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Masters Newsletter
November 14, 2007
by Tim Sheeper
In this edition:

Hour Swim Results

The hour swim is the first step of the Killer Quad.   What is the Killer Quad? 

The Killer Quad is an exclusive Menlo Masters team event that originated in 1991.  The original concept was to keep swimmers motivated to continue swimming through the holidays when personal motivation has a tendency to dip.  Hopefully the impending long swims would give swimmers more reason to keep their fitness high during the winter months.

Well, the plan has worked.  In fact, it has worked so well that each year the Killer Quad swims are the most highly attended sessions of the entire year.  Also, a major by-product of the swims is improved team cohesion as a result of these endurance swims.  It requires the help of lane mates to complete such an undertaking.

The hour swim is the shortest swim in the four swim progression.  Although it is the shortest it is arguably the most challenging of the four since it is predominantly a solo effort.  Verbal support from lane mates is nonexistent and the minute hand on the clock mysteriously slows down.

The results of this years hour swim.A new team record of 181 people completed the hour swim on Halloween.  Too many names to list, but about 2 out of every 3 swimmers on the team made it!


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Killer Quad Schedule

Thanksgiving-50x100's
Thursday November 22, 2007
6:00am and 8:00am

Christmas-75x100's
Sunday December 23, 2007
6:00am and 8:30am

New Year's-100x100's
Tuesday January 1, 2008
8:00am (Note: Only one start time.   We will plan on using both pools, all 17 lanes.  We are closed to the public on New Year's Day so we will cool the instructional pool down to 81 degrees so it is comfortable to swim in for an extended period of time.)

Make-ups.   Make-up swims will no longer exist.  Make-up swims were introduced three years ago after a major team transition, because I thought it would be a good thing for team morale to have a great number of swimmers complete the Quad.  Well, our team is stronger and more stable than it has ever been, so if you happen to miss a scheduled quad swim this year, just look forward to next year.


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Freestyle Clinic by Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen and Eric Neilsen

By a stroke of good fortune, I happened to communicate with the Neilsen's and discovered that they were traveling into the Bay Area from Hawaii this holiday season, so I jumped on the opportunity to set up a swim clinic for our swim community.

Karlyn and Eric have made a career of swimming fast and teaching swim clinics to all levels of swimmers around the world.  Karlyn is one of the most prolific and preeminent female master's swimmers in the world.  She knows how to swim fast, and more importantly to us, she has committed herself to teaching as many of us as possible the techniques, systems and secrets that have worked for her.  Both her and her husband Eric live and teach with the Aloha spirit.  They are patient and compassionate and understand every person's strengths and weaknesses. 

The clinic is scheduled for the only time we could get them here:

Friday December 21, 5-8pm. 

We will be swimming in the instructional pool for about half of the clinic.  You can find out more about the presenters at aquaticedge.com  or you could reserve your clinic spot at:
menloswim.com/menlo/menlo_masters/clinics.html


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Building Futures Now

Building Futures Now is a foundation that has been established by the Menlo Masters in the summer of 2007.  Building Futures Now is a unique program that will "adopt" 10-15 third graders every year for five years.  These 60 or so kids will be shepherded through elementary school, high school and onto college graduation.  These individuals will be tutored, mentored, and generally supported by the graciousness of all the fantastic Menlo Masters swimmers. 

The first group of third graders will be selected this coming summer.  Until that time, some of our Menlo Masters have taken on the responsibility of tutoring 7th graders in our sister program, the "I Have a Dream" foundation.

Thanks to those dedicated individuals that have stepped forward and selflessly given of their time.


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Tiffany and Tammy Rides

Tiffany is a very new member to our swim team.  Tiffany is blind and Tammy is her black Labrador guide dog that sits on the deck and watches Tiffany swim through each session.  The following is a request from Tiffany for a ride to the pool in the morning.  Many have already come forward in the past weeks to get Tiffany to the pool for her swims. 

Hi Team, Tammy (my guide dog) and I are looking for rides to swim practice.  We are hoping to attend the 7AM practices.  We live in north Palo Alto.  Let me know if you might be free to help.  Thanks very much!

You can find Tiffany's contact information on the roster page - teamsheeper.com/teams/menlomasters/roster/


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Hawaii 70.3

I normally do not refer to triathlons in the Masters Newsletter, but I thought this might prove to be a good exception to the rule.

Next year on May 31, I will be guiding our triathlon team to the big island of Hawaii for a half Ironman distance race (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). 

Once a year our triathlon team focuses on and trains in earnest for an event.  In past years we have taken more than 50 athletes to an Ironman event.  Of those 50, there are always a few who "cross-over" from Masters just to be a part of a community that completes an outstanding challenge.

We currently have 22 athletes committed to begin training in February to complete this event.  We truly have all levels of  athletes ranging from a few who will do this as their first ever race, and some who can only walk the run portion and then we will have some who win their age group and qualify for the World Championships.

If doing a triathlon has been on your "to do" list, let me know and we can determine if this is a wise decision for you.

Destination: Kona, Hawaii May 31, 2008.  www.ironmanlive.com


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Menlo Master Swim Meet - June 14, 2008

We, Menlo Masters have committed to host our second ever United States Master Swim Meet.  Our swim meet will be jointly directed by Rebecca Pinto and Judy Strauss.  This will be a long course meet (50 meter pool) and will be held at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton on Saturday June 14, 2008. 

The meet is dedicated and named in memory of our very good friend and coach, Dick Bennett.

Mark your calendars and hopefully you can spend that morning and early afternoon with your team.


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Skipping Out

I will be skipping out of town this Friday and will be out of town until November 27.  I will be out testing my mental and physical endurance at an event called the Ultraman.
www.ultramanlive.com

In my absence, Rick, Judy, Matt and Allen will be coaching up a storm.


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