It’s the dreaded time of year at our pool – time for the annual 1650 free. This is a timed, 1650-yard freestyle swim, which is approximately 1 mile. We all swim more than a mile during our daily coached U.S. Masters workouts, but the fact that there are people there watching you, timing for you and counting laps for you makes it a whole new ballgame. Swimming the mile is a huge accomplishment. For members of the Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters program that have never participated in this annual event, they are setting a benchmark for the future. For those swimming the 1650 for the second, third or ninth time, the (self-imposed) pressure is really on! One lane mate beat his 2009 time by 1 second!

I hung out at the pool this weekend, taking photos from the pool deck on Saturday and from the pool yesterday. It was wonderful to see so many volunteers, friends and family there to assist and to encourage. Folks were very nervous before getting into the water and literally beaming once they touched the wall at lap 66. Even folks who completed their 1650 several years previously experience nerves.

Congratulations to all my TCAM teammates who have completed their 1650!

Here are a few of my favorites from yesterday…

Tags: Masters Swimmer, Masters Swimming, TCAM, Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters