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Pacific Update
Week of March 29th, 2021
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Hello!
In this issue you will find information on upcoming swimming events being held in April. Of particular interest might be the April 500 Free ePostal, an informational meeting about the Adult Learn-to-Swim program, and a Community Talk, with special guest Abbie Fish.
A note about our new design: Our newsletter service has been updated, and we are in the process of adapting to these changes. We hope you like our new look! The Update may look different, but the content remains the same. We appreciate your patience in the coming weeks as we continue to adjust to this new format.
The next issue of the Update will appear on April 12, 2021. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
Stay fit,
The Pacific Masters Swimming Committee
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Pandemic ePostal Challenge Series |
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Don’t let this pandemic get you down. We’ve got competitions for you. Beginning with the current THRICE ePostal, we are creating the Pandemic ePostal Challenge Series. Points will be earned 7,5,4,3,2,1 by the top six swimmers in each event in each age group. (If a monthly ePostal has more than two events, only your best two finishes will qualify for points that month.) ePostals will be offered monthly until in-person pool competitions resume. At that time, top point recipients in each age group will receive an award which will commemorate this challenging year. If you have ideas for events to offer, or represent a club and would like to host one of the months, please contact Meet Operations Coordinator.
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Current and Upcoming ePostal and Virtual Meets |
As we await the return of in-person competition, we will continue to share news of ePostal and virtual events to motivate your training: |
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March Events:
MEMO THRICE ePostal Meet
March 1 - 31
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MEMO is hosting an ePostal meet that has something for absolutely every swimmer! The new THRICE event allows you to enter just your favorite events or all of them, in any competition pool that you choose. Each event consists of three swims, composed of all the races in that stroke (50, 100, 200 fly/back/breast; 100, 200, 400 IM). There are also Sprint (50, 100, 200) and Distance (200, 500, 1000) categories for freestyle. There are only a few days left to join in on the fun. Information and Registration
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USMS 1-Hour ePostal Extended!
Ending March 31
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Great news! The 1-Hour ePostal National Championship has been extended through March 31. Time is almost up! Make sure to complete the 1-hour swim. Registration
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April Events:
April 500 Free ePostal
April 1 - 15
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Our second competition in the Pacific Masters Pandemic ePostal Challenge Series is April's 500 Free ePostal. Benchmark your return-to-fitness with a 500 yard (or 400 meter) swim for time. This ePostal will wrap up on April 15, so you can turn your attention to the 2021 TYR Last One Fast One virtual event. Information and Registration
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TYR Last One Fast One
April 16 - May 2
This fun event gives you the chance to race Masters swimmers across the country in your favorite pool using the Swim.com app (times can be submitted manually or via a smartwatch). BONUS: $5 from each entry benefits Adult Learn-to-Swim grants.
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June Events:
2021 Swim.com USMS Summer Fitness Challenge
June 1-15
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Learn About Adult Learn-to-Swim
April 7, 7:00 PM
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On Wednesday, April 7, 7:00-8:00 PM learn how together we can make more adults safe around the water. More than a third of adults in the United States can’t swim the length of a pool, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which puts them at risk of being one of the 10 people who drown every day in this country. U.S. Masters Swimming's Adult Learn-to-Swim initiative is on the front lines to change this statistic. As pools open up in our communities, this program is one way to get involved to save a life and give back to the community, maybe even to grow your club! Register here. For more information, contact Kim Elsbach.
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Pacific Masters Community Talk and Social Hour
Kicking it with Abbie Fish
April 14, Starts at 7 PM
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Please join us on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 PM, for our second virtual community talk and social hour. Get a kick out of hearing from Abbie Fish talk about the importance of kicking in swimming. Abbie started Swim Like A. Fish in 2019 after 25 years of success in competitive swimming and 10+ years of elite swim coaching. During her swimming career, Abbie was a 6x Olympic Trial Qualifier, SEC Finalist, NCAA Qualifier, and 2x USA Junior National Champion.
Abbie is a University of Georgia "Double Dawg", where she swam and graduated with her M.S. and B.S. degrees in Exercise Science. Abbie is a swimming nerd at heart and loves everything when it comes to stroke mechanics, underwater video, and swimming technique. Abbie's goal with Swim Like A. Fish is to help any coach or swimmer (no matter their age) get faster through stroke technique education. Register here.
Stick around after hearing from Abbie; we'll split into smaller groups so you can socialize and catch up with your swim buddies.
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Dryland Training for Pacific Masters Swimmers
Sunday Afternoons, Extended Through April!
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Steve Trutane has kicked off a new dryland instruction for mobility and strength. This program is a free benefit to USMS-registered swimmers. Movements are swim-specific with an aim to increase strength and improve efficiency without risking injury. Steve has previously offered regular dryland training to members of Albany Armada Aquatic Masters, YMCA of Berkeley and Albany Community Triathlon. This program was so successful with Pacific Masters swimmers that it has been extended through April. Go to Athlete Body Shop and click on the Zoom link every Sunday from 4:30-5:15 PM.
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Update on Championship Meets |
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Pacific Masters will not be recruiting a host for the championship meets until the COVID public health restrictions are revised to allow for larger group gatherings. This also applies to our open water events. When the situation changes, we will notify all members. |
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Swimming Studies
By Leanne Shapton
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In this memoir, Shapton describes a situation many of us might be able to relate to: being very, very good at something but wanting to be great. She trained for the Olympic trials as a teenager, but never realized her dream to compete at an Olympics. Shapton tells the story of returning to swimming as an adult. In writing that is evocative, contemplative and honest, she offers new perspectives on swimming.
A highlight? Her collection of swimming suits from her past, included as a series of photographs in the middle section of the book.
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Snapshots from a Swimming Friendship
Bonnie Tsui
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For many this year, swimming has been a lifeline. In this New York Times piece, author and Pacific Masters swimmer Bonnie Tsui (Why We Swim) describes how "plunging into the water has been essential" for her and a friend with cancer. Being immersed in water "is cleansing and conducive to play, even when things are heavy." Read more about Tsui's reflections on the healing power of water here.
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