From Competition / Postals (on top USMS page):
"USMS holds five long distance postal championships each year: the One Hour, 5K, 10K, 3000 yd. and 6000 yd. events. Swimmers who complete all five championships in the same year will be sent a participation patch to honor their achievement."
The patch is pretty neat.
I thought I would bring this to general attention because only one week remains to complete the first postal swim.
Any stories, thoughts from ppl who completed the Postal Challenge in previous years?
My goal is set for January 2013. I plan on swimming one postal swim in the first 10 days when I'm in the 30-34 age group, and then another after the 11th when I'm in the 34-35 age group. It's a special privilege afforded to all us January babies.
Maybe I'll try for the patch in 2012 while I wait.
In the meantime, I don't think our team is going to be able to find the pool time to get to do the postal this year, which is sad.
In the meantime, I don't think our team is going to be able to find the pool time to get to do the postal this year, which is sad.
Open water postal swim! Follow one of the ships when it clears a path through the ice on the Hudson. Chaos will already be following in its wake so be sensitive to his personal space. :banana:
Patch is ok but it is a lot of pain...close to 30K of pain to be exact. Did this in 2006 and 2007. Add one open water swim and you can be long distance all star for your age group if you are into that sort of thing.
If I can talk myself into 10K this year, I will do it for the first time. Last year was first 5K and 6000. Having teammates who have already done the 5 helps with support.
I am definitely going to go for it this year! I only did the 3,000 and 6,000 yard Postals last year. The only thing that will set me back is finding a 50 meter pool for the 5K and 10K that has lap swim open long enough for me to complete them.
Yay, Danielle! Go for it!
Patch is ok but it is a lot of pain...close to 30K of pain to be exact. Did this in 2006 and 2007. Add one open water swim and you can be long distance all star for your age group if you are into that sort of thing.
I agree, there should be something more than a patch. And it is a big commitment. I hope there can be some recognition in Swimmer. Maybe "Both Sides of the Lane Line": On one side some bloviating from Jimsy/Jamie on how horrible and physiologically crippling a postal series is, on the other side a simple, dignified list of those who met the challenge and conquered their personal Everest. This should probably be followed by a meetup of Recovering Postal Swimmers ("Hi. My name is ____ and I am a Postal Challenge swimmer").
I am definitely going to go for it this year! I only did the 3,000 and 6,000 yard Postals last year. The only thing that will set me back is finding a 50 meter pool for the 5K and 10K that has lap swim open long enough for me to complete them.
Questions:
I don't know the answers to all-stars, how does USMS keep track, and how does one get a patch, but I am trying to track down Answer Person to get the info.
There's just a few more hours, that's all the time we've got...
:)
Does anyone know how USMS keeps track of the postal swims? Do you have to request a patch? Or do they show up anywhere in the MY USMS section of the website?
And is it crazy to swim 10K just to get some patch?
Yes, and I hope to do it to make up for how I never got to be a patch-collecting Girl Scout because none of the mothers in my class would volunteer. We also didn't have a swim team in my school or town, so you see how I'm spending my 30's making up for lost time here...
