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Newsletter
May 17, 2008
by Tim Sheeper
In this edition:

USMS Nationals Results

United States Masters Swimming hosted the short course yards Nationals in Austin Texas at the beginning of May.  This perennial meet is the fastest and largest masters swim meet every year.  Menlo Masters had the good fortune of being represented by four stellar performers, Judy Strauss, Jana Matena, John Turk and Bob Barnick.

These four took it upon themselves to enter, train extremely well and compete along side the best in our country.  All of their results were phenomenal.

Every event that Jana, John, and Bob swam was a Menlo Masters team record.

Jana Matena earned the title of  National Champion in the 200, 500, and 1000 yard freestyle events.  This multiple accomplishment has never been achieved by a Menlo Masters swimmer in our long history.

Look at all their truly remarkable results by clicking on to: 
http://www.menlomasters.com/results/


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Blue and Gold Meet

The Blue and Gold meet was held at Burgess Pool on a beautiful Saturday morning in late April.  The Blue and Gold swim meet's goal is to get as many team members involved in a "loose" swim competition with the hope of sharpening seasoned veterans and introducing novices to the realm of meet swimming.

The meet was a rousing success.  The entire team was split into either the Blue Team (A-K) or the Gold Team (L-Z).

Points were awarded to every swimmer for taking part in the event.  Times were taken but not given any extra merit.
Of the over 80 swimmers who fiercely took part the Gold Team prevailed by 3 points with the final score being:
Blue-172 points/swims
Gold-175 points/swims

Better luck next year Blue.  Well done Gold!

All meet swimmers would like to thank Eduardo Llach who so graciously captured the entire event through the lense of his camera.  He recorded some fantastic action shots while being extremely active himself and swimming every event that was offered.  Check out the images at:

http://eduardollach.phanfare.com/album/597992

http://eduardollach.phanfare.com/albums/597996


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Parkside Open Water Mile

This years team theme; which is actively competing while staying close to home base, was aligned with by putting our local open water swim on the team schedule.

San Mateo Masters has hosted this event for the past 5 years with very few of our team members ever venturing to the start line.  We changed that this year when 17 Menlo Masters descended onto the sandy beaches of the bay and swam the triangular mile long course.

The morning was warm and clear and some say the water was the same.  The water temperature was in the mid 60's and wetsuits were allowed.  It was certainly a flat and fast course.  The event was small enough (150 competitors) so that we all could start in one wave. 

The San Mateo Marlins hosted a top notch event and Menlo Masters will put it on the team schedule again next year.

Congrats to our Menlo Masters competitors:

Jocelyn Wong
Virginia Justus
Amy McGaughey
Madhuri Yechuri
Sally Phillips
Susan Hinrichs
Marianne Brems
Sue McGlennon
Keith Terada
Derrick Hansen
Paul Gorman
Joe Newman
Tim Sheeper
Keith Wilson
Brad Hinrichs
Joel Phillips
Dave Mandlekern

For overall times and placings please visit:
http://www.sanmateomarlins.org/


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Menlo Masters Memorial Day Duathlon

This team event can be traced way back to 1996 at the "Old Burgess Park."  This is considered a short (by some peoples standards) and fast (some people do) multisport event.

The two sports are running and swimming, that are linked together in a chain of continuous activity.

The event format is as follows:

1. 2 Heats.  One is considered short and one is a little bit longer in distance.
2. The short heat begins at 6:30 am
3. The longer heat begins at 7:30 am
4. The average time to complete each is 30 minutes.
5. Both are scheduled on Monday morning May 26, Memorial Day.
6. The procedure is, Run, Swim, Run, Swim, Run.  (Walking is acceptable)

As an example:
Heat One
Run-2 loops around the park (grassy fields)
Swim-600 yards
Run-1 loop around the park
Swim-300 yards
Run-1/2 loop around the park to the finish line.

Participation is encouraged.  No need to sign up, just show up and bring your:
Running shoes
Swim Suit
Goggles
Any articles of clothing that you care to run with.


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Menlo Masters/Dick Bennett Memorial Swim Meet

This is OUR meet. 
This is a BIG undertaking. 
We would LOVE to get every member involved. 

