swimming all 18?

RE: swimming all 18?

srcoyote — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:00:59 GMT

I was all stoked to do this, and then I remembered that meant swimming backstroke which might mean that I would have to practice back starts again or stop it with the old-school turns already.

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:40:21 GMT

I have never understood the desire to swim breastroke. It's OK John, everyone has a weakness...

RE: swimming all 18?

pwolf66 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:37:14 GMT

Justin: :thhbbb: I missed this one in my response to you :angel:

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:44:01 GMT

havent done all 18 (did all except for 100/200 ***), but colorado has a fun thing at our state meet with "Brute Squad" (200 fly, 400IM, 1650) and "Sprint Squad" (50's of all and 100IM).. there were a few swimmers who did both programs. I ended up doing both and swam 12 events (more if you add in relays) over a 2.5 day meet (not recommended).

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:28:21 GMT

On the Italian circuit we call this the Iron Master and about 200 people complete it every year with a winner announced based on points accumulated. I wish the US masters would do something like that. I've done the checkoff challenge before and it was fun. I do think it's possible in some areas. Here in the DC area, we do, or did, have a few meets that run two days. You can do 10 at each one, if you're that crazy. I think the big problem might be getting both the 1000 and the 1650.

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:17:31 GMT

I don't think it works the same in reverse! Sprinters are a faint hearted lot. Personally, I've never understood the desire to swim all events. 200 breaststroke?! :afraid: I have never understood the desire to swim breastroke.

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:51:09 GMT

I was hoping to do it this season because we have a lot of meets this year - but now, I am going to miss the first 2 meets. Actually - my goal was to place in the Top 10 in all events - but I was going to use a split to place for the 1000.

RE: swimming all 18?

Patrick W. Brundage — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:25:18 GMT

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:57:18 GMT

www.usms.org/.../checkoff :cheerleader: Check-Off Challenge The objective of this event is to challenge yourself by making a check list and swimming each of 18 swimming events found in pool competition. The participating swimmer will get a T-shirt in advance, which will list the 18 swimming events on the back. These events will include: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 or 500 free, 800 or 1000 free, 1500 or 1650 free, 50 back, 100 back, 200 back, 50 ***, 100 ***, 200 ***, 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM. As you swim the events, simply check them off on the back of the T-shirt using an indelible marker. You can swim them during practice, during a swim meet, during an organized open water event, or during an organized open water training session -- any time, any place, at your own pace! How awful! :drown: But then again it does sound kinda fun... when it's spaced out over a year.

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:56:05 GMT

On the Italian circuit we call this the Iron Master and about 200 people complete it every year with a winner announced based on points accumulated. As a result events like 200 fly and 800/1500 free have alot more competitors . The achievement of finishing an Iron is well respected in the Master Community . Ciao !

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:36:59 GMT

I have never understood the desire to swim breastroke. I never understood the desire to swim anything but breaststroke...

RE: swimming all 18?

Justin Ritter — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:34:30 GMT

By "silly" I of course mean silly to me, because I just don't get them. Doesn't mean I don't have a respect for those who can get up on the blocks and get right into a perfect stroke off the dive and then hold it for a whole 25 seconds. Believe me, there are many mornings where I wish I could be a sprinter, swim a few hundred, maybe a couple fast 25s, and then spend 30 minutes in the shower. Sounds a lot better to me than 10x400 or whatever. :)

RE: swimming all 18?

pwolf66 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:10:27 GMT

I agree. The 50s seem pretty silly to me. Hmmmm, silly eh? Events where execution has to be spot on and where one mistake can completely pooch your swim. As opposed to the mile where a poor start can be made up for, one poor turn isn't game over, etc.. Please leave the word 'silly' out of discussion of sprint events. :bitching: We sprinters respect the distance folks even while we don't understand the willingness to swim that extra 17-20 minutes. :eek:

RE: swimming all 18?

Justin Ritter — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:55:06 GMT

Justin, I've swum them all a few times both scy, scm and lcm (17). 50's are the most annoying part of it to me. I mean, why bother? Getting wet for 24-34 seconds is a hassle. Anyway, you'll have to swim the 1650 at Championships unless you go to Nat's or travel elsewhere to swim it. I agree. The 50s seem pretty silly to me. I feel like I'm barely just getting into the stroke and then it's over. That said I do enjoy swimming them, there's zero pressure. How can you get nervous or worried over a 's why I'm not much of a sprinter. It looks like I'll need to pick up the 1650 at PMS. That gives me plenty of time to work on it though, my distance free is in a serious funk right now. Now imagine if they let you swim as many events as you like in a single meet. It would be interesting to see how it would be to swim all 18 in a single weekend.

