Pacific Update
Week of December 7, 2020 |
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In this issue you will find information on upcoming pool events and other information of interest to the local adult swimming community.
The next issue of the Update will appear on January 4, 2021. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, December 30, 2020.
Stay fit,
The Pacific Masters Swimming Committee
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Open Water Panel Q & A
December 9
On Wednesday, December 9, 7:00-8:00 pm, Pacific Masters will offer an open water Zoom clinic, Swimming Through The Winter, Part 2. Optional breakout rooms will be available after 8:00.
Unlike during the summer months, mishaps can happen when swimming during the cold water winter months, and open water swimmers benefit from being well informed. This clinic is tailored for those who want to explore swimming in cold water, learn how to avoid hypothermia, handle frigid cold air temperatures while swimming and other challenges associated with winter swimming.
This time, we have a panel of guests. Five panelists will answer your questions about open water swimming in the winter.
Panelists are:
Dean Atchison: Chair, Open Water Swimming, Pacific Masters
Suzie Dods: Open Water marathon swimmer, Board Member Northern CA and Lake Tahoe Swimming Associations
Gary Emich: Alcatraz Swimmer extraordinaire
Sylvia Marino: Regular SF Bay swimmer, completed Catalina Channel swim solo, expert on long distance swimming training plans
Joel Wilson: Head Coach, Santa Cruz Masters
There is no charge to USMS registered member; however a $10 charge applies to all others. Register here. Deadline is 3pm, same day as the clinic.
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Ross Yancher Brute Squad and Brute Squad Lite ePostal Swims
Submission Deadline: December 10.
Great job to those who finished the 12th Ross Yancher Brute Squad and Brute Squad Lite ePostal Swim hosted by Davis Aquatics Masters!
Make sure you submit your results by December 10. Swims must be completed between October 1 to November 30. Click here to submit your times.
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MEMO 400 Kick for Time
December 1-31
Back by popular demand for the 8th year! MEMO does this as a repeating set and wants everyone to join in. Performed in an organized, supervised USMS practice, this is a great way to prepare to use those legs all throughout the swimming season. Information and Registration here.
Remember to submit your times by January 10, 2021! |
Pacific Masters is happy to share videos of their autumn swim clinics. We have created a Vimeo account where you will find videos of our October Special Pandemic Coaches Clinic and November Open Water Swimming Through the Winter Clinic. As we hold other online clinics we will add more videos.
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Pacific Masters Annual Celebration and Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Celebration and Meeting during these unprecedented times. Even though it was only virtually, it was great to "see" you all again. We were able to unite for two days to share our commitment to Pacific Masters and our love of swimming.
A special shout out to this year's Annual Meeting Committee for organizing the first virtual Annual Celebration and Meeting: Nancy Ridout (chair); Teddy Palmer; Clare Kubiak; Lorena Sims; Rich Burns; Chris Ottati; Maggie Tevis; Annette Coholan; Phyllis Quinn.
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| ANNUAL COMMITTEE SHOUT-OUTS |
Pacific Masters Service Awards for 2020
By: Nancy Ridout
The Pacific Masters Service Awards for 2020 were announced at the Annual Celebration Meeting on November 15th. Pacific Masters couldn't be successful without its volunteers. They represent the unsung heroes in every club and Masters activity in Pacific Masters.
Nancy Ridout Award for Distinguished Service: Phyllis Quinn
Contributor of the Year: Karen Harris
Appreciation Awards: Richard Burns; Carol Nip; Laura Shope; Greg Stoner
Personal Achievement Awards: Catherine Breed; Google Relay (Craig Robinson, Joe Gardner, Erik Haugen, Sven Mawson, Collin Johnston, Tom Dowd, Rob Gray, and Joe Young)
Peggy Lucchesi Award: Bonnie Tsui
Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Celebration and Meeting during these unprecedented times. Even though it was only virtually, it was great to "see" you all again. We were able to unite for two days to share our commitment to Pacific Masters and our love of swimming. FULL ARTICLE
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2020, A Very Strange Year
By: Rich Burns
In one of our early organizing committee meetings for the 2020 virtual Annual Celebration and Meeting, I volunteered to make a video about this year for Pacific Masters Swimming. I quickly realized that there were no activities during the year, no content to work with. I also never made a video in my life.
The solution was to ask members to send in their stories about how they weathered the pandemic. Many of you were gracious enough to share your stories. That solved the content problem. I still needed to turn it into a video.
While exploring my options, I kiddingly asked my 11-year-old grandson if he could make a video. He'd never made one either, but unlike me, he didn't know what he didn't know. Together we produced this video capturing the essence of Pacific Masters Swimming during 2020. You can view it here.
