If YOU are looking for something to replace the USMS Check-Off Challenge, you may be interested in the 2018 VIRTUAL SWIMTATHLON LEAGUE.
In our third year, The Swimtathlon League is a year-long, virtual pentathlon where participants swim and submit times in stages. Five events are included in each pentathlon stage (Fly, Back, ***, Free, and Individual Medley), and cumulative times are used for league standings and results.
New for 2018, we are adding a DISTANCE FREE stage to include the 500, 1000, and 1650.
All of this is on the honor system, but it's a fun way to stay motivated and challenge yourself to swim ALL 18 pool events...like the Check-Off Challenge.
It does not matter where (meet or practice) or how (yards or meters) you swim. For league standings, I convert all times to short course yards and send out quarterly AWARD CERTIFICATES.
Last year, 42 swimmers participated from all over the world, and I'm hoping for 50+ this year! Click here to see our 2017 LEAGUE MEMBERS.
The event information and entry are located at Club Assistant: 2018 VIRTUAL SWIMTATHLON LEAGUE. It's also listed on the USMS Calendar of Events.
There are no t-shirts, but $10 from each $25 entry will be contributed to the following great causes:
Swim Guide Project -- monitor the recreational water quality of Flathead Lake
USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation -- raise pubic awareness of adult drowning and resource for adult swim lessons
Since the Check-Off Challenge is no longer being offered, this may be a suitable replacement.
This looks fun... though it looks from last year's roster that there weren't many around my age group. Eh, what the heck, gives me some motivation to do some longer events.
I've done this the past two years and I love it. Makes me do some different events outside my core events I always do. I even find myself taking a small meet or two and doing totally different events.
Hey, Jeff!
Last year, I added an AGE GRADING factor to the mix, so we're able to compare age group to age group.
WE NEED MORE YOUNGER SWIMMERS and would welcome your participation!
Mark
After loving this event in 2016, I missed this in '17 due to my wonky shoulder, but I am looking forward to this in 2018. I registered today and combined that with registering for my first pool meet at the end of January where I'll knock out three 50s for Stage 1 and the 500 as part of the Distance Free Triathlon. Thanks, Mark, for putting this together again!
I got a few events entered for Stage 1, but I'm going to have to count on Stage 4 for a re-do so I can get faster!
For anyone who is running behind and has some travel $$ saved, you can accomplish all of Stage 1 at this meet - www.clubassistant.com/.../meet_information.cfm
