by Beth Barnes

Before the veil of stars gives way to dawn, the rhythmic sound of stroke-after-stroke is the only indication that anything disturbs the vast and relative calm of the Catalina Channel. The synchronized efforts of swimmer and kayaker, slowly but methodically slicing their way through the swells, are but a radar blip on the universe's screen. The night is eerily and barely illuminated by several light sticks and the dim shadows of the support boat in the distance, so darkness prevails while Catalina Island fades and the Palos Verdes Peninsula beckons. It is a slow, methodical, and heroic journey - a Southern California pastime that few can imagine and fewer still will experience. Read more...

by Lisa Rice Greedy

I'm going to need my hand here for a second," pleaded my husband Tom as he moved his blue fingers back to the steering wheel and out of the vice grip my hand had formed over his. Brake lights flashed red across all four lanes but did nothing to slow the out-of-control, speeding heart that pounded in my chest. I could feel the air struggling to dry sweat that seeped from the palms of my hands. Drawing a deep breath was the only way I'd been able to stop these paralyzing episodes over the last few days. Now, letting out a deep sigh, I kept telling myself, "It'll be ok, it'll be ok." But the fear did not subside. Read more...

by Scott Bay

How often do you use drills in your masters practices? Scott Bay, head coach of Daytona Beach Masters, shares two of his favorite sculling drills. Read more... 

USMS 5K/10K Postal National Championships

Online Registration is now available for the 2011 USMS 5K/10K Postal National Championships. The objective is to swim 5K and/or 10K entirely in any 50-meter pool you choose. Event results will be collected electronically or by mail so you can compare yourself to other swimmers doing the same event. Some do it for competition, others do it for fitness. Whatever the motivation, everyone is welcome to participate.

by Aqua Sphere Powered Pro Triathlete Patrick Valentine

Introducing open water swim training into your workout regimen is a great way to break up the monotony of pool swimming. It is also a great approach to practice all the techniques that differ between open water and pool swimming, which can prepare you for your next triathlon or open water swim meet. The key piece to remember is that there are different aspects involved with open water swimming that will help an athlete be more successful on race day. Four main areas of focus for open water swimming are the swim start, buoy sighting, drafting, and water exit. Like always practice is key, in order to have proper execution on race day. Read more... 

 

Check out the Long Distance Calendar of Events for these and other long-standing open water swims.

• July 4th, 2011: 53rd Annual July 4th Rough Water Swim
• Jul 9th, 2011: 37nd Annual Seal Beach Rough Water Swim
• July 30th, 2011: 22nd Annual Lake Erie Open Water Classic
• August 6, 2011: 27th Annual Mid Summer Mile Lavallette Ocean Swim    

July 1 is the deadline to submit nominations for USMS National Awards that are presented at USMS's annual convention, which will take place in Jacksonville, Fla. in September. 

The National Awards are:
USMS Coach of the Year Award
USMS Dorothy Donnelly Service Award
USMS Kerry O'Brien Coaching Award
USMS Club of the Year Award
USMS June Krauser Communications Award
USMS Fitness Award
USMS National Championship Meets Award

Please go to the USMS Awards page for details, deadlines, and nomination forms.

"Do you want to win a prize pack for your club? Post a picture of your USMS co-branded banner, and you could win! Send the picture to banners@usms.org, and we will draw a random
winner."

Become a Fan! We are over 10,000+ fans strong at the official USMS Facebook Fan Page! Join the party and suggest our page to all of your friends.

Gold Coast Masters

The Gold Coast Masters team of (from L-R) Peggy McDonnell, Danielle Ogier, Barbara Protzman, Maureen Hughes and Pat Sargeant, in various combinations, have broken all five USMS SCY relay national records in the women's 55+ age group this year.

 

This may be the first time that one team has broken all the relay records for an age group for one course within the same season, in fact, in just two meets.  Two records were broken at the Dixie Zone SCY Championship at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center on Feb. 25-27 and the other three at the Hammerhead Invitational at the Pompano Beach Aquatics Center on April 9-10. The team had been waiting for a year for their final member to turn 55 to wage their assault on the record book. And they did it without the long, zippered, buoyant tech suits. Congratulations ladies!