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Newsletter
September 13, 2011
by Tasha Capen
In this edition:

Upcoming Events

Dynamic Duo - Sept 17 
Coming up this weekend! Reserve your spot by Wednesday midnight. We've been practicing all those sprints - don't let them go to waste! The 6 am heat is now full, yet there's space left in the three others, especially at 8:15 am. Also, we need timers for each lane for each heat - please come for the heat prior to yours or stay for the one after to help out. Use the link below to sign up to time and to swim. And if anyone is willing and able to take a few pictures, please do so and email tasha@menlomasters.com so we can get them posted. Tim will reveal the pairings as soon as possible after Wednesday. Go for the fruit! 
Sign up: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtUOxuTLNrE0dHFxdVMzVXZLSGFzenRzVy14U3VlMHc&hl=en_US


Mountain View Masters Alan Liu Memorial Meet - Sept 25 
Mountain View Masters is hosting this short, local, fun meet. There are 50s of each stroke, 100 IM and 100 free (Speed Club membership opportunity!) and a couple of relays. The remaining events make up "the animal" challenge - sign up for and swim the 400 IM, 400 free, 200 back, breast AND fly to receive a special award. Five team members have signed up and others are planning to go.  
--Registration and information: 
https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1291&smid=3266 
--SCM Speed Club standards for 100 free: 
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9UOxuTLNrE0OWUwM2UyZTAtNjEzYS00MzA2LTkyNzctMmRiNzM3MGEyZTY2&hl=en_US&authkey=CPSemfAO  

Pacific Masters SCM Championships - Oct 14-16, Walnut Creek 
The last local championship meet of the year is only a month away. All 18 swim events will be offered at this meet along with six relay options. Pick a day or two (or three?) that have your favorite events and join us for fast, fun swimming and camaraderie. You must sign up ahead of time for this meet: Sept 30 by mail, Oct 5 online. Register: 
https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1301&smid=3267


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Michele Santilhano Rides Again - Swims and Runs Too!

She's done it again! Our own Michele Santilhano, not resting on her laurels from her solo Ride Across America last summer, has challenged herself and inspired many, once more. She's just returned from a long "vacation" in which she completed TWO challenging endurance races in roughly 12 days - a 750 mi bike ride and a triathlon that includes a swim of the English Channel. Best to hear the event descriptions from Michele herself:  

"My first event was called a Brevet where I cycled 1200km (750 miles) from Versaille area of Paris to Brest (on the west coast) and back. It was a continuous ride (day and night) with a cut off of 90hrs. 7000 cyclists from all over the world ride this event, held once every 4 years. I started on Sunday Aug 21 and finished at 10 am Thursday Aug 25.   

The second event was an individual challenge under the auspices of Enduroman.com called Arch to Arc where you run 87 miles from Marble Arch in central London to the coastal town of Dover, swim 21+ miles to France and cycle from the French coastal town Calais to Central Paris Arc de Triomph.  The run has to start within 48 hrs of the scheduled swim start but the swim has to start within 72 of completing the run and then the cycle has to start within 12 hrs of completing the swim. My total time was 120 hours. I swam on the highest spring tide of the year unbeknownst to me - 7m height versus the usual 2-3m.  I am the 2nd female ever to complete this event and 9th person overall. Over 30 women have tried and no one has done it as back to back events, i.e., with previous event within hours of the starting time. I was maximizing my vacation time. I still had 3 days recovery with my brother and niece in England afterwards.    

I am continually inspired by my lane 1 & 2 swim mates and said to Tim, 'when I am in lane 1 or 2 then I may stop doing the endurance workouts!' I could not have jumped into training with such short notice had I not been part of Menlo Masters and the fun challenges that Tim presents and offers such as the 10,000 yd swim once a month and other challenges."  

'Congratulations, Michele!' barely seems to capture the astounding triumph of her accomplishments, thank you Michele for continuing to amaze and inspire us!  

An overview of the Arch to Arc race: http://www.enduroman.com/a2a/ (click on "solo results" to see Michele's times) 
A brief video of her race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8579s8x4YKQ


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Swim Across America

Coach Judy Strauss is participating in the Swim Across America, "Make waves to fight cancer," event held in the SF Bay, September 24. For those of you not on the team's Google Group, Judy recently shared the following: "There is still room on Team BASS (Bay Area Survivors and Supporters) for you. Thus far we have 9 people from Menlo Masters, John Goldman, Louise Feeley, Mike Pyle, Scott Ray, Scott Marshall, Jean Gillon, Kirsten Kempe, Geoff McCavitt and me, that are swimming to raise money. (My friend Marcy Ballard is also swimming for Team BASS and Menlo Masters Swimmers Adam Kerr and Ken Plough will be participating as Swim Angels.)  

The swim is one of a kind... we have a lovely boat ride out to the Golden Gate Bridge then we swim in to Crissy Field. There is nothing like looking up at the bridge from the water, it is truly amazing. Please think about joining Team BASS: 
http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/SanFrancisco?team_id=1077&pg=team&fr_id=1184 
or donating on behalf of one of your teammates. We'd love to have you join us."


