LOCO SWIMMING

Restrictions are starting to ease up, and it sounds like pools in town will be opening soon.

Details later.

City of Longmont is circling the wagons, battening down the hatches, pulling up stakes, cutting and running — take your pick of metaphor. The Rec Center and Centennial Pool (along with most other city recreation facilities) are closed through Sunday, March 29. There will therefore be NO MASTERS SWIMMING for the next two weeks.

Read more here.

In case you’re not on the mailing list of previous participants, the Winter Sprinter has been cancelled for this year. There weren’t enough early entries to justify the costs of the event. Maybe next year.

In light of this development, consider participating in the 2020 “Winter Splinter.” Pick an event (or two) and swim them during one of the next two Saturdays (Feb 1 and Feb 8). You can go off the blocks and I can get your time. Better yet, find someone who wants to swim the same event and do a little racing.

This is a reminder that the Winter Sprinter is coming up in 3 weeks.

Are you considering it? C’mon! Give it a try!

Download a copy of the meet entry here.

Some of you may have noticed a new sign posted at the south end of the pool. This has to do with SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT, and it’s no joke. This has nothing to do with not being able to swim; it has killed well-trained, well-conditioned swimmers.

I’ve found this article on Wikipedia to be very helpful in understanding what can happen. I encourage you to read it.

I did lots of “no breathers” when I trained as a kid — often 50 yards at a time — and I was really good at it. Lucky for me, I felt uncomfortable hyperventilating prior to these swims, so I didn’t.  This might have been what saved me.

This phenomenon is the primary reason why I don’t include breath-holding drills during our workouts. I might have a few swims where I ask you to breathe less often than you normally would, but I’ll never pester you to not breathe if you feel you need to.