Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Sat, 30 Oct 2004 14:57:34 GMT

This is an interesting thread. I learned that Wyoming apparently is desperate for pools and that a virtual swim team isn't all that far away. I can't do much for Wyoming pool deficit but I'm sure John Kerry has a plan to address it. On the virtual swim team, I would like to contribute. My first thought (its my 2 cents but probably a cent over-priced) is that the team should create a thread that posts workouts for members and solicit feedback. Just a thought on Saturday before Halloween. Probably more to come but I have to carve a pumpkin for two little girls. Happy Halloween.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 15:52:33 GMT

Barb: You're always welcome to drive with me to Worland for Monday and Wednesday night workouts. I see you've given up on the rope across the Star pool. I never could figure out how you could swim and go under that dumb thing. I swim the 13 yard course across the pool along the rope but the 20 yard course at the Tepee is sounding pretty good. (She's not kidding about the water temp.)

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

MegSmath — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 09:30:26 GMT

Barb, We have lots of Masters practices at the University of Kentucky pool! Next time you're in town to watch your son swim, come swim with us! We have a really good Sunday morning practice starting at 10:00 a.m. We also have an 11-1 Friday practice. I was at UK's last meet, working as an official. I was the lone female official, who got there late because I had had to work another college meet earlier in the day. Wish I could say I particularly noticed your son, but I'm not supposed to be paying attention to who is swimming. Look me up next time! Meg

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

vietti — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 05:17:39 GMT

Originally posted by vietti There is no cold water pool here in Thermopolis (I regularly work out in hot mineral water) Originally posted by James what pool do you hit, the Teepee or star plunge? Hello... sorry this reply is not timely..... just got back from visiting son Will who is now swimming for the U of Kentucky!! (Our first "parent" weekend!) I swim at the Tepee. It only has a 20 yard pool as compared to the 33.3 yard pool at the Star, but the water temp is regularly 90-95 at the Tepee as compared to 95-99 at the Star. You can understand why I need a virtual team to keep me going when swimming workouts in bath water!! In fact, other threads have considered records for various feats such as "late-starting", etc. I think we should also have a category for swimming in various temps of water. Just try swimming a 400IM in 95 degree water, or a 1650. Gives a whole new meaning to aerobic. Bye! barb

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 06:03:37 GMT

Originally posted by vietti There is no cold water pool here in Thermopolis (I regularly work out in hot mineral water) Vietti, what pool do you hit, the Teepee or star plunge?

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 09:18:32 GMT

and yet another p.s. When you get into the chat room just click ok when it comes up with the entering a name thing. You can change it in the room by clicking the little N in the bottom right corner. ~Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 09:16:52 GMT

For some reason the address is screwy in the last post. Here is the right one: www.geocities.com/.../virtualteam.html Hopefully that will work better!! ~Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 09:15:26 GMT

I found a really easy website wizard so designed a website and then found another site that allowed to me add a free chat room to it! So now we can have a place to meet and discuss things about the team and setting it up live!! The address is www.geocities.com/.../virtualteam.html...follow the instructions from there to get to the chat room. So..anybody up for setting up a first meeting time? ~Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:09:12 GMT

I'm keeping an eye on this! ;) For those who are interested in more private discussion, pleaseemail me at webmaster@,astersmvnswim.org. We can do it via email for starters... Till we come up wioth a better place. I have several places I have in mind, but I need to set aside a bit of time to get them ready. I also need to get my coach little more up top speed. He IS very interested in what we've been discussing here. It's just that he doesn't post as much, only because he doesn't type 3 milion words per second like I do ;)

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:06:34 GMT

here! here! I don't think we should let this idea die! Im glad to see that someone revived the post...i was worried it was getting lost!! We should definately start an interested list and start having "meetings" or something....maybe setup up a chat room somewhere and have everyone whose interested go there at a set time and brainstrom. ~Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 13:12:30 GMT

I think we're onto something here :) Yea, we need senior swimmers, we need young swimmers, we need everyone that has interest in putting their toes in the pool! :D For those that are 'unattached' just because there is no team near-by, I think it ewould be cool to belong somewhere... and then have a once or twice a year get-together... perhaps at nationals, perhaps at USMS clinics and camps... I know my team is looking into having a swim camp in 05. I'm hoping that pans out.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:35:12 GMT

Do you need a senior swimmer for a relay on this virtual team? If so, sign me up and keep me posted. ggilswim@aol.com

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

susanehr — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 08:20:28 GMT

Hello Marketing Committee! Here is a great idea. Wow, this could be a team to be reckonded with if they showed up at Nationals!

