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Pacific Update


 
   
Week of August 17, 2020  
In This Update
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In this issue you will find information on upcoming pool events and other information of interest to the local adult swimming community.
 
The next issue of the Update will appear on August 31, 2020.  The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, August 26, 2020. 
 
Stay fit,
The Pacific Masters Swimming Committee
EVENTS AND CLINICS
400 Fastest Pull For Sebastopol 2020
August 1-31   

Disappointed that all those pool meets have been cancelled and need some training motivation? Join Sebastopol Masters and pull your heart out in August by participating in the 400 Fastest Pull postal event. The top 3 men and women in each category (paddles and no hand paddles) win a prize! Ribbons awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category for men and women by age group. This is another great way to get back into shape! Registration.
2020 Toyota USMS Virtual Championships
August 12-23

Are you back in the water? Are you beyond being gassed after a 50? If so, you are ready for the next step in your training. USMS has partnered with Swim.com to create the 2020 Toyota USMS Virtual Championships. This will be a unique, socially distant pool and open water championship event that allows you to race anyone across the country in your favorite events. Fast times are not important. Pace clock times will be accepted. Entry fee is optional. Why not use this event to jumpstart your shelter-in-place recovery?
2020 USMS 5K/10K ePostal National Championships
June 1-September 30
 
Complete a timed swim of 5 kilometers and/or 10 kilometers in a 50-meter pool of your choice, then submit your times online. Some people swim for competition, some for the challenge, some for fitness, and others do it for fun. All who wish to participate are welcome. Hosted by Southern Oregon Masters Aquatics. Click here for more information. 
Go The Distance
On-going

Go the Distance is a USMS sponsored self-directed program intended to encourage Masters swimmers to regularly exercise and keep track of their progress. There's no time limit for distance milestones, only that they must be completed in this calendar year. Since most of us have been out of the water for a while, participating in this program could be a great way to track your progress as you get back into shape. 
Open Water Swim Season 
  
Other Open Water Races 
Save the Bay, a virtual swim to fund raise for the beautiful Narragansett Bay in New England, is ongoing from  May 6 - August 31. For more information click here.

July 1-October 31 Swim Across America Virtual Coast to Coast Challenge to raise money for cancer research. For more information click here.
U.S. MASTERS SWIMMING NEWS
USMS Championship Bidding

Bidding for USMS Open Water and ePostal Championships for the year 2022 remain open until August 24.  Click here for more information.
CLUBS AND COACHES
COVID-19 Relief Program

Pacific Masters is partnering with USMS in a Covid-19 Relief Program for our member clubs. All clubs are invited to apply for this assistance. Our grant committee designed the application process. To ensure a smooth process, as there are over 100 clubs in Pacific, we have worked with a small number of clubs on a "beta" application. These "beta " tests allowed us to work out the technical issues to receive the applications and supporting documents from the clubs.  Shortly, our Administrator will send all club contacts an email instructing them on how to apply. To learn more, click here.

Send all questions to the grant committee at [email protected]

Phyllis Quinn
Chairperson, Pacific Masters Swimming
How are You?
Survey Monkey

This past week, PacMasters Coach's Chair, Carol Nip, sent a survey to coaches as we are interested in knowing how you are doing in these trying days of COVID-19.  Pacific Masters and U.S. Masters Swimming is working together to bring you some financial relief.  In the survey, we are especially interested in knowing if your pools are open and what more can Pacific Masters or U.S. Masters Swimming do for you.  If you haven't already, please take the survey. 
Annual LMSC Coaches Clinic
October 10

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 10.  Our annual LMSC Coaches Clinic will be held in two sessions that day.  The 10:00 am session will cover such topics as keeping your team together and staying in shape out of the water; the 1:00 pm session will address how to adjust your workout to different speeds and abilities.  Presenting coaches will be Kerry O'Brien of WCM, Marcia Benjamin of MEMO and others, to be confirmed. Coaches will have the opportunity to speak and network.  Reservations will be required.  
PACIFIC MASTERS NEWS
The Pandemic Video - How to Contribute
 
Pacific Masters is documenting how our members have responded to the Coronavirus pandemic. We want your stories! Show and tell us about your experiences, places you've swum, how you stayed in shape, connected with teammates, or anything else that memorializes this strange year.  
What to submit:
1. A photo with a caption.
2. A series of photos that tell a story with a written explanation.
3. A selfie with a written explanation.
4. A selfie video with voice comments.
5. A video clip of an experience that could only occur during a pandemic.

Include your name and club and send to [email protected]. For larger files, email Rich and he'll send you his Dropbox credentials.  
Pacific Masters Monthly Meeting
August 19, Meeting at 7pm, Doors Open at 6:45

The meeting will begin promptly at 7 pm via the Zoom platform. If this is your first time Zooming, we suggest you sign on a little early to ask questions and address technical issues. All members are encouraged to participate. Our monthly meeting reminder email will provide the Zoom link. If you are not on that list and would like to attend, please contact Chris Ottati, Administrator, for details. 

Note: The September meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 16 at 7:00pm via Zoom instead of during the convention. On the agenda for this meeting is the 2021 budget. 
2020 Oceana Zone Meeting
Thursday, September 10 at 5pm

Normally, this meeting occurs during the convention and all Pacific delegates are expected to attend. This year the meeting will take place via Zoom and is open to everyone. Want more information? Look for Oceana zone on this schedule.
Calling All Writers

The Update Editors are looking to welcome a new editor to the team. If you enjoy writing/editing, have a keen eye for detail and are interested in volunteering a bit of time each month to help produce this newsletter, we'd love to hear from you. Interested? Contact Clare Kubiak for more details. 
EDITOR'S NOTE
Swimming Books

We've been sharing some of Kate's favorite swimming books. Click here for the full list. This month we are celebrating open water swimming and highlighting books that celebrate marathon swimming.

The Great Swim (2008), Gavin Mortimer.  There was a time when long distance swimming was so popular, news of Channel attempts would make the front page of major newspapers throughout the world. During the summer of 1926, four American women vied to become the first woman to cross the English Channel. The book contains primary sources, diary entries, interviews with relatives and contemporary reports to tell the story of these four women and their courage. The story is riveting and will appeal to swimmers as well as to students of history.