Welcome to Masters' swimming! Whether you swim every day or once a month; are a serious competitor or purely a fitness swimmer, Pacific Masters is pleased to have you as a member. I would like to you to know that Pacific Masters, at the regional level, and USMS, at the national level, offer a wide variety of programs to support the interests of all adult swimmers. As you consider how swimming will fit into your personal fitness program, I encourage you to visit each organization's website (www.pacificmasters.org and usms ( www.usms.org) to get ideas on how to set, track and achieve your goals.
As a new member, you may want to check out the "Getting Started" section on the USMS website which contains tips for starting a swimming routine, pool etiquette and other helpful information. You may be interested in the "Go the Distance" application that lets you set a goal and track your progress against it. Also available on the site is a tool to help you find pools when you travel, special purpose workouts for everyone from expectant mothers to triathletes, injury prevention tips and, for the competitively inclined, national records and rankings.
The Pacific Masters' website, www.pacificmasters.org will keep you informed on Masters swimming activities in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada. The site contains a list of all the member clubs with a link to many of their websites. You can also find the schedule of and results from the many competitive opportunities (pool and open water) offered in the region. Even if you are primarily a fitness swimmer, you may enjoy the challenge of participating in an open water event offered in distances from 0.5 mile to 10 kilometers.
Your registration record indicates you are an unattached swimmer (see below if this not correct). I encourage you to consider joining one of the many clubs affiliated with Pacific Masters Swimming. Whether you are a serious competitor, a novice fitness swimmer or somewhere in between, most teams have a program that will meet your needs. Our coaches can provide stroke instruction and design workouts that allow you to choose your effort level. One of the biggest benefits of being part of a club is the support and friendship you receive from other members. They provide encouragement when you are tired and can give you a challenge when you are not. I realize you may be hesitant about joining a club but I am confident you will find the coach and other swimmers to be welcoming and friendly. In no time at all you will be saying your lane mates are one of your favorite parts of swimming. Finally it is worth noting that, in many cases, the cost of swimming with a club is just pennies more than what you already are paying for lap swimming.
The on the PacMasters website there is a list of clubs, their websites and contact information may be useful in finding a club to try. The Places to Swim page on the Pacific Masters website (www.pacificmasters.org) and the places to swim section (under the Local Programs tab) of the U.S. Masters Swimming website (www.usms.org) are other resources. Our Registrar, Nancy Ridout, can also provide recommendations on a club in your area. . She can be reached by email at registrar@pacificmasters.org or phone at (415) 225-0771.
If you are already a member of a club and would like to help us correct our records, please contact Nancy Ridout using the information provided above. Nancy can also help change your registration to a new club.
I realize that your schedule or location may make it difficult to join a club. Or you may not be able to find a program that is right for you. Please be aware that the USMS website provides workouts for all types of swimmers. Check them out under the Training tab on the USMS website (www.usms.org).
Once again, welcome to Masters swimming and the Pacific Masters Swimming organization. If you have any questions, let me know at chairman@pacificmasters.org.
Just keep swimming,
Peter M. Guadagni
Chairman
Pacific Masters Swimming
