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
Mary, you are awesome! I always track my yardage. Heck I wanted to get to 500,000 yards by the end of 2006 and have a really funny story about it.
I went to GMU, where I frequently swim on my own, on New Year's Eve knowing that a: the pool closed at 2 pm and b: that I needed to get in 3,000 yards. I knew that as long as I got in the pool by 1:15 pm that I would be fine because the web site said that the pool closed at 2 pm. I arrived shortly after 1 pm and the nice girl at the front desk asked me if I knew that the pool closed at 1:30? WHAT????? But I needed to swim for 45 minutes. Ok, I am fine with this. I won't get to 500,000 but I might as well stay to use up my last punch pass that expired that day.
I got in, swam 1750 yards and then the lifeguard closed the pool. I was fine with it. But as I walked to my car, I just knew that I had to finish my workout. I drove about 6 miles down the road to the county recreation center (which was still open), put on my wet bathing suit and finished my swim. As I drove home, I felt proud of myself for accomplishing the yardage goal that I set for myself earlier in the year. Now, I didn't HAVE to take 3 months off swimming AND leave the last 3,000 until the last day of the year, but I did!!!
So, what I'm trying to say is that I love a good challenge. I am psyched about your challenge and that I have now met so many other people on this discussion group who are working towards the same milestones! It will be fun!
Julie- at 46,550 yards for January.
I got in, swam 1750 yards and then the lifeguard closed the pool. I was fine with it. But as I walked to my car, I just knew that I had to finish my workout. I drove about 6 miles down the road to the county recreation center (which was still open), put on my wet bathing suit and finished my swim. As I drove home, I felt proud of myself for accomplishing the yardage goal that I set for myself earlier in the year.
You know, Julie, I think there are 10-step programs to help with problems like this. ;)
For me, that is mind-boggling mileage you're doing (I started swimming in Nov). I want to be like you when I grow up.
i eeked out just over 50 miles. missed a bunch of days with sinus issues.
I made it 36 miles. Not quite what I had planned, but this darn back pain has kept me out of the pool for most of the last two weeks. I may have to go to the doctor. Ice, heat, ibuprofen, stretching don't seem to be making it any better :confused:
Hi Folks,
Just a quick update on the new event "Go the Distance"! I am receiving a steady stream of emails from folks entering this event - I'm pretty jazzed about the response so far - but I think there might be a bunch more of you out there that haven't entered yet .... come join the fun!
Remember, it's simple and free! Just email Mary Sweat at gothedistance@swimoregon.org with your name, usms id, age, sex, email address and the distance you swam in January - how easy is that!?!
So far there has been a huge range of distances that folks swam in January.... from under 5 miles to over 150 miles - so there's some friendly competition out there for everyone!
If you haven't "tracked" your mileage religiously - no problem. You can send me a "pretty good guess" if that will get you started and participating!
Please spread the word - enthusiasm is contagious.
I hope to hear from you all soon!
Mary
I mentioned the event to one of my coaches and was surprised at his negative response: "An event that only keeps track of yardage will encourage less quality swimming." I told him he was wrong (based on what I said above)! Wondering if others participating in this event agree with me.
I can't believe he would be so negative. I'm not doing this just to log miles, I'm entering the yardage from my daily workouts, which varies from 1800 to 3500 depending on what I'm doing. Sprint and stroke days will be shorter yardage than long free intervals.
I got just over 30 mi.
62 miles here and counting... This beat my max last year of 54 miles for a month.
Being a distance swimmer yardage is a must, but for sprinters its a different ball of wax. This from a wan-a-be sprinter but turned distance swimmer due to a large triathelete base on my club.
Donna
Wwo Hhoo! It's Feb. 1, that means we have all tallied our January yardage (mileage for the real Masters of Masters Swimming). Just wanted to ask how everyone did? I finished up about where I anticipated, 29,125 yards/16.54 miles. I know, not a lot by most standards but a good start for me. I'm also happy with the quality of my swims, a lot of good drill sets and good sprint sets w/plenty of rest and of course some distance sets as well. This will not rack up tons of miles for me but will get me faster so that when I join all of you in Austin 2008 I will have made the cuts by more than the skin of my teeth. Nancytris, how'd you do -- you were thinking you would get to about 15 miles by the end of Jan. Hope you made it!
I mentioned the event to one of my coaches and was surprised at his negative response: "An event that only keeps track of yardage will encourage less quality swimming." I told him he was wrong (based on what I said above)! Wondering if others participating in this event agree with me.
Can't wait till March 1 to see if I get up to 20 miles!
I can't believe he would be so negative. I'm not doing this just to log miles, I'm entering the yardage from my daily workouts, which varies from 1800 to 3500 depending on what I'm doing. Sprint and stroke days will be shorter yardage than long free intervals.
I got just over 30 mi.
Yeah doing it b/c it's just mileage is true. I think most of us are here logging our workout and race dstances to total them.
