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Did you know...?
Dynoswim has added a new workout category for "marathon" swimmers to save and share workouts. Experienced Channel swimmers around the world like Marcy MacDonald will be adding and sharing workouts specifically for the JANUARY JAM and marathon preparation.
THE 2009 JANUARY JAM: BEGINS IN THREE DAYS!
Dear Dynoswimmers,
Training for a big swim? Need to get back into shape? Feeling guilty from too many holiday treats? Just plain old competitive?
THE 2009 JANUARY JAM: MS PLUNGE FOR PARCELLS BEGINS IN THREE DAYS!
On January 1st, JANUARY JAM participants from all over the world will track their yardage for the entire month to see who can "jam" the most yards into 31 days. The St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation's January Jam: MS Plunge for Parcells was created to promote fitness through swimming while raising money for the Dave Parcells MS Fund.
In 2007, Dave Parcells passed away suddenly at the age of 49 while doing what he loved: swimming the Tampa Bay marathon. Dave was known for his accomplishments as a long distance athlete and Channel swimmer, but not many people knew that just months before he died, Dave was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Even while struggling with his personal challenges and fears for the future, Dave had a dream to set up a fund to support MS patients and their families with expenses not covered by insurance as they undergo treatment for MS. Unfortunately he passed away before fulfilling this dream. This event will help realize his goal and at the same time present a challenge Dave would have enjoyed - to jam as much yardage as possible into one month.
2008 was the January Jam's inaugural year and not surprisingly, there were eight English Channel swimmers and at least six participants who were attempting the English Channel or Swim Across the Sound in the upcoming summer. David Blanke of Austin, Texas set the high water mark, covering over 255,070 yards in the 31 days. David used his Jam yardage to prepare for a number of national and international marathon swims including Cook Strait (the body of water separating the North and South islands of New Zealand), a husband-wife relay at the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, and the Chicago Shoreline Marathon. Marcy MacDonald was second with 196,900 yards.
Wishing you all happy and healthy holidays,
Dean, Josh, Judi, Liz, and Kristen - Your Dynoswim / January Jam Team
Quote for the Week of December 29, 2008
"Self-discipline is what happens when nobody is watching."
~Stephan Widmer
Merry Christmas!
We at Dynoswim wish you a wonderful Christmas holiday spent with friends, family, and loved ones.
In the meantime, if you have a few moments to spare read this article: Working out your Christmas workout from Canada's ABS/CBN news.
Did you know...?
Exercise is an important part of maintaining function for a person with multiple sclerosis. Swimming is often recommended, not only for its low-impact workout, but also because it allows strenuous activity without overheating.
Learn more about MS and do something about it. Register for the January Jam!
Quote for the Week of December 22, 2008
"Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable."
~Zig Zigla
Amaury Leveaux Blasts 50 Free World Record
Amaury Leveaux's 50 Free video! He also cleared the 45 mark (44.94 to be exact) in the 100 Free (SCM), marking the 100th World Record set in 2008!
RIJEKA, Croatia, December 11. THE first night of finals at the European Short Course Championships held in Rijeka, Croatia started off with a bang as Amaury Leveaux of France clocked a world record during the men's 50 free semifinal round.
Read about it at SwimmingWorldMagazine.com
Did you know...
At the end of the last lap of Janet Evans' career (at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics), she ducked under the buoys and floated over to embrace the cocky teen who backed up a boast to take her place. In that poignant moment in the pool, America's greatest and most beloved woman swimmer let go of any lingering animosity she harbored toward fellow American Brooke Bennett, 15. She also let go of a lifetime's work and symbolically passed the torch to Bennett, the new 800-meter freestyle gold medalist.
The Walk Up Warmup
For those of us that need those long warm-ups with heart rate thrown in for good measure. It makes perfect sense to me...
~By Nate McBride
I read an article in early 08 which was actually a transcription of Chris Davis' speech at the ASCA World Clinic in 2007 (Chris is the founder of SwimAtlanta and is a true coach among coaches). In his speech he was discussing the training regimen of Amanda Weir. It was a great speech and one particular section caught my eye. Recently I referred to a section from this very speech in an article on Dynoswim but with reference to the shoe training that Amanda did to improve her kick. This time the part I am referring to here is a particular section on walkup warmups. Chris discusses a time block in the 500 that Amanda just could not overcome (being unable to break 4:52 no matter what they did). So Chris decided to break convention completely and had Amanda do 16 100's on 1:10 immediately before her race and then had her walk to up the blocks and go. She went a 4:46.
Read on at West Side Swim Club
Freestyle Tip
Extend your stroke as you go to air to achieve greater distance per stroke.
Quote for the Week of December 15, 2008
"Take control of your destiny. Believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Don't give up and don't give in."
~Wanda Hope Carter
Did you know...?
The English are considered the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837 swimming competitions were being held in London's six artificial pools, these competitions were organized by the National Swimming Society in England. As the sport grew in popularity many more swimming pools were built, and when a new governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain, was organized in 1880, it numbered more than 300 member clubs.
Unsuited For Swimming
A meeting will take place in Lausanne in February that will contribute significantly to the future direction of swimming. Sound minds will be present, so too will be people who show us why the current chaos in the sport must be sunk without a trace.
Read on at SwimNews.com
Quote for the Week of December 8, 2008
"Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you."
~Jeffrey Gitomer
Provided by Amy Britton, thanks!
Smit breaks short course 400m IM record
TORONTO (AFP) -- Julia Smit of the United States broke the short course world record in the women's 400m individual medley on Friday with a time of 4min 25.87sec at the Canada Cup swimming meeting.
Smit, winner of two relay medals - silver and bronze - at the Beijing Games, eclipsed the previous record of 4:26.52 set by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe on April 9 of this year.
Did you know...?
Although an octopus has eight arms, or tentacles, it does not use them for swimming. These tentacles are only for crawling along the ocean floor and for catching food.
In order to move through the water, the octopus draws water into a cavity in its body, then squirts it out in jets through a tube, or siphon, just under its head. The force of this squirting is so powerful that it moves the octopus swiftly backwards through the water, in an action similar to jet propulsion.
Quote for the Week of December 1, 2008
"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."
~Flavia Weedn; author, artist