Good morning, TWIMmers. We have some old and new news to share in this post.
First up, keep an eye out for a soon-to-be-released post from COB Tom. Rest assured, everything is fine, but he has been chomping at the bit to get back to TWIM business…
Next, another photo from our time at Summer Nationals last month. Here is Tammy Koppelberger swimming fly. As official photographer at the event, we wondered how she positioned the selfie stick and set the timer to capture this gem until we realized her husband must have been involved. Absolutely awesome shot!
August 27th was a huge day in TWIMdom. Not only was it the date of our first ever TWIMfest, but earlier that day our own Betsey Kassen conquered the 2016 USMS Speedo 5K and 10K ePostal National Championships held at Colman Pool in west Seattle!
These are either 5,000 or 10,000 meter swims in a long course pool that crazy folks — I mean supreme athletes — can enter between May 15 and September 15 each year. Swimmers vie for top honors against their fellow age-groupers across the country but, mainly, just to be able to walk around afterwards with much-deserved swagger.
Coach Becca Watson was on deck to not only make the swim official but snap some photos of the 10 or so swimmers competing that morning. Initial speculation was that she was hovering over the pool in a manned drone, but swimmers who were there clarified she was actually high up in a lifeguard chair.
Betsey swam her 5K in a time of 1:26:03.87 while her husband and counter, Bill Kassen, cheered her on. Last year, a 1:26 in the 60-64 age group would place you 6th in the country, so cross your fingers, and way to go, Betsey!!!
Meanwhile, at Dash Point State Park near Tacoma, TWIMfest 2016 was ramping up! A fun time was had by all, plus it was delicious – families brought lots of tasty morsels – bbq, veggies, and treats!
One hundred years from now, this photo will be famous, but historians will wonder what the three on the right are doing. Here is a clue. Hold the photo up to a mirror, and it’s obvious what they’re spelling, right?
L to R: Tom Fritschen, Carl Haynie, Kathy Pelham, Zena Courtney, Tammy Koppelberger, and Vince Carmosino
Thank you, Kathy, for organizing TWIMfest 2016!
Long live TWIM!
