By Dan Underbrink | Photos by Sean McPeak.
What a great way to start off a new year and a new decade! The Thorbeckes 10K New Year’s Swim on 1/1/2020 in Centralia, Washington, is the brainchild of TWIM member Erin McPeak, and Erin certainly knows how to stage an event. Her entire family pitches in to help run it, and TWIM Roadie Vic Pace was also there to lend a hand during the swim.
A couple of points of clarification here:
The 10K is not exclusively a TWIM event, although it is co-sponsored and heavily attended by TWIM members. Centralia locals as well as many elite swimmers from outside the Centralia area were also in attendance.
The event is not exclusively a 10K either. Several lanes are set up for 10,000 Meters (100 x 100M) but there are also lanes for 100 x 50M (5,000 Meters), 100 x 75M (7,500 Meters), and even 100 x 125M (12,500 Meters). This way, all levels of swimmers are able to participate. Also, if a swimmer needs to change their pace, they may elect to change lanes. All lanes swim on a 2 minute interval, so everyone finishes at the same time.
No fewer than 13 TWIM members and alumni were on hand, with their meters running, so to speak: Zena Courtney, Jessi Gable, Carl Haynie, Jenny Hernandez, Betsey Kassen, Jason Koppelberger, Tammy Koppelberger, Erin McPeak, Craig Tavis, Valerie Thompson, Dan Underbrink, Tom Walker, and Karin Williams! So, TWIM comprised over one third of the 31 participants.
Whether doing 50s, 75s, 100s, or 125s, a set of 100 of your favorite distance is a statement that you are committed to your sport, and commitment to the swim is a core TWIM value for all of us. Thanks to Erin and her crew – and to a fine group of sponsors – for helping us exercise our TWIM values in such a fun and compelling way.
Check out the article by Celene Fitzgerald in the Centralia Chronicle here complete with dazzling photos by Jared Wenzelburger.
