Announcing the new 2007 USMS Fitness Event: Go the Distance!
A new fitness event is being offered by the USMS Fitness Committee. The name of this new challenge is “Go the Distance”!
The objective of this event is for participants to track the distance they swim during the year 2007. When participants achieve specific distance milestones of 50 miles, 100 miles, 250 miles, 500 miles, 750 miles and 1000 miles – they will be recognized on the USMS website and awards will be available for purchase (for a minimal fee).
There is no cost to enter this event. Participants are requested to email (or use snail mail) to submit the total distance they swim each month. A list of miles per month and cumulative mileage will be tabulated for each swimmer. Once a distance milestone is achieved awards will be available for purchase. They will include swim caps, certificates, patches and t-shirts with the event logo and the distance of the milestone achieved. Details on these awards and how to purchase them will be available soon.
Each month the results will be updated on the USMS website in the Fitness Section. There will be lists to recognize all those that have achieved each distance milestone. Participants will also be able to look up their current total as well as view their progress toward the next distance milestone. In addition there will be graphs illustrating the participation for each zone, lmsc, age groups etc..
This event was designed to encourage folks to track the distance they swim in order to review their progress and to be recognized for their achievements. There is no time limit for the distance milestones (except that it must be in 2007) so speed does not count – just the effort to attain the next goal. We wish to recognize participation and achievement of goals with this event.
There will be an entry form, monthly results, award request form and a “distance tracking log” available on the USMS website (fitness section) soon. The log can be used to track one’s daily distance swum but is not required.
The Canadian Masters have a Million Metre Challenge that is quite successful. This event is similar in design but will be implemented a bit differently in the beginning. And of course, our goals will be in miles instead of meters!
I would very much appreciate it if you could spread the word to folks and consider participating yourselves! If you need any more information or would like to comment and make suggestions please contact Mary Sweat at gothedistance@swimoregon.org
Wishing you lots of fun swimming in 2007!
Mary Sweat
For the USMS Fitness Committee
Hi Folks (especially Nacny, richjb and Kimberlie!),
I'm so jazzed that you are interested in this new event! I really look forward to seeing your posts - especially when you chat about your progress. I'm even more anxious to hear from you all at the end of the month to see how far you swam in January!
I think it's important for us all to remember where we started ... and how far we have come - regardless of how it compares to anyone else. It really doesn't matter if you swim 50 miles in one year ... or in one month - it's the personal challenge that this is all about. That's what is so cool about swimming - we can actually quantify our progress - whether it be speed, distance (endurance) or sheer enjoyment (I know I'm easier to live with when I swim every day!).
As an 8 year old, my brother and I did a 50 mile challenge offered by the Amrerican Red Cross. That got me hooked on swimming - and on accepting challenges. I started on my first swim team a few years later when we moved to a place that had one. That's where the idea regarding this event came from ...
Since then, I've done my fair share of really dumb things (like taking 20 years off of swimming and ... ahhh ...some other really stupid things you can probably guess). But when I started swimming again at 35 .... I could hardly swim 500 yards. Now ... I will rarely swim a 500 because it's too short (!) ... go figure. But all in all, it's always good to remind oneself just how far we have come ..... and enjoy the good feelings that come with it.
So enjoy the ride, swim to your hearts content and be happy and satisfied with your accomplishments whatever they may be!
Mary
Hi Folks (especially Nacny, richjb and Kimberlie!),
I'm so jazzed that you are interested in this new event! I really look forward to seeing your posts - especially when you chat about your progress. I'm even more anxious to hear from you all at the end of the month to see how far you swam in January!
I think it's important for us all to remember where we started ... and how far we have come - regardless of how it compares to anyone else. It really doesn't matter if you swim 50 miles in one year ... or in one month - it's the personal challenge that this is all about. That's what is so cool about swimming - we can actually quantify our progress - whether it be speed, distance (endurance) or sheer enjoyment (I know I'm easier to live with when I swim every day!).
As an 8 year old, my brother and I did a 50 mile challenge offered by the Amrerican Red Cross. That got me hooked on swimming - and on accepting challenges. I started on my first swim team a few years later when we moved to a place that had one. That's where the idea regarding this event came from ...
Since then, I've done my fair share of really dumb things (like taking 20 years off of swimming and ... ahhh ...some other really stupid things you can probably guess). But when I started swimming again at 35 .... I could hardly swim 500 yards. Now ... I will rarely swim a 500 because it's too short (!) ... go figure. But all in all, it's always good to remind oneself just how far we have come ..... and enjoy the good feelings that come with it.
So enjoy the ride, swim to your hearts content and be happy and satisfied with your accomplishments whatever they may be!
Mary
