Monument Masters: Winter 2014-15

[Michael Leake]

Greetings from the deep end, everyone! We had a rousing holiday workout this past weekend, and will commit to learning some more carols for the social kick set next year. It has been a blast watching everyone come out and work on their fitness goals in the water, and I look forward to continuing on for 2015.

Our workouts will be shift gears in January as we prepare for a 30 or 60 minute swim at the end of the month, and then from February through April the focus will be on gaining speed in preparation for our fourth annual Masters swim meet on Saturday, April 25th. After that, we will switch to open water for May with eyes towards summertime fun. I plan to have one Saturday per month designated as stroke days, where we hone in on the non-freestyle events (and I'll introduce you to the fun of the 200 fly!).

Please note that the pool schedule is slightly changed for school vacation through the new year. Our Tuesday night practice has been put on hold, and despite the schedule our Saturday practice will still be from 10:30-noon. I will be back with you on January 3rd. Also, just a reminder that the Rec is open on Sundays through the springtime.

Here are the latest rounds of video from practice:

     12/2/14: http://youtu.be/IsVPC7DLMiY

     12/6/14: http://youtu.be/OdmkMs1VWhQ (notice the jolly old elf at the end)

I want to change things up a little and have you take a look and let me know what you think, based on the feedback that I sent out at the beginning of the fall.

A Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and cheers for a great New Year! Please feel free to pass this email on to anyone that might benefit from the fun environment we have in the water with our team. 

...mike...

   <))><

[Michael Leake]

Hello from the deep end! 

I will not be able to make practice this coming Saturday, so I have decided to push the One Hour Swim (or Half Hour Swim, as you please) back to second Saturday of February. That's right - a great way to show some heart on Valentine's Day! I will be on deck keeping a tally of how far everyone swims during this time. Remember, it can be a straight swim, or broken up with a little rest or kicking/pulling. It's a fun challenge and I hope that the extra time will help everyone prepare for a great swim! I hear that there will be sweet treats at the end of practice!

Just so everyone knows, I am working to determine the best placement for the gift that some wonderful elves blessed me with - here is my first trial run ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tN1FKp87ko

Remember to keep April 25th open for our mini meet - we need lots of relays! See you at the pool soon :)

...mike...

   <))><

[Rebecca Healy]

Great, I'm hoping to be back in the pool soon and can make the long swim. Just the way I like it.

Cheers

Rebecca Healy

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[gj]

Mike - the video looks good on a bigger computer screen - seems plenty useful for underwater stroke analysis. And maybe with that fisheye lens it could even be positioned between lanes to capture 2 swimmers per video?

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Subject: Re: Monument Masters: Winter 2014-15
From: beck...@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:58:52 -0500
To: bennington-area-...@googlegroups.com

[Rachel Rodney]

I don't know what you have all done but now I have the swim bug- just since starting masters.  I used to avoid swimming like the plague. 

 This week I'm on vacation in breckenridge and joined masters swim here this morning.  It was certainly a feat to swim more than 100 yards at a time at 10,000 feet! Can't wait to get back to sea level:) 

See you all next week. I wish we were getting that snow here in Colorado! 

Rachel 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Mike Leake]

Hello Team! 

I want to again congratulate all of our swimmers who took on the challenge of the One Hour Swim and truly rocked it! The overall results are listed below, and I am eagerly looking forward to completing it again next year ... and I am most thankful that this event only comes around once a year!

2015 participants: Carol, Greg, Kevin, Luiza, Mark, Melissa, Mike, Rachel R., Rebecca H. Our team average was just over 3400 yds, or 2 miles! Super job, everyone!

 

Team		30642	29019	18.57	17.41
Totals		yards	meters	pool miles	miles

A few quick notes:

- The Rec Center will have slightly different hours for the upcoming school vacation week. The building will be closed tomorrow (2/16) for President's Day. We have an extra half hour of practice on Tuesday (7-8:30p), and regular practice on Saturday (10:30-12p).

- There are a few meets to consider. I have attached .pdf files for a meet in Williston on 3/28, as well as our home meet on 4/25. These are both "recognized" meets, which simply means that you do not need to be a registered member of USMS to compete. I am happy to help you think about what events to swim, just ask.

- Our training philosophy will be changing a little, with more higher intensity sets and more rest. I also plan to work on stroke technique for a portion of each practice that I am able to attend so that we can incorporate more strokes into our training bag. As we get through April our focus will be on open water training.

Thanks again everyone for your support of adult swimming and fitness in our community. Please invite your friends to drop in for a practice and experience the fun of our workouts.

...mike...

 

  <))><

 

[Michael Leake]

Great job on our stroke work with backstroke and butterfly of late. We'll be working on turns and starts next weekend when I am join you again in the water.

But, a quick update about practice this Saturday ...

A workout will be provided for your swimming pleasure, but I want to draw your attention to an Olympic opportunity via the Marauders. See the photo attached; I know that Samantha will be talking to the kids on the bleachers in the pool area at 10:45. So, the pool will be open but hearing from a gold medalist might be something to strongly consider. Nicole has welcomed us to join in.

Oh, I hear a rumor that winter should be over by July! 

...mike...

   <))><