To: Carleton Coaches
Bcc: Those Registered for Fall/Winter 2002/2003: 7:30am Earlybirds (41 addresses), 8:30am Earlybirds (26 addresses), 6pm Whitecaps (59 addresses), 8pm Nightcaps (28 addresses), 6am High Intensity (19 addresses), High Intensity p.m. (5 addresses), Varsity registered with Masters (6 addresses), Masters "Alumni" (23 members)
Dear Coach: Lately I've been counting my strokes (good for me is 20strokes/25m). I've noticed that by the end of the practice the count is more like 25strokes/25m. Is there something I can do to lower that count? Weights, more length, longer workouts or am I just getting old? An Older Swimmer
Dear A. O. Swimmer: Basically, it takes a great deal of effort and concentration to keep your stroke long as you get tired. Shortening your stroke is very common as you fatigue. It's not a question of age! Additional strength may help, but the key factor is focusing on the stroke length as you tire and ensuring that it doesn't decrease. Practice will make perfect -- but, of course, practicing the wrong thing won't help! You may need to slow down a bit at first, so that you can slowly adapt to the longer strokes. When you are warming up, warming down, or swimming easy to moderate, concentrate especially hard on this aspect of your stroke.
Dear Coach: This January, I've started to get a rash after I swim. This didn't happen in the Fall. Have the pool chemicals changed? Itchy Swimmer
Dear I. Swimmer: The pool chemicals have not changed, but winter (very dry air) tends to be hard on the skin, and the swimming can make it worse. I recommend getting a humidifier at home, if you don't have one. My dermatologist suggests showering as soon as you can after swimming, but avoiding soap (it dries the skin). Pat yourself dry (rather than rubbing your skin, which removes the natural oils) and apply moisturizer right away. If the rash doesn't go away soon, you should see a doctor or dermatologist.
Dear Coach: Why do some swim meets have a "club cost"? Just Curious
Dear J. Curious: For most swim meets, we add a small "club cost" to the entry fee. This money is used to cover the cost of the club relay entries as well as the postage of meet entries.
Private and Semi-Private Masters Lessons
For those who want to take semi-private lessons (2-3 students), the cost per student for Carleton Members is $21 for 1 hour, $39 for 2, $54 for 3, $67.20 for 4, and $79.20 for 5 hours, all plus GST. Semi-private lessons for non-Members cost (per student) $30 for 1 hour, $51 for 2, $69 for 3, $85.20 for 4, and $97.20 for 5 hours, all plus GST.
Private lesson times for Fall/Winter are: 4-5pm Monday, and 7:15-8pm Tuesday/Thursday.
Contact Lynn for details/availability (times are available in March).
RemindersInterested in Copies of the Workouts?: Are you interested in getting copies of the Earlybird Masters workouts ahead of time? Let me know. I usually e-mail out the week’s workouts (Wednesday through Monday) on Sunday.
Triathletes: Check out Rudy Hollywood’s (Earlybirds/Whitecaps) website: http://www.trirudy.com and subscribe to the daily tri-news e-mail.
Your input to this newsletter is most welcome, especially for the Swimmer Notes, Race Results and Ask the Coach sections! To be added or removed from the receiver list, just let me know (lynnmarshall@sympatico.ca).
See you at the pool!