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Masters Newsletter
March 21, 2007
by Tim Sheeper
In this edition:

Q1 2007 Highlights

We have had our best quarter in Menlo Masters history.  We experienced unparalleled team participation in the following events:

Killer Quad - 60 swimmers
Hour Swim - 65 swimmers
February Can Do - 231 swimmers
Blue and Gold Meet - 40 swimmers
Rinconada Meet - 25 swimmers

During this upcoming spring quarter we will transition into focusing on swim meets and open water swims, while always maintaining high workout quality and diversity.  I hope to maintain this momentum that has been created and if all goes as planned, build upon it.


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January Hour Swim

This is a national postal event, which means swimmers compete in their home pool and send in their results for national comparison.

Well, through some hard work and some fast swimming, we compared pretty well.
1. Second in the large team division, behind the Masters of South Texas.  281K yards to 243K yards.
2. Sixth out of all the 112 teams competing around the USA.
3. Women in the top twenty in their age division
Kelly Couch-3rd
Julie House-20th
Kathleen Liston-7th
Whitney Wood-20th
Lisa Sheeper-8th
Jana Matena-8th
Jane Stites-10th
Sue McGlennon-20th
Anne Long 5th
Ann Kay-2nd

4. Men in the top twenty in their age division:
Peter Borak-12th
Jeff Piland-15th
Mike Ingardia-6th
John Sulzbach-9th

Full results can be found at:
www.maverickswim.org


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Open House

This Sunday March 25, Menlo Swim and Sport will hold it's first ever Open House.  This event is designed to display all of our pool programming including Masters.  The event is from 11am-4pm.  There will be demonstrations and free swimming for the entire community.
www.menloswim.com


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February Can-Do

Success!

Vitals:
1. 10 million yards completed
2. 3000+cans donated
3. $1000 donated
4. Sig Paulazzo crushed everyone like a grape-207,500 yards
5. Top three men are over 65 or older.  Martin Michael (65) John Sulzbach (75) Sig Paulazzo (74)
6. 17,500 yards in a day by Martin Michael
7. 108 in the 50K club-31 more than previous team record
8. 21 in 100K club-only 6 short of team record.
9. 2 triathletes in the top ten, Martin Michael and Mike Osmond-first time ever.
10. February 2008 has 29 days!


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Blue and Gold Meet

This is our low-key, intra-team meet.  This year it was scheduled only a few days after the end of a physically draining February.  That did not seem to matter to the 40 members who took part on the first beautiful Saturday morning in March.  10 events were offered and a swimmer was deemed an Iron(man) (woman) (person) if they competed in all 10.  Those stalwarts are as follows:

Mike Dorsey
Sandy Dutro
Virginia Justus
Kathleen Liston
Karen Parks
Heidi Renner
John Sulzbach


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Rinconada Swim Meet Results

As usual Menlo Masters was well represented at the Rinconada Spring Meet this past weekend.  This is our local kick-off to the swim meet season.  It's a great meet for the first timer and the seasoned veteran because novice heats are offered as well as the infamous 1650 butterfly.  Official results are not yet available but the following is an incomplete list of Menlo participants:

Rebecca Pinto
Ken Fine
Sue McGlennon
Virgina Justus-1650 fly-29 min
Frances Reaneau-1650 Fly-28 min
Peter Shepherd
Brian Davis
John Sulzbach
Michelle Santahillo
Barb Breen
John Goldman
Sandy Dutro
Charlie Ammann
Kent Couling
Rick Peterson
Jason Schroedl
Judy Strauss


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Competitions Transition

We are at the time of the year where we change the team training focus away from aerobic volume and direct the training to incorporate more emphasis on:
1. Sustaining Pace
2. Elevating Threshold
3. Power Development

It is imperative that we build upon the foundation of conditioning and technique which we emphasized from December through February.  It is necessary to change focus or we will experience diminishing returns if we stay on the same path. 

Even if you have absolutely no plans or desire to compete this swim season, you will be prepared nonetheless.  You will still go through the training cycles as if you were preparing to compete.