RE: swimming all 18?

swimshark — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:58:10 GMT

I wish the US masters would do something like that. I've done the checkoff challenge before and it was fun. I do think it's possible in some areas. Here in the DC area, we do, or did, have a few meets that run two days. You can do 10 at each one, if you're that crazy. I think the big problem might be getting both the 1000 and the 1650. Ed, we're working on getting a similar meet at the Freedom Ctr maybe early next year.

RE: swimming all 18?

ande — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:30:34 GMT

one SCY season I think I'll swim every event maybe next year

RE: swimming all 18?

Jim Clemmons — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:20:27 GMT

RE: swimming all 18?

Justin Ritter — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:12:14 GMT

Glad to see that others have tried this craziness too. I think this would be a fun one-time thing. I still plan on concentrating on my best events for the big meets and in my training. But for the little meets why not try the off events? It's masters after all. I've never swum a 100 or 200 of back or fly in a masters meet yet so those will be instant best times as long as I legally finish. My specialties do tend towards the longer frees, the 200 ***, and the 400 IM so I admit it makes the whole endeavor a bit more palatable than if I were a sprint freestyler. The way I see it, if I'm training for the 500, 400 IM, and 200 *** the other 15 events kind of come along for free. I'm now officially entered for the 5 200s at the USF meet in about 10 days. Unless I wuss out that'll be a crazy day. 200 *** and 200 fly back-to-back :)

RE: swimming all 18?

Iwannafly — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:09:21 GMT

I plan to swim all 18 event as soon as I lose my fear of the 200 fly and the 400 IM. I think it would be a fun challenge. And since I'm not exceptional at any one stroke or event, I don't see a problem in being a jack of all trades and a master of none!

RE: swimming all 18?

Former Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:47:18 GMT

You are welcome to swim the 1650y at "Carnegie Mellon University 1650y Swim Challenge" on February 22nd. The USMS members can have their swim "recognized" #119-R-001 This would be a great opportunity to get out of the bay area and visit some real winter weather!

RE: swimming all 18?

Rob Copeland — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:48:50 GMT

Justin, you should check out the check off challenge… www.usms.org/.../checkoff :cheerleader: Check-Off Challenge The objective of this event is to challenge yourself by making a check list and swimming each of 18 swimming events found in pool competition. The participating swimmer will get a T-shirt in advance, which will list the 18 swimming events on the back. These events will include: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 or 500 free, 800 or 1000 free, 1500 or 1650 free, 50 back, 100 back, 200 back, 50 ***, 100 ***, 200 ***, 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM. As you swim the events, simply check them off on the back of the T-shirt using an indelible marker. You can swim them during practice, during a swim meet, during an organized open water event, or during an organized open water training session -- any time, any place, at your own pace!

RE: swimming all 18?

The Fortress — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:46:01 GMT

I highly encourage people to try this. Being naturally distance oriented, I had a blast doing 50s of the strokes this weekend. I don't think it works the same in reverse! Sprinters are a faint hearted lot. Personally, I've never understood the desire to swim all events. 200 breaststroke?! :afraid:

RE: swimming all 18?

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:40:29 GMT

Anyone ever manage to swim all 18 events in meets during one short course season? I thought it would be kind of "fun" to do. Once. It seems that the only major difficulties are 1) finishing the 200 fly legally and 2) having enough meets to try to get them all in. This is one of my "soft" goals for the season. This weekend, I knocked off the 1650, 50 & 100 ***, 50 back and 50 fly. I have three more meets this SCY season and a plan to do this. Unless event order really conspires against me, this will be doable. I don't think I'll get to swim any event twice, but that's fine. Part of the fun for me is that I've never competed in most of these events as a Masters' swimmer, so I'm going to get loads of personal bests this season. I highly encourage people to try this. Being naturally distance oriented, I had a blast doing 50s of the strokes this weekend.

RE: swimming all 18?

Midas — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:15:54 GMT

Anyone ever manage to swim all 18 events in meets during one short course season? I thought it would be kind of "fun" to do. Once. It seems that the only major difficulties are 1) finishing the 200 fly legally and 2) having enough meets to try to get them all in. With our first meet of the season yesterday I have the 50, 100, and 500 free out of the way. Next Saturday I'll get all 5 200s done (that's going to be a fun day). After that only 10 more. I'm trying to figure out where I'll be able to get the 1650 in too, not too many meets offer that. I'm curious to hear any stories from others who have tried it or were coerced to do it. I would imagine there are fun tales from sprinters who had to swim the 400 IM or backstrokers struggling through a 200 ***. I think this would make you a "jack of all trades, master of none." I prefer to master a few events, personally. I was at the same meet as you on Sunday and was disappointed with my times in the 200 and 50 free. A big part of the reason for that is that I didn't have enough time to recover after the 100 (I took the 500 easy to begin with). I have new found respect for Phelps, Lochte, Hoff and others who swam multiple events in the same session(s) at the Olympics. That really isn't easy!