Below you’ll find one of my favorite images from today’s Tuolumne County Aquatics Open Age Group Swim Meet for the younger crowd. (more to follow)  The 2009 TCA AOG swim meet will continue through the entire weekend, with swim teams in attendance from various northern California and Central Valley locations. I saw swim caps there [...]

What do you do with a lane mate who, when she gets to the far end of the pool stops to catch her breath, and then proceeds to push off the wall just as you are about to make your turn? This said lane mate is a much slower swimmer than you are, and you’re [...]

Seems like half the people I swim with in the US Masters Swimming program here in Tuolumne County are heading to the 2009 Summer National Senior Games at Stanford this weekend. Folks were practicing their starts, sprints, and of course half the pool has been tapering their practices all week. I suspect some records will [...]

After my first attempt at a triathlon a couple of years ago, I realized I could use a little help with my swimming skills. I found the nearest swimming pool and signed up for a Masters Swimming 101 course. I was fortunate enough to have found great coaches at the Tuolumne County Aquatics Center. My 101 coach [...]

Time your swimming practices, your bike rides and your training runs well this weekend! There was an epic battle in the Tour de France on Mt. Ventoux today. (No spoilers here – but let me say YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!) The Ironman World Championships from Kona, Hawaii, is being replayed on television later [...]

Here we are, awaiting instructions from our USMS coach… Today’s Masters Swimming warm up? Fins on… 400 yards, 50 kick/50 swim – your choice… Go!

I ran into someone on Twitter who is about to sign up for her first sprint triathlon. She is a bit apprehensive about the swim portion, as it will not be in a pool. She’s doesn’t have experience with open water swimming. I’m not a professional by any means, but if I could, I would [...]

There is a wonderfully informative article in the NY Times, written by Gretchen Reynolds, discussing the real health issues of swimming in indoor pools. According to the article, “Problems arise when chlorine mixes with proteins in the water, such as shredded skin or hair, creating chloramines. The more chlorine and the more protein you have [...]

Lane mates… love ‘em, curse ‘em, pass ‘em, compete against ‘em – they undoubtedly make you a better swimmer, enhance your day, and make for entertaining chat around the dinner table. One of my favorite lane mates, a woman I met when I first started the U.S. Masters Swimming program here in Northern California, is [...]

I found the most interesting ‘tweet’ and link last night on Twitter!  Check out this swimming pool art I found on the "If It’s Hip, It’s Here" blog. This one is by Alan Brown: