Slowly, a competition-caliber routine comes together.

Not only are the men anticipating the championships, but most of the team is also looking down the barrel at milestone birthdays. More than half will turn 40 during the year they first compete on the world stage (or in the world pool, as it were). They are all, in their own ways, taking stock of their lives, measuring their achievements to this point, and wondering what the future might hold.

Men Who Swim looks at what it means to be part of a team, but also what it is to be an individual at a crucial time in one’s life. Ultimately, the film is about realizing that maybe you’ve already got everything you ever wanted.

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Posted in Swimming Miscellanea

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2011 | Comments Off

May your year be filled with great lane mates, swim coaches that push your limits, new breakthroughs in and out of the pool, playful swimsuits and an abundance of good health.

 

 

I'm including one of my favorite swim photos from 2010 in this post. Not simply because it's a decent underwater photo (if I do say so myself). I happen to like this image because the swimmer is a good friend who pushed through all sorts of fears and is now a dedicated swimmer who rarely misses a workout. Her courage, dedication and good humor is inspiring.

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Posted in Lane Mates, Photo of the Day