What:  Competitive swim meet open to all masters swimmers the USA.
When:  Saturday June 14, 2008 8:00am
Where:  Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton.  Because they have a 50 meter pool.
Why:  This the way Menlo Masters, one of the largest masters teams in the nation can give back to masters swimmers everywhere.
Who is Dick Bennett:  Dick Bennett was a phenomenal person, swimmer and coach for us for many years.  We lost him a little while back, but we will never forget him.
What you need to do:  Swim
How to register :  go to-  menlo.mastersswim.com
What else can you do:  Assist in the promotion of the event.  Check the board above the water faucets in the lobby.

Dozens of team members have been working on the meet for months.  Let's honor our team, our fellow swimmers and Dick Bennett by directing and participating in another top quality swim meet.

We currently have 4 Menlo Masters registered for the meet.  We only have 96 more to reach our goal.

Again, menlo.mastersswim.com to register.


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Dive Clinic

Want to do the meet, but are uncertain about your dive?  Know how to dive, but want to polish it up?

We have a dive clinic scheduled for Friday June 6, 2008 at 5:30pm at Burgess Pool.

The dive clinic is limited to 12 people who want to spend 90 minutes learning the theory and practice of diving.

The clinic will be coached by our own Marianne Brems, who is a top female swim competitor and open water champ for more than a few decades.  She has also authored a few books on swim training and swim theory.

The clinic is $20 and you can register at the front desk starting Monday May 19.


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Race Across America

This is on a bicycle folks.  We have four triathlon/masters team members who have come together as a team and entered the fabled 3000 mile bicycle race across the United States.

The following is team information and a way to assist their team in achieving their goal of raising 50K.

Team H4 prepares for RAAM bid
Four members of our team are getting ready to test their ultra endurance cycling in the Race Across America this summer (www.raceacrossamerica.org). Billed as the "World's Toughest Bike Race," Team H4 will race in a 24x7, non-stop, relay format, 3,000+ miles, with 100+K feet of climbing from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD in 9 days or bust starting at 2pm on Wed 11 June 2008.

Supported by a hardy set of crew members, Team H4, Holy Rollers Hammering for Habitat Homes is a team from Valley Presbyterian Church (valleypreschurch.org/TeamH4), made up of Joel & Sally Phillips, Michelle Santilhano and Raf Ornes, all RAAM rookies hoping to use their ultra endurance efforts to raise lots of dosh for a worthy cause.

Please take a moment to consider the housing market in the SF Bay Area. We all know what it takes to own your own home. What happens if you are in the very low income bracket? What if you are a family of four with an income of less than $50K? There a lot of families in the Bay Area that struggle to make it here. They are typically service workers, the ones that we rely on every single day.

Team H4 hopes that their epic adventure will raise $50K for a Peninsula Habitat for Humanity building project on Lincoln Avenue in Redwood City. This project includes eight units (including wheelchair-accessible) for very low income families. Soon eight deserving Bay Area families will have a place to call home. Check it out at: peninsulahabitat.org

Want to find out more about Team H4's RAAM crazy adventure or get involved? Here's how:
1. Go to the Team H4 web site: valleypreschurch.org/TeamH4 to find out more about the team's training and preparation
2. Go to the RAAM web site: raceacrossamerica.org to find out more about the race
3. Donations to our worthy cause will be gratefully accepted at the Peninsula Habitat web site: penisulahabitat.org (please select "VPC Race Across America" under the "Program" drop-down list)
4. Email Sally Phillips (sallyaphillips@gmail.com) if you are interested in getting involved or helping out with our epic adventure, we are looking for:
i. A willing support crew member or two
ii. Some planning and logistical support before we depart
iii. A few borrowed bike boxes and other gear

With thanks from Team H4!


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Building Futures Now

This is the REAL exciting stuff.  Over 100 families have turned in applications in hopes of being one of 15 families to be selected to enter the Building Futures Now (BFN) program.

The  BFN foundation is supported and funded by the Menlo Masters.  Basically, we are adopting 15 third graders every year for the next 6 years and guiding these kids all the way through college.

Vitals:
1. Website was just put into place by Menlo Masters individuals.  www.builidingfuturesnow.org
2. Renovated an old East Palo Alto garage into the after school base.  Many team members painted, and used elbow grease to make this happen.
3. We need volunteers for afterschool academic TUTORING of these kids.  It is a commitment of 1 hour a week.
4. We need volunteers for MENTORS, to show these individuals life's possibilities.  Ideally we would like a mentor for every child.  We currently have 3 mentors.  It is a year long commitment of about an hour a week.

If you are interested in getting involved as a tutor or a mentor, please contact the volunteer coordinator, Taylor Martin at:  tmartin@buildingfuturesnow.org  we do need your help.


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