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Thank You Coach Kerry O'Brien
Legendary Masters coach; Kerry O'Brien has been a staple in Pacific Masters Swimming and US Masters Swimming. As Head Coach for Walnut Creek Masters, he has helped swimmers reach their potential and goals for 40 years. He built up a small Masters team to one of the best teams in the country. He also established a "Learn to Swim" program as part of USMS' Swimming Saves Lives program for WCM, responsible for teaching many adults how to swim.
His work extends beyond his own team. In 2008, he won USMS' Grassroots Coaching Award, which was later renamed to the "Kerry O'Brien Coaches' Award". He also serves as a mentor to other Masters coaches around the country.
From the pool decks of Pacific Masters competitions to the FINA Masters World Championships, you can hear other swimmers and coaches talk about his effect on the Masters Swimming community. He's done more than just produce fast swimmers; he has imparted others with wisdom, happiness and the desire to discover or rediscover their love and passion for the sport.
Coach Kerry, thank you so much for your years of service for Pacific Masters Swimming. We wish you a happy retirement. Your impact has truly been appreciated and the wake you are leaving will be felt for many years
by your swimmers in Walnut Creek to the leadership team at Pacific Masters Swimming and US Masters Swimming.
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Temescal Masters- Head Coach Wanted
Temescal Aquatic Masters in Oakland is seeking candidates for its Head Coach position. A key leader of our team, the Head Coach should be an experienced coach and swimmer who motivates coaches and swimmers through effective communication and reinforcement. Job description.
If interested, please submit your cover letter and resume to temeswims@gmail.com with the subject line: Head Coach position.
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Davis Aquatic Masters- Head Coach Wanted
Submission by December 31, 2020
Davis Aquatic Masters (DAM) has been honored to be coached by the "dynamic duo" Stu and Mary Kahn for the past 12 years. We are recruiting for a head coach, as Stu and Mary planning their retirement. We are committed to finding a coach who can carry on the great tradition and mission of our club, with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication. And as a DAM coach, you'll experience first-hand the earned generosity of team members, appreciation and loyalty to the coaches, and our spirited nature as we celebrate birthdays and holidays and make lasting memories together at numerous team-sponsored events.
The preferred start date is May 1, 2021. Applications received prior to December 31, 2020 will be given first consideration. Job listing
How to Apply:
Submit a letter of interest, a coaching philosophy statement, resume and letters of reference from 3 professional colleagues (with contact information for each).
Email application materials to DAM Search Committee Co-Chairs:
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Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian
By Anthony Ervin
We've been sharing some of our Update Editors' favorite swimming books to help ease the stress of the pandemic restrictions.
Reading about swimming is not as therapeutic as actually being in the water, but it keeps us tuned in and has the potential to open our eyes to all aspects of our sport. See the full list here.
Most of us know Anthony Ervin as a talented sprint freestyler with awesome tattoos and the first US Olympic swimmer of African American descent. He is also Jewish.
After his gold medal performance at the  2000 Olympics, Ervin retired and tried to find himself beyond the lanes of the pool. He fell into a depression, became homeless and abused substances. He managed a remarkable comeback in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, earning a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in 2016, making Ervin the oldest swimmer to win a gold medal in an individual race (50 Freestyle). He is an inspiration and reminder to all of us to follow our dreams, no matter how old we are or our past challenges.
This book is about never giving up and always finding strength and hope within the darkness.
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Shift Your Sleep Patterns Before Competitions
Circadian cycles affect swimming performance
Wondering why your performance at 5am practices isn't as at great as your noon practices? Grumpy about the 400 Free being the first instead of the last event of the meet? You're not alone.
A study was done by Renseke Lok on circadian rhythms and sports performance. According to the article, "Olympic swimmers race about 0.39 seconds faster in the evening than in the morning, and as insignificant as that fraction of a second may seem, gold medals are routinely won by slimmer margins."
Olympians could use Lok's study results to optimize their performances and adjust their sleep patterns to international time zones. Knowing when to go to bed becomes especially difficult when finals are scheduled at unusual times to accommodate a primetime broadcast in America. Read more here.
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Last Newsletter of 2020
This year has been extraordinary. Early on, we were prevented from swimming to swim due to the governor's shelter-in-place order. Some pools have reopened in the Bay Area, some have not. Despite this, we have found many creative ways to stay in shape. Even with the new restrictions on the horizon, we will always learn to adapt.
Take some time to thank your club's Board Committee for working tirelessly to get swimmers back into the water and uplifting everyone during this difficult time. From all of us at Pacific Masters Swimming, Happy Holidays, stay safe, wear your mask and we shall hopefully see you in the water next year. Stay strong, swimmers. 
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