- Hosted by the Tualatin Hills Barracudas, Beaverton, OR
- Sanctioned by Oregon LMSC for USMS, Inc.: #377-S005
- Swum between October 1st and November 30th, 2017, inclusive.
- Entry Deadline December 10, 2017.
We haven’t seen an event like this offered in many years, a postal relay done as a sequential relay (you know, the kind we do in swim meets) rather than the cumulative relays that we usually put together for postal events. Looks like fun!
Here’s how it will work:
- Swimmers must be USMS members and follow USMS & event rules.
- In local pools, swimmers will swim as a two, three, or four-member team in strict rotation for 3600 yards (or 3600 meters, to be converted), which is approximately two miles.
- Timers will take splits for every 100 (a special split sheet available in event info).
- After the swim, a team captain will enter the team in the event.
- See https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=2416&smid=9347 for details and entry.
As a coach, here’s how I plan to run this event at home, using it to boost my team:
- During several practices in the event time frame, I plan to run this relay event as a sprint practice. I’ll drag in the watches, clipboards, split sheets, and timers and let it fly!
- As all good coaches know, there’s nothing like swimming fast (and practicing dives!) during practice. Depending on the number of swimmers on a team, the swim to rest time ratio will be about 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3, excellent for sprint training.
- I’m willing to bet that practice will be more focused and intense than usual that day!
- After the swims, I’ll serve as team captain and enter these relays, going for the glory of high placement and maybe an event record or two. We’ll have to be particularly good, as we almost always train in a 25-meter pool and thus will be at a slight disadvantage as our times must be converted.
Coaches & swimmers, I urge you strongly to try this out. Lift your practices to new heights!
Many thanks to Event Director Jim Teisher, who developed the concept and worked with me to bring it to reality.
Cheers,
Bob Bruce
Head Coach, Central Oregon Masters & USMS Coach-of-the-Year 2003
Chair, Oregon LMSC Long Distance Committee
Chair, USMS Open Water Committee