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 05:43:22 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 If I may, I'll add you to the interest list, and peridically we'll send yiu update email, as it gets coser to getting launched. Please do add me to the interest list...this sounds like a great opportunity that I don't want to miss. My e-mail address is Seagurl51@aol.com. Keep me in the loop!!! Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 16:47:55 GMT

This is a great idea! I love the idea of being able to interact with other unattached swimmers and gain motivation from them. Sometimes it can be hard to swim all those laps without someone there. And if it had a coach...that would make it all the more worth while! Kyra p.s. Being from Idaho, I can sympathize with all the people from Wyoming, and I think it could be really beneficial to be able to talk to swimmers in your general area.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 16:13:41 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 Our 'real' team already has a bulletin board where teammates can chat with one another. Those are pretty easy to set up. Then you could, I dunno, for a monthly fee you could have a weekly private online (or telephone or instant messenger) conversation with a coach, access to daily workouts, weekly news with stroke tips etc... Access to online video library. Perhaps every 3 months you could send in a video of your stroke, and have it analyzed. Havea yearly meeting and a social event. I'm thinking if it's tied to our 'real life' (as opposed to virtual) team, especially in this area, there are a lot of people with guestrooms. Some of our current 'satellite members' when they come to our Zone meet, don't even have to stay in the hotel. Out of some 120-150 teammates, someone is always willing to offer a guestroom. It's a nice experience for both, the guest and a host. And, well, being that we're in Southern California, what an interesting place to visit, any time of the year, especially with inexpensive accomodations! I'm working on website related things right now, like an on-line swimmers log, where you can keep your yardage and times etc... and coach can look at them when you want to, or you can chart your progression. Also, it's a done deal, we're going to have an on-line fitness swim event, 'Swim to Nationals' (we're hosting the nationals in 05), so fitness swimmers could choose few starting points across the country, and log their distances till they make it all the way to nationals. We're looking to include the same 'goodie bag' and a national's fitness event souvenir for all those who participate (online). There will be a chat room for participants too. Who knows, maybe by nationals you decide to come out to California. That online/postal event will start Jan 1st and will be hosted by my team. Rumor has it that there may be an ocean 1 mile swim available just down the street a the same time nationals are going on. I don't know if that is official yet or not. If you could work something like that out..with having the online chats and the video analysis...I would sign up in heartbeat! Keep me posted please on all that you are doing cause it sounds great!! Feel free to e-mail me!! Kyra

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 10:55:32 GMT

Originally posted by Seagurl51 If you could work something like that out..with having the online chats and the video analysis...I would sign up in heartbeat! Keep me posted please on all that you are doing cause it sounds great!! Feel free to e-mail me!! Kyra If I may, I'll add you to the interest list, and peridically we'll send yiu update email, as it gets coser to getting launched.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Kevin in MD — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 07:50:14 GMT

The triathlon world already has lots of online coaches and I have seen at least one swim coach. www.webswim.com comoes to mind. There's another one out there that I can't remember the name of. You can also go to owww.ultrafit.com or www.trainingbible.com and look through the bios for a swim coach that strikes your fancy. But look and ask carefully, their background should give some idea of whether they would be a good fit.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:54:57 GMT

Originally posted by Seagurl51 This is a great idea! I love the idea of being able to interact with other unattached swimmers and gain motivation from them. Sometimes it can be hard to swim all those laps without someone there. And if it had a coach...that would make it all the more worth while! Kyra p.s. Being from Idaho, I can sympathize with all the people from Wyoming, and I think it could be really beneficial to be able to talk to swimmers in your general area. Our 'real' team already has a bulletin board where teammates can chat with one another. Those are pretty easy to set up. Then you could, I dunno, for a monthly fee you could have a weekly private online (or telephone or instant messenger) conversation with a coach, access to daily workouts, weekly news with stroke tips etc... Access to online video library. Perhaps every 3 months you could send in a video of your stroke, and have it analyzed. Havea yearly meeting and a social event. I'm thinking if it's tied to our 'real life' (as opposed to virtual) team, especially in this area, there are a lot of people with guestrooms. Some of our current 'satellite members' when they come to our Zone meet, don't even have to stay in the hotel. Out of some 120-150 teammates, someone is always willing to offer a guestroom. It's a nice experience for both, the guest and a host. And, well, being that we're in Southern California, what an interesting place to visit, any time of the year, especially with inexpensive accomodations! I'm working on website related things right now, like an on-line swimmers log, where you can keep your yardage and times etc... and coach can look at them when you want to, or you can chart your progression. Also, it's a done deal, we're going to have an on-line fitness swim event, 'Swim to Nationals' (we're hosting the nationals in 05), so fitness swimmers could choose few starting points across the country, and log their distances till they make it all the way to nationals. We're looking to include the same 'goodie bag' and a national's fitness event souvenir for all those who participate (online). There will be a chat room for participants too. Who knows, maybe by nationals you decide to come out to California. That online/postal event will start Jan 1st and will be hosted by my team. Rumor has it that there may be an ocean 1 mile swim available just down the street a the same time nationals are going on. I don't know if that is official yet or not.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 12:41:50 GMT

Originally posted by laineybug yes, it is the coaching I want. I know I've said this hundreds of times on these discussions. I made huge jumps when I had just ONCE a week coaching. Now, if we can figure out how to get a coach for the virtual team count me in. I would even pay 35/mo real money, not virtual, to be a member of a virtual team if it had a coach! My coach is setting up a 'virtual coaching program'... We're probably about 3-6 months out of having it functional. You are welcome to monitor the progress of this project: http://www.coach-mark.us/

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 11:26:16 GMT

The only 2 Master's teams in my area are tied to YMCA's. You have to join the Y first, which is about $400, then pay an additional $100 to join the Master's team. Neither of those clubs is convenient for me use daily. So, it's either carry 2 YMCA memberships and Master's costs or swim alone at the Y I've used daily for 12 years. I've tried getting the Y I use daily to start a Master's team, but my requests have fallen on deaf ears.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 10:35:34 GMT

yes, it is the coaching I want. I know I've said this hundreds of times on these discussions. I made huge jumps when I had just ONCE a week coaching. Now, if we can figure out how to get a coach for the virtual team count me in. I would even pay 35/mo real money, not virtual, to be a member of a virtual team if it had a coach!

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 10:06:39 GMT

I swim unattached. There are masters teams all around town, but I am a rather busy person, and I just don't want to disrupt my (and my family's) schedule to fit someone else's workout times. In fact, I don't do meets every year. I renew my masters membership in years I plan to do meets. If I'm not doing meets, I don't see the value in paying for membership... I have no doubts that I would gain a lot by being coached if I ever started working with some masters team. Maybe some day ...

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 08:01:13 GMT

I live in wstern Illinois. I'm about 3 hours form Chicago. I might as well be in Wyoming. I would like very much to be in a virtual team. We could even have virtual meets. I swim alone ( actually I swim with some very nice elderly women who aren't interested in a team). everyday & I think about every one else out there swimming alone. In an odd way it is very motivating. If any one else is serious about a virtual team, get in touch with me. You can find my e-mail address in my profile. We could come up with some great names.

RE: Why USMS if you swim alone? Virtual Swim Teams?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 05:41:17 GMT

Costs are going to vary from team to team. The montly dues here in Raleigh are $35 per month. That gets you into 6 workouts per week.