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Summer Picnic - What a Workout!

Nearly 90 team and family members joined Swimmers of the Year Barbara Jones and Carl Mortensen at the summer picnic in Redwood City on Aug 28. We were graciously hosted by the Bair Island Aquatic Club (BIAC), an organization of rowers and paddlers who train there. They showed us how to paddle dragonboats (about 20 people paddling to one side), outrigger canoes (6 people paddling alternating sides), and 8-rower shells. It seemed almost everyone got a chance to try at least one type of boat for 20-30 minutes on the water. And, while we work hard in the pool, we learned it's also no small feat to paddle and row! An excellent core body workout - our hosts complimented us on our collective strength and rowing skills. And thanks to those who volunteered their time at the event to help with set-up, registration and clean-up: Rosa Katz, Louise Feeley, Karen Levy, Barbara and Dave Breen, Heidi and Paul Buttery, Heidi Renner, Stephane and Kirsten Mouradian. And an *especially* big thank you to Barbara and Carl for the great idea and organizing an event that so many enjoyed!  

For those of you interested in exploring rowing or paddling as a complement to your swim training, BIAC hosts "learn to row" classes. No more are planned for  2011 as they are entering their competition season now, but you can watch their site for classes next spring. You can also contact them directly if you want to learn more about their organization and offerings. Website: http://www.gobair.org/index.html 
Learn-to-row overview: http://www.gobair.org/programs/learntorow/index.html 
Direct contact: Vicky Bialas, lemonsnap@gmail.com


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Splash and Dash Results

Twenty-seven Menlo Masters team members turned out for the final Splash & Dash event of the season on Aug 21 - nearly 15% of total participation. We had entries in all five events: 1 mi swim (with 3 or 6 mi run options), 2 mi swim (with 6 mi run option). The team landed a whopping 17 top three finishes! Congratulations to everyone below for a great half day of fun, exercise and competition! Christopher Balz, Avery Cannon, Tasha Capen, Kelly Couch, Eric Filseth, Dave Gildea, Jean Gillon, Lindsay Hiken, Cami Johnson, Scott Kaloust, Karen Lines, Gautam Makani, Steve Marra, Martin Michael, Mike Osmond, Chas Pavlovic, David Posey, Mary Posey, Kathy Swartz, Keith Terada, Mirella Terada, Rosalind Wallis, Cindy Welton, Inez Wibowo, Mimi Winsberg, Ashley Wiseman, Suzanne Zebedee.  

See a summary of results: 
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9UOxuTLNrE0Njc3OWFlMGItZTJkOS00N2FiLTgzZjItMGU0NGM2MmE4NGQ1&hl=en_US


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Building Futures Now

From Alison Lopez, BFN Executive Director: 
Building Futures Now is kicking off the new school year in a BRAND NEW SPACE (1848C Bay Road, East Palo Alto) with more than fifty kids. We need your help to make this program a success.  Please let us know if you would like to be a volunteer mentor (we need 15 new mentors!!), an after-school tutor, a field trip chaperone, or if you'd like to help us organize and beautify the new space. We also need donations of furniture to make our new home feel like a home; if you are redoing your home or office and have extra gently used furnishings, let us know.  

Here is the Fall Saturday Field Trips with BFN, we always welcome chaperones. Come and meet our kids! Please contact Megan Marotta for details (mmarotta@buildingfuturesnow.org): 
- September 17, iMovie/iTunes Workshop at Apple Store, Palo Alto 
- October 1, Exploratorium in San Francisco 
- November 12, Ice Skating at Winter Lodge in Palo Alto 
- December 3, Ardenwood Farms Holiday Festival in Fremont  

Megan will be at the pool this Thursday September 15, 6:30 - 8:30AM. Please stop by to learn more from her about BFN and opportunities to get involved, or email info@buildingfuturesnow.org for more information about any of these opportunities.  

[Ed note: Sue McGlennon, Anna Lippi and Mike Fero brought their Building Futures Now mentees, Lupe, Maleah and Kingston to the summer picnic at Bair Island Aquatic Club. Lupe said it was the first time she'd been on any kind of boat! It's easy and fun to find activities to do as a mentor.]


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Keep in Touch with Teammates

Join our team's Google Group and have access to nearly 150 team members via a single email address: menlo-masters@googlegroups.com. Only team members are allowed to join. Note: You do NOT need to have a Google account to use the group list.  

If you've not yet joined, but want to, you have 2 options: 1) If you have a Google account already, or don't mind creating one, you can send an email to: Menlo-masters+subscribe@googlegroups.com, and follow the instructions provided.  

2) If you want to join, but do not want a Google account, email Tasha Capen at tasha@menlomasters.com.


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For Your Calendars...Menlo Masters Team Events

** 2011 Team Competitions and Events ** 
 - *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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