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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 ...
Tags: Masters Swimmer, Masters Swimming, TCAM, Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters
November and December have been a blur of deadlines, mishaps, broken body parts, doctors’ appointments, the flu, snow, loss of electrical power, satellite internet outtages ... and sadly, very little swimming. Many of my fellow swimmers at Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters (TCAM) are now enjoying their 2010 TCAM calendar... a gift created as a small token of my appreciation of what the program brings to my life. I'm including an abbreviated version of the calendar here, but if you want the full version, you'll just have to order one. Or… you may also view the calendar in its entirety on my website, www.TracyBarbutes.com.
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Tags: Masters Swimmer, Masters Swimming, TCAM, Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters
Posted by tracyb under
Photo of the Day
So, I’m in the process of editing thousands of images for this Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters (TCAM) calendar. I came across this image from the Pacific Masters Swimming 2009 Short Course Meters Championships. I don’t know who this is – he isn’t a teammate – but I dig the water flowing off his head. If anyone knows who this is, tell him to email me - I have many more images he might enjoy.
Tags: Pacific Masters, TCAM, Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters
Posted by tracyb under
Swimming Miscellanea
We’ve established I’ve had some annoying health ‘issues’ and spent more time on a pool deck than normal this past year. Consequently, I took a lot of photos at USMS swim meets, practices, open swims, etc. In one of my far-too-frequent philanthropic moods, I offered to create a calendar for Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters (TCAM). I figured it was the least I could do: my teammates have been pretty kind about allowing me to point a camera in their direction. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to an as yet undetermined local worthy cause. (No, not my camera gear fund!) I asked Coach Patti to decide, and I certainly trust her opinion in ...
Tags: TCAM, Tuolumne County Aquatics Masters, U.S. Masters Swimmer, USMS
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Sometimes daily deadlines and a horrible internet connection prevent me from having fun here on the blog. And by horrible internet connection, I mean this company. For those of you fortunate enough to live in an urban area where you have access to DSL and all sorts of high-speed and UNLIMITED internet - I so completely and entirely envy you! My two options here in the hinterlands are dial-up (stop snickering) and satellite. In case you didn't know, satellite internet providers limit your daily access. Once you've reached their "Fair Access Policy" quota - that's it, you're kicked off for at least 24 hours. And, to add insult to injury, ...
Tags: TCAM, USMS
Sitting at home last night with my leg elevated and my knee on ice, enjoying ibuprofen-enhanced mango sorbet, I actually wondered if the same people who invented the breaststroke invented the mammogram machine. They both involve contorting body parts in unnatural positions.
Curious to know the origins, I googled “who invented the breaststroke” and found on Wikipedia that the breaststroke dates back to the Stone Age. <There goes my above-mentioned theory.> It is thought that the leg action of the breaststroke may have originated by imitating the swimming action of frogs.
Our local U.S. Masters program, TCAM, gave breaststroke instruction all week. The week prior was the butterfly stroke. Next week they’ll instruct us in backstroke ...
Tags: breaststroke, TCAM, USMS
