Goggles: Update

Speedo Women's Vanquisher - $13.75 -Still the tried and true. However don't get smoke-- it is too dark!

Tyr Femme Crystalflex $14.70 - In a word -- pathetic. I don't know who reviewed these for Swimmer mag, but maybe it was a 6 year old because I think that is who is going to get my pair. They stunk. Leaked off every wall despite numerous adjustments. Couldn't make it through the whole workout. Don't bother with these. They were just completely disappointing!

Tyr Socket Rockets - $6.55 - I like these. The have a comfortable silicone feeling overlay on the eye piece. It is thin and helps keep the "socket" suctioned to the face. And while they still leave some marks on my face after a workout, they are less noticeable and fade much more quickly than with the Vanquisher's.

Late addition.....

Tyr Velocity - $16.00 - this is what I will probably be wearing for Harvard as I had to return the green smoke Vanquishers. I like the Velocity goggles. Good tight fit and no leaking on starts ( I did at least 20 starts today). The straps are a bit too long but I think some scissors can fix that. They do leave goggle marks, but it seems impossible for a racing goggle not to. Overall a good choice.

Still have yet to try the Barracuda and Aquasphere goggles that readers recommended... up next along with open water goggles!

Goggles: Still on a quest

After burning out one pair of goggles, losing one and breaking another -- all in the last 2 weeks -- I am down to one lone pair of clear Speedo Vanquishers salvaged from the lost and found. They are fine -- I wore them to BU in the fall -- but the anti-fog is gone and I can hardly see the clock. So again I am on a quest. Mostly I need a pair that doesn't leave me looking like a raccoon face after practice. Unfortunately, that tender under eye skin doesn't bounce back the way it used to at 15.

Here are the finalists: (all prices from Swim2000.com)

Speedo Women's Vanquisher - $13.75 -the tried and true standby for racing. Have to get another pair for Harvard. Even though they are the worst offenders for goggle marks, they are my favorite for racing.

Tyr Femme Crystalflex $14.70 - promised to leave no goggle marks along with "good visibility" and greater peripheral vision, according to testers for Swimmer mag (Jan/Feb 2010).

Tyr Socket Rockets - $6.55 - I'm going to try these as an alternative to the Swedes which everyