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Newsletter
July 20, 2011
by Tasha Capen
In this edition:

Upcoming Events

July 30, 4-7pm - Faster Freestyle Clinic With Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen (Burgess) 
Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen is back this year to offer her freestyle clinic to anyone who wants to swim faster with less effort. More details below. Register soon - only 21 spots left! https://www.menloswim.com/registration/activity.php?activity_id=301  

August 21 - Splash & Dash Weekend Series, Open Water Swim (Morgan Hill)
Those of you looking for a challenge in and out of the water without going for a full-on tri, try out the August Splash & Dash. It's an open water swim held monthly - though only the August event is a designated Menlo Masters team  event. You can do a one or a two mile open water swim, and if you'd like, pair it with a run following the swim. For details: http://www.thresholdracinginc.com/splash-dash-weekends.php  

August 28 - Summer Picnic (Bair Island Aquatic Center, Redwood City)
Join swimmers of the year Barbara Jones and Carl Mortensen for our team picnic this year - and try out a variety of rowing activities! The event will be held in Redwood City at Bair Island. More details and sign-ups coming soon - in the meantime, browse the Bair Island Aquatic Center's site at: www.gobair.org  

187 relay teams are swimming Trans-Tahoe this Saturday, July 23 (www.transtahoerelay.com). 
Good luck to our three Menlo Masters teams:
- Circus Sheep (Men 240+): Bruce Bower, Jeff Hewitt, Scott Kaloust, Mike Moran, Duke Rohlen, Mike Texido
- Shivering Timbers III (Men 300+): Tom Anderson, Allan Anderson, Phil Arcuni, Bill Dawson, Tim Sheeper, Dave Tamblin
 - Mighty Menlo Mermaids (Women 240+): Barbara Breen, Tasha Capen, Stephanie Couch, Laura Legros, Jana Matena, Nancy Prouty 

The finish is at Skylandia Beach near Tahoe City - our speedy teams will likely finish between 11:15 and 12:15, if you happen to be in the area. Note: If you're swimming the relay but are not on one of these teams, please email Tasha, so we can look for you at the race.


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Know Who You Swim With

We've all heard Tim say this at workouts, "make sure you know who you're swimming with." It's a helpful reminder that we swim not just for ourselves, but as part of a community that thrives because we each participate and because we get to know one another. As a way to help us get to know who we swim with outside of our usual lane and practice time, we're introducing the "know who you swim with" feature to team newsletters. Teammates will respond to questions that help us get to know them. Swimmers of the Year Carl Mortensen and Barbara Jones are featured in this first installment. If you have suggestions for people we should highlight, send nominations to Tasha. Enjoy!

1. Name: Carl
2. Lane I usually swim in: 2
3. How long I’ve been a Menlo Masters swimmer: since team's inception (20+ years ago) 
4. Why I started swimming: lived with grandfather in Santa Barbara who had a pool 
5. Why I keep swimming: fitness, camaraderie, habit 
6. What I do when I’m not in the pool: skiing, volunteer work, household projects, hobbies, travel, reading, emeritus work at USGS, summer cabin in Lassen County 
7. Favorite childhood toy: an electric boat that I chased around the pool @ 3 or 4 yrs old 
8. Favorite book, music or movie: Master and Commander 
9. What keeps me going in life: swimming, skiing, family, pension, rituximab and Temodar 
10. What other sports do you participate in? Skiing 
11. What state were you born in? California 
12. Do you have a role model? Blaise Pascal 
13. Any hobbies? currently, my '68 Camaro (I'm a gearhead) 
14. Any kids? Kirstin (34), Amber (33)  


1. Name: Barbara Jones 
2. Lane I usually swim in: Lane 3 – so I can get more than 10 seconds rest – I have a sprinters mentality. 
3. How long I’ve been a Menlo Masters swimmer: About 12 years? 
4. Why I started swimming: My parents made me- my two other brothers were (and are) swimmers and they wanted all of us corralled in one place, so it was the pool. 
5. Why I keep swimming: I’m addicted – to the swimming, to the endorphins, to the camaraderie, to the ever-changing and interesting workouts, to shower hour. 
6. What I do when I’m not in the pool: collect artifacts from long ago and not so long ago; raise two kids, three dogs and two cats; enjoy life. 
7. Favorite childhood toy: Troll dolls. I was one of those annoying kids who had to put them on my swimming block at swim meets – some of you know what I am talking about... 
8. Favorite book, music or movie: Could not possibly name one favorite of any of these – I do like escapist or inspiring books and movies and appreciate all kinds of accomplished music. 
9. What keeps me going in life: Knowing there is a finite time on this earth and trying to make the most out of that time. 
10. What other sports do you participate in? Water Polo – sort of. 
11. What state were you born in? Washington 
12. Do you have a role model? Not ONE role model – I have found, and still do find, role models in many different places in many aspects of my life. 
13. Any hobbies? Collecting animal bones for my comparative collection. 
14. Any kids? A daughter Avery (19 yrs old), a son Piers (16 yrs old).  
Thanks for getting us started, Carl and Barbara - great to get to know more about you!


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Pacific Masters LCM Championships

A few weekends ago in Santa Cruz, 20 Menlo Masters swam a total of 82 individual races over the course of the 3 day meet. Our team also fielded a whopping 12 relays - a 3+ year high for the team in a single meet!  75% of the relays placed first or second. Swimmers came and went as their races and family commitments allowed, though we always had a solid core of team members to catch up with and cheer each other on. (Jean Gillon was called to do surgery at 4 am Sunday morning and *still* made it down to Santa Cruz to land that Speed Club Silver in the 100 free she'd been going after all year!)  

The highlight of the meet, as noted by the team members present, was the 100 free heat that found super-sprinter Barbara Jones in a lane right next to perennially speedy-at-any-distance Jana Matena. They swam neck-and-neck the entire way, one gaining a slight edge then the other pulling ahead. It came all the way down to the touch - only the timing pad could tell the difference - Jana's pad registered a mere 11/100ths of a second faster than Barbara's. Both women ended up just over the blistering pace of one minute and seven seconds. Absolutely stunning performances! The best part? The big hug they gave one another across the lane line as soon as they touched. Not a dry eye on the team...  

Some other highlights of the meet: 
  - Mike Pyle, another super-sprinter, turned in great races for the 50 and 100 free. Not only did he place first in his age group, but he had the second fastest 100 free time of ALL competitors at a jaw-dropping 54.92 - the first place finisher beat him by only 0.5s and was 12 years younger! Mike's 50 free also won his age group and placed third overall. He's preparing to swim both those races at Nationals in early August. Go Mike! 
  - 20 individual and 1 relay team records were set, 13 of them by people new to their age group: Barbara Jones (4), Jean Gillon (3), Murray McLachlan (3), Charlie Ammann (2), Tasha Capen (1-tied). Other records were set by John Sulzbach and Mike Pyle (2 each), and one each set by Miki Armstrong, Jana Matena and Judy Strauss. A few records were broken by multiple team members in the same age group (Barbara Jones and Miki, especially), alas, only the fastest time goes into the books... 
  - Barbara Jones, Dave Gildea, Murray McLachlan and Miki Armstrong set a new relay record in the 240 age group for the 200 Medley relay. Thanks and congratulations to all our Menlo swimmers: Charlie Ammann, Tom Anderson, Miki Armstrong, Barbara Breen, Tasha Capen, Rich Cottrell, Stephanie Couch, Louise Feeley, Dave Gildea, Jean Gillon, Barbara Jones, Jana Matena, Murray McLachlan, Carl Mortensen, Mike Pyle, Peter Shepherd, Kent Stietzel, Judy Strauss, John Sulzbach and Lark Widen.


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Menlo Masters Annual Challenges

- Year-Rounder: An even dozen team members have made the half-way (or beyond) mark - six 10,000 yd swims done! Congratulations to: Bob Carlin, Stephanie Couch, Kathy Coulbourn, Louise Feeley, Kim Freitas, Dana Hayse, Kirsten Kempe, Adam Kerr, Deanna Lin, Frances Reneau, Michele Santilhano and Kent Stietzel. Monitor their progress via Google doc: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtdguLaBiFTWdEZYQ09wNGJoUXNJcnVsWVhEVUwxNGc&hl=en#gid=1

 - Million Yard Club: As of the end of June, four swimmers have racked up over half a million yards each. Nicole Cadman, who made her first million by April, continues her pace and was at 1,656,000. Kent Stietzel reached 856,475 yds, Roger Von Oech ended June at 577,000 and Duke Rohlen was right on target with 505,000. Great swimming!  These water-logged types track their monthly progress in this Google doc: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtUOxuTLNrE0dFZJdXdFZ1dZZnF5Y0syUndLREdpcXc&authkey=CMGNosMD&hl=en#gid=0  

- Swim the Cycle: Ten swimmers are on target to complete the 18 standard pool races for the cycle. Kent Stietzel finished already - congratulations! Barbara Breen, Dave Gildea, John Sulzbach and Stephanie Couch are over 75% there with 4 or fewer events to complete. Louise Feeley, Murray McLachlan, Peter Shepherd, Sandy Dutro and Tasha Capen each have 6-7 events to check off. With the short course meters (SCM) season ahead this fall, there are plenty of meets left for all 10 to make the cycle!  

- Speed Club (LCM season): The long course meters season is almost over, and 15 people have bested one of the speed club standards. Gold swims were turned in by Barbara Jones, Jana Matena, Murray McLachlan and Mike Pyle. Silver swims go to Tom Anderson, Miki Armstrong, Barbara Breen, Tasha Capen, Stephanie Couch, Dave Gildea and Jean Gillon. Rich Cottrell, Sandy Dutro, Kent Stietzel and Crick Walters all qualified with Bronze swims. The LCM standards seem to be the most challenging - well done all! A summary of the swims can be found at: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9UOxuTLNrE0OGQ1NjFlYTItNzBiYy00ZTYxLTg4ZmUtMjY4OTg3YmM0ZmNh&hl=en_US


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Request from Steve Haile, Pool Groundskeeper

Steve Haile, that quiet, thorough and reliable presence on the pool deck, has the following request for ideas, referrals or solutions.  

Dear Masters Swimmers, my name is Steve Haile. Many of you will recognize me as the tall person who maintains our pool facility, and I'd like to ask a favor. I am looking for private living quarters for myself in exchange for work on someone's property. I have many skills that would be very useful to a home owner, including the care of many different types of large and small animals and landscaping. Please contact me by e-mail, phone, or talk to me at the pool. Thank you for any ideas you might have.  
Steve Haile 
Phone: (650) 322-7163


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Faster Freestyle Clinic With Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen

Swim FASTER RIGHT NOW!  

Who would be CRAZY enough to change their swimming technique in the middle of the season??? Someone that WANTS TO SWIM FASTER, that's who!  

Recently voted as one of the top ten Masters swimmers of all-time by Swimming World Magazine, Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen of Aquatic Edge (www.aquaticedge.org) can show you how!  

After all...aren't you tired of working so hard to swim so SLOW? Wouldn't you rather swim faster with less effort and 
 -  Have the best swim of your life at your next race? 
 -  Relax, find your balance and not sink? 
 -  Effectively breathe in any condition? 
 -  Become more comfortable in the water?  

Then an Aquatic Edge clinic is just for YOU. 
 -  Learn the techniques used by Karlyn, top triathletes and Olympians. 
 -  The teaching methods Karlyn uses are SIMPLE and easy to understand.    
 -  Training tips and recovery suggestions will also be provided 
You learn to swim faster right away because you are doing LESS not more.  

