TWIM Family,
Are you ready for swim competition to begin once again? I am imagining a resounding response, “yes, Yes, YES!” I know you all want to get back to swim meets, competition, and team camaraderie. That I am sure, is all of our collective emotional response. Surely, after the last tumultuous year, I suspect we are all emotionally ready to get back to TWIM-normal. Who would not want to experience that wonderful state of being once again?
What I would like to ask each of you to consider is this:
“What steps am I taking to get myself FUNCTIONALLY ready to swim again?”
There are a whole host of things that we can be doing right now, so that when our competitive events finally get re-established, we are ready to seize the opportunity! I am inviting each of you to “Up Your Game” in some way this week and begin to really prepare for our comeback.
You might ask, “What can I do?”, or perhaps, “Where should I start?” I suspect that each of our situations today is likely somewhat unique, so as a general suggestion, I would ask each of you to consider just “Taking a Step”. That is, doing just one thing more this week than whatever you have been doing in the last year, to get yourself functionally ready for the expected return of swimming events.
Maybe your situation has kept you out of the pool all year. Your step could be just to make a plan to start getting back in the water, even one day per week. What would that take? Find a place and time to swim, create room in your schedule, and then show up to swim. Maybe there are still circumstances preventing you from swimming? Let us figure out a strategy to overcome the obstacle. It is the TWIM way!
Maybe the lack of a Covid-19 vaccine is keeping you away from the pool. Your “step” could be to get yourself scheduled for a vaccine as soon as possible. I know the Web sites are ridiculously complex and availability of vaccine doses is spotty, but those things are improving. Ask a teammate for strategy ideas in how to get a vaccine appointment. If you are planning to travel to swim (or travel for anything) it seems likely that a “Vaccine Passport” will soon be a requirement for air travel. It would be terrible to have to miss your dream event due to not planning ahead!
Thankfully, I have been able to swim since June, although only 3 days per week on the YMCA’s 45-minute swim lane reservation protocol. They have just dropped the reservation program for swimming, so my step this week is to up my game, by bumping my pool time to five days per week and for somewhat longer sessions when my work schedule allows. Maybe you have an opportunity to take a similar step?
Here is a big one: Have you renewed your USMS Registration for 2021 yet? If not, this could be (may I suggest, should be?) your “step”. You must be a USMS member to swim with TWIM. When you renew, don’t forget to select TWIM (Team Walker International Masters) as your Workout Group!
On April 14, an email survey went out. The email is from Pacific Northwest LMSC, with the subject of: “Possible Covid-Safe Meet – Interested?” Did you all see this in your email? It is a quick survey with the possibility of a swim meet at the Snohomish Aquatic Center on June 6th. If you missed this, please search back through your email, and take the survey. It would be great if we could get enough positive responses to move this proposed meet from concept to reality and have a large TWIM contingent there!
What else can I be doing to get ready to swim again?
Log onto the USMS Web site at this link: https://www.usms.org/volunteer-central/us-masters-swimming-rule-book and review the 2021 Swimming Rule Book. Article 101 is the Swimming Rules for each stroke, and it is only five pages. This is a great review for all swimmers after such a long time off. Also, there are typically minor changes in the stroke rules each year. This is a great way to inoculate yourself against the dreaded DQ (disqualification).
Consider getting together with a teammate for some Open Water Swimming. Being somewhat of a cold avoider, this one is probably about 7 or 8 weeks away for me, but it is in my plan. Are you interested in joining me for some Open Water Swims this summer? Let’s talk.
These are just a few suggestions for what you might be doing right now. Maybe you have some other ideas for “steps” you might take to start getting yourself functionally ready to resume swimming again. It does not really matter so much what you decide to do. Any positive step is going to make both you and TWIM better and more-ready to resume our participation in the best sport ever!
Can I hear a cheer for the Blue and White? I am so much looking forward to seeing you all again, my swim family!
Dan
