USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Redbird Alum — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 09:51:25 GMT

Sumo, you missed the point ... it was to raise money for the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation. WHICH (by the way) you can also do by including a donation to Swimming Saves Lives in your annual USMS membership renewal process! (Plug...plug...) Thanks to USMS for adding this thoughtful, and useful, addition to the donation list!

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 08:50:32 GMT

Sumo, you missed the point of what the goal was for this challenge. It wasn't just about swimming a mile; the purpose of it was to raise money for the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Sumorunner — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 01:04:48 GMT

I never did sign up for the challenge. I can do without yet another swim cap, and have never taken vitamin supplements. My diet provides ample nutrients. But I did go to the pool and swim a mile today, just because it was on the weekly agenda. 1800 yds in 52:10 which I calculate would give me about 51:00 at the mile.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

knelson — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:14:26 GMT

If I remember -- 1,650 is the total distance of a H S dual meet/ I just swam a set doing all the HS events so I know this. Total is 2,150 if you count relays, 1,350 if you don't. 50, 100, 200, 500 free 100 of each non-free stroke 200 IM 200 medley, 200 and 400 free relay.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

ForceDJ — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 11:37:04 GMT

(As the OP, and only a short-time USMS member)...The more I've heard from longtime USMS members about this event, the more I've come to realize that it's more about just signing up and doing "a swim activity" and really nothing more. There isn't really a participant roster, a list of rules, nor "results" that will be posted. If you want to swim 1500m, 1650yds, 1600m, 1609m, 1760yds, 1800yds, or whatever distance...and call it a "1-mile swim"...it's all good. Just be a swimmer, and partake. Dan

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 05:42:42 GMT

Luckily I am not in the U.S. and doesn't need to deal with all the yard / meter madness. I actually operated for a long time under the assumption that my favored pool was a yards pool, and the other pools were just sort of peculiarly short. (Or, the "short" sense was an illusion based on the depth and the size of the room). Turns out the other two nearest are 25yd pools, and the reason the Nice Pool felt just a touch longer is because it is. I am no good judge of length and distance, evidently. But again, my grumpiness is due mainly to the other pools being dark and grim (and less convenient to get to). Slate decks and minimal, recessed fluorescent lighting are not a good choice.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:26:18 GMT

And now, just to throw a wrench into the works, my favorite available pool sent out an email saying the pool is closed from 11/5 to 11/30 for maintenance. And I appreciate it, for sure - a few weeks closure is a small price to pay for a fresh, functioning pool - but switching locations is a pain. (the other pool, 25 yards, is in the opposite direction.) :P

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 13:05:15 GMT

Luckily I am not in the U.S. and doesn't need to deal with all the yard / meter madness.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:19:16 GMT

If I remember -- 1,650 is the total distance of a H S dual meet/ The pool's length is honestly less of an annoyance (I was swimming there for a long time not realizing it was meters), rather it's just the nicest of the pools I don't have to pay for. One entire wall is windows and the natural light makes such a difference for me, personally.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

orca1946 — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 05:26:42 GMT

If I remember -- 1,650 is the total distance of a H S dual meet/

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Redbird Alum — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 08:48:00 GMT

..... There are so many more benefits to participating in swim meets than just how you finish in a race. :agree: Yeah! Like donuts and coffee before, and the occasional libations afterwards!

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 08:36:37 GMT

My experience is that open water swims are fairly welcoming to members, such as myself, of Team DFL. I got to shake Mark Spitz's extremely large and warm hand immediately after finishing in a sTunNinG 2:29:12 in a race with a 2:30 cutoff. I did not know who he was until someone told me, but I appreciated the heat transfer involved. It was a high point in my extensive DFL career. I don't think he shook the hands of each of the many 1:20-something swimmers. Sumorunner, you can be my Team DFL buddy.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Sumorunner — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 07:56:33 GMT

Right, as Dan says, OWS was a different experience for me as well. My profile pic on the left is from the Betsy Owens 1 mile OWS in Lake Placid, NY (48:44 at age 68). I was indeed DFL by a long margin, but felt welcomed from sign-in to finish.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

ForceDJ — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:46:22 GMT

I'm a veteran of about 500 road, track, and triathlon races, and now 3 swim meets. I did not get the same feeling of camaraderie in the swim meets as with running. I felt very much out of place. That resumé sounds a lot like me. Nothing against any swimmer. I just don't feel like I'm a "swim meet" kind of person. I wish I did. Open water swim events...that's a different story. Dan 11732

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Sumorunner — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:19:05 GMT

I looked at last years USMS results and I would come in last even in my age group. For instance 1000y has 48 swimmers from 12-23 minutes. I generally swim 1000 in 28-something. An all-out 1000 might give me 2 minutes faster but that's it. I might expect to do 45 or 46 for 1650. I'm a veteran of about 500 road, track, and triathlon races, and now 3 swim meets. I did not get the same feeling of camaraderie in the swim meets as with running. I felt very much out of place.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Elaine Krugman — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 11:34:21 GMT

None of these "Fitness Challenges" have made any sense. All of them (set lasting 30+ minutes; set totaling 2000+ yards; set totaling 1+ miles) are things that normal USMS teams do at least once a week. These are geared for the fitness swimmer, not necessarily team swimmers. The idea is to get more recreational swimmers involved and active in the sport. Hopefully, they will become team swimmers!