You do not want to miss this clinic UNLESS you are happy with your current stroke and swim times.  

Hosted by Menlo Masters, Karlyn will be offering a Faster Freestyle clinic on Saturday, July 30th from 4:00-7:00PM a the Burgess Pool located at 501 Laurel St, Menlo Park, CA. Cost for the clinic is $115 for Menlo Masters or $125 for all others. Sign up online at https://www.menloswim.com/registration/activity.php?activity_id=301.  

To give you an idea of the FASTER FREESTYLE technique YOU WILL LEARN, then watch this video of Karlyn and share it with your friends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bPvk0paWcg  

Pre-order Karlyn's Go Swim Freestyle DVD and pay only $35, or purchase at clinic for $40.  

About Karlyn: Lives in Kona, Hawaii and is known world-wide for being an accomplished swimmer having set over 200+ masters world records to date. However, she is equally as talented as an instructor and uses her high energy to deliver a fun and face paced clinic woven with personal experience. The drills and technique she teaches are simple, easy to understand and makes total sense. Karlyn really CAN teach you how to be faster, more efficient swimmer!!  

For more info aquaticedge@hawaii.rr.com or for last minute sign-ups, please call Karlyn at (808) 756-0195.  

In the meantime, please visit the Aquatic Edge website at www.aquaticedge.org for GREAT articles written by Karlyn on technique, training and motivation that you might find helpful that were published in Swimming World Magazine. 
Mahalo! 
Karlyn  Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen 
Aquatic Edge Swim Camps & Clinics 
Kona, Hawaii and beyond 
(808) 756-0195-cell 
www.aquaticedge.org 
email: aquaticedge@hawaii.rr.com 
Faster Freestyle video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bPvk0paWcg 
Teaching in an Endless Pool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ_XN1WbWE&f


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For Your Calendars...Menlo Masters Team Events

** 2011 Team Competitions and Events ** 
 - *July 23* - Trans-Tahoe Open Water Relay (Lake Tahoe) 
 - *August 21* - Splash & Dash Weekend Series (Morgan Hill) 
 - *August 28* - Summer Picnic (Bair Island Aquatic Center) 
 - *September 17* - Dynamic Duo (Burgess) 
 - *September 25* - Mountain View Swim Meet (Mountain View) 
 - *October 14-16* - Pac Masters Short Course Meters Meet (Walnut Creek) 
 - *October* - Killer Quad I (KQI) Hour Swim, ~Halloween (Burgess) 
 - *November* - KQII 50x100s, ~Thanksgiving (Burgess) 
 - *December* - KQIII 75x100s, ~Christmas, and KQIV 100x100s, ~New Year's (Burgess)  

** 2011 Year Round Intramural Challenges ** 
 - Year-Rounder - Swim 10,000 yards in a day once per month 
 - One Million Yard Club - Swim 1,000,000 yards in 2011 
 - Speed Club - Meet the time standard for the 100 Free at a swim meet 
 - Swim the Cycle - Swim each of the 18 events at meets throughout the year  

 Supporting links: 
 - Year-Rounder - record your progress: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtdguLaBiFTWdEZYQ09wNGJoUXNJcnVsWVhEVUwxNGc&hl=en_US#gid=1 
 - One Million Yard Club - record your monthly progress: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtUOxuTLNrE0dFZJdXdFZ1dZZnF5Y0syUndLREdpcXc&hl=en_US&authkey=CMGNosMD#gid=0 
 - Speed Club - SCY/LCM/SCM standards: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9UOxuTLNrE0YWE1OGExYjgtYWY2YS00ZWMyLWEwMjUtOTc3YjU4ZjVhN2Nm&hl=en_US 
 - Swim the Cycle - Email Tasha Capen for a list of what you've already swum


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