I feel I know many of you frequent forum contributors even though I've never actually laid eyes upon you; along these lines, I'm wondering if maybe we could arrange a Long Course Nationals get-together, perhaps raise a cup of grog so that when we correspond via this forum in the future, we'll actually be able to put a face to the words we are reading (and which I personally have found so helpful about all things swimming).
I signed up for the meet via the online registration process, incredibly easy, by the way; unless something unforeseen occurs between now and August 15th, I plan to be in Cleveland along with some of my teammates from Sewickley, PA (we'll be swimming for Allegheny Mountain Associations Masters). Anyhow, if anyone out there is up for it, perhaps we could decide upon a rendezvous spot poolside, then go out for a beer when the day's events are over.
Hope to meet some of you guys.
It looks like at least half of us are going to the RRHOF on Friday, so that leaves Thursday and Saturday as the most likely beer rendezvous times. I am personally swimming the 800 Free on Thursday, but I know that at least Ian is not, and since this is the first day of the meet, it might be hard for everyone to actually locate each other in time.
Thus, it seems to make more sense to me to arrange a Saturday outing because that will give us more time to actually find out who the other people are and get the logisitics ironed out.
So as de facto team leader, I suggest the following:
1) we go out for beers on Saturday night, each of us reinforcing in the others that drinking to the point of vomitous inebriation is NOT a good idea and will negatively impact Sunday's swims. We should, therefore, drink just short of the point of vomitous inebriation. (Note: on rereading the above posts, I just remembered that Sat. is not ideal for Matt Shirley. Matt, do you think you and your family could join us for a quick beer BEFORE going to see your wife's relatives? Who knows? This might make the familial visit all that much more enjoyable.)
2) we should try to make each other's acquaintance before Saturday, but in case we miss each other, why don't we meet at, say, lane 4, in the deep end of the pool, at the conclusion of the men's 50 meter swim on Saturday?
3) any and all teammates are invited to come along for our moderate drinking & camaraderie (see above comments on vomitous inebriation and avoidance thereof)
4) any and all other posters are earnestly solicited to join in the festivities.
5) finally, to make locating one and all easier, put down your details on the list below, copy the entire list, and post it anew. Details: Age group, swims, whether Saturday night is okay, and possibly if you're planning to go to RRHOF. (Note: when this list is complete, print it out and stick it in your swim bag and take it to the meet. We can try to find each other in between--a kind of scavenger hunt to dull the monotony of the meet.)
Ian Smith -- 60-64 -- 50 fly, 50 & 100 free; meeting preference #1 Thursday, #2 Saturday; Yes to RRHOF on Friday
Jim Thornton -- 50-54 -- 800, 400, 200, 100, 50 free, and 100 fly; meeting preference Thursday and Saturday both fine; Yes to RRHOF on Friday
Matt Shirley -- age? events? meeting preference?; No to RRHOF on Friday
Ion Beza -- age? events? meeting preference?; No to RRHOF on Friday
Bill Volckening, the United States Masters Swimming Editor for SWIM Magazine -- age? events? meeting preference?; RRHOF on Friday?
Hope to see you there! Jim
It looks like at least half of us are going to the RRHOF on Friday, so that leaves Thursday and Saturday as the most likely beer rendezvous times. I am personally swimming the 800 Free on Thursday, but I know that at least Ian is not, and since this is the first day of the meet, it might be hard for everyone to actually locate each other in time.
Thus, it seems to make more sense to me to arrange a Saturday outing because that will give us more time to actually find out who the other people are and get the logisitics ironed out.
So as de facto team leader, I suggest the following:
1) we go out for beers on Saturday night, each of us reinforcing in the others that drinking to the point of vomitous inebriation is NOT a good idea and will negatively impact Sunday's swims. We should, therefore, drink just short of the point of vomitous inebriation. (Note: on rereading the above posts, I just remembered that Sat. is not ideal for Matt Shirley. Matt, do you think you and your family could join us for a quick beer BEFORE going to see your wife's relatives? Who knows? This might make the familial visit all that much more enjoyable.)
2) we should try to make each other's acquaintance before Saturday, but in case we miss each other, why don't we meet at, say, lane 4, in the deep end of the pool, at the conclusion of the men's 50 meter swim on Saturday?
3) any and all teammates are invited to come along for our moderate drinking & camaraderie (see above comments on vomitous inebriation and avoidance thereof)
4) any and all other posters are earnestly solicited to join in the festivities.
5) finally, to make locating one and all easier, put down your details on the list below, copy the entire list, and post it anew. Details: Age group, swims, whether Saturday night is okay, and possibly if you're planning to go to RRHOF. (Note: when this list is complete, print it out and stick it in your swim bag and take it to the meet. We can try to find each other in between--a kind of scavenger hunt to dull the monotony of the meet.)
Ian Smith -- 60-64 -- 50 fly, 50 & 100 free; meeting preference #1 Thursday, #2 Saturday; Yes to RRHOF on Friday
Jim Thornton -- 50-54 -- 800, 400, 200, 100, 50 free, and 100 fly; meeting preference Thursday and Saturday both fine; Yes to RRHOF on Friday
Matt Shirley -- age? events? meeting preference?; No to RRHOF on Friday
Ion Beza -- age? events? meeting preference?; No to RRHOF on Friday
Bill Volckening, the United States Masters Swimming Editor for SWIM Magazine -- age? events? meeting preference?; RRHOF on Friday?
Hope to see you there! Jim