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 07:55:15 GMT

These are geared for the fitness swimmer, not necessarily team swimmers. The idea is to get more recreational swimmers involved and active in the sport. Hopefully, they will become team swimmers! This. I don't have a group of my own, but having a fixed goal (in this case, a mile swim logged between 11/15 and 11/30) gives me something to work at that isn't just swimming between walls. The written workouts USMS offers have been very helpful for me, as far as how do I get better, what kinds of things can I try, and a taste of what a workout group might be like. I know personally I've felt better in the water, and that makes me feel more confident about perhaps joining a club or group or even competing at some date.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Elaine Krugman — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:01:24 GMT

I'm primarily a recreational swimmer, but did join a coached masters team last year. I have attempted to keep up with the workouts but at 70 I can sometimes only complete half what the others (30 & 40-somethings) are doing. It has given me less incentive to enter meets, knowing I would finish poorly even if I did my best. But a self-regulated thing such as this where I compare me to only me, does have an appeal. At 70, why are you comparing yourself to swimmers half your age? At meets, you would compete in the 70-74 age group. The way to know how you would finish compared to your own age group is to time yourself in practice "races," and then look up how your time would compare to others in your age group. You can check them out in the Event Rankings on this site at www.usms.org/.../eventrank.php , Here, for example, is a sampling of the 2017-2918 results for the 1650 Freestyle in your age group: #1- 21:46.42, Last (#49) 40:36.58, and the middle of the pack came in at 28:54.45. Time yourself on a 1650 and see where you would rank. I would like to suggest, too, that if you only think of meets in regards to how you would perform, you are missing out on A LOT! There are so many more benefits to participating in swim meets than just how you finish in a race. :agree:

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Sumorunner — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:38:45 GMT

These are geared for the fitness swimmer, not necessarily team swimmers. The idea is to get more recreational swimmers involved and active in the sport. Hopefully, they will become team swimmers! I'm primarily a recreational swimmer, but did join a coached masters team last year. I have attempted to keep up with the workouts but at 70 I can sometimes only complete half what the others (30 & 40-somethings) are doing. It has given me less incentive to enter meets, knowing I would finish poorly even if I did my best. But a self-regulated thing such as this where I compare me to only me, does have an appeal.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Former Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:18:34 GMT

Here's a list of clubs that are hosting: www.usms.org/.../fall-fitness-challenge. Nobody in Mass. listed. :(

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:53:39 GMT

To quote Nike, "Just do it!" Really, the main purpose of this is to raise money for the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation and to get out and get in a good, healthy swim. Nobody will be watching over you, nobody will be keeping track, and nobody cares what you do. I swim 72 lengths of our 25-yard pool which is just over a mile; however, it gets me back to where I started, rather than stopping in the middle of the pool! Dan, just get out there and have fun! :agree:

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

ourswimmer — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:17:54 GMT

Seems like kind of a "non-event." I guess it's just something to charge an entry fee and they send you a swim cap. None of these "Fitness Challenges" have made any sense. All of them (set lasting 30+ minutes; set totaling 2000+ yards; set totaling 1+ miles) are things that normal USMS teams do at least once a week.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

ForceDJ — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:35:33 GMT

A mile is 1760 yards or 1609 meters. Whether the pool is yards or meters, it will be a little off. Yep. I swim usually in a 25m pool and generally count 1600m (32 laps) as "a mile." Yet in a 25yd pool I usually count 1800yds (36 laps) as a mile. But now you've got me wondering if this "Fitness Challenge 1-mile Swim" is meant to be a "swimming mile' of 1650 yds??? Not that one or the other is really more difficult. I guess I'm putting too much thought into it. Dan

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

Sumorunner — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:23:25 GMT

A mile is 1760 yards or 1609 meters. Whether the pool is yards or meters, it will be a little off.

RE: USMS Fall Fitness Challenge (1 Mile swim)

ForceDJ — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:00:47 GMT

Well, thanks for the responses. Seems like kind of a "non-event." I guess it's just something to charge an entry fee and they send you a swim cap. I sign up for these non-meet sort of events because although I'm a USMS member, I'm not really a "meet swimmer" per se. So...all I gotta do is swim a mile...and report it, or don't. Seems easy enough. Dan