The following are the upcoming events:
1. Short Course Championships-Pleasanton-April 20-22
2. Short Course Nationals-Federal Way, Washington-May 17-20
3. Berryessa Open Water 1 and 2 mile
4. Long Course Championships-Santa Cruz-July
5. Donner Lake Open Water Swim-August 11


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PMS Short Course Championships

Every year for the past 11 years I have been taking a team of swimmer to compete in the Pacific Masters Swimming Championships, and I plan on doing it again this year. This year the meet is in Pleasanton on April 20-22.  I would love to prepare an energetic group of swimmers to compete in relays and individual events.  I always say the more the merrier (this is very true at swim meets since there can be a lot of down time and teammates can make that time very rewarding)

I will be starting a sign up list on the bulletin board in the pool lobby.  I am targeting 50 swimmers for the meet. 

As always, if 12 Menlo Masters register and SWIM the 200 fly, the coach will be the "bakers dozen."  I will register and wait to see if I "go or no go" depending on the team involvement.  This is the best scoring opportunity at the meet.

Deadline for the meet registration is midnight April 11, 2007.  Register online at wcm.mastersswim.com.  This is the fastest and easiest and recommended way to register.  For more information go to:
www.pacificmasters.org/comp/schd.html


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USMS Nationals

Short course yards USMS Nationals are being held this year in Federal Way, WA, from May 17th to May 20th.

If you are unaware, this is usually the biggest and fastest masters swimming meet in the country every year.  Teams and swimmers from around the country converge on a pool once a year to test their courage, speed and fitness against others in their age group.  It is like the masters World Championships each year.  The great thing is that it is open to everybody.  You do not have to qualify to compete.  This is the next progressive step after competing in the PMS Championships.

This last summer we fielded a team of 73 at the FINA World Master's Championships. We have had as many as 50 people swim at Nationals. Entries must be received by April 12th, 2007. You may enter up to 3 events if you haven't achieved the national qualifying times, and up to 6 events if you have. You can find information in the January-February issue of "USMS Swimmer" or on the USMS Website

www.usms.org/comp/scnats07/meetinfo.php. You can enter by mail or
online: www.usms.org/comp/scnats07/onlineentry.php.
 
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Comfort Inn, Federal Way. The hotel is 4 miles from the pool and is on the meet shuttle route. These are double rooms at $79 per night. To reserve one of these rooms call 253-529-0101 and say that you are with Menlo Masters. The group number is 2299.

There will also be a sign-up posted on the bulletin board in the pool lobby.


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Open Water Proposals

Two different swimmers have approached me this past week with interest in competing in interesting open water swim this summer.  Here is the information.  Let me know if this is something that is of interest.

1.  Catalina Channel Relay Crossing

The idea/suggestion which is open for input is as follows: to have 1 or 2 male and/or female Menlo Masters team of 6 people and 2-4 reserves per team swim for 1hr at a time in the same order from Catalina Island to the mainland in late July or August.

The Catalina distance is approx 26 miles. You do have some current assistance. There are potential jelly fish. The sharks are the least of our concerns. That is what we pay boat pilots for. We do start the swim around midnight for the least amount of wind and unnecessary boat traffic. I would recommend we start on a Saturday evening so people may want to plan to take the Monday off. The approx price per swimmer for the swim is about $300.

The seed has been planted.  Let me know if there are any interested parties and I will put you in touch with Michelle Santihillo (English Channel veteran swimmer) and new Menlo Masters team member.

2.  This next swim was proposed by Menlo Masters veteran Anne Long as a possible travel trip for open water swimming aficionados.  Have a look and let me know if there is any interest.
www.swimlakegeorge.org/index.html


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Blog Blasts Off

The Menlo Masters Blog is officially a success!  There are thousands of hits on the blog already. 

People are truly interested in what wild Sarah has to say, and less so what the workout is for the day.  Check it out if you have not already.  The link can be found on the left nav bar on the Menlo Masters home page.

Keep it going Sarah.

http://menlomasters.blogspot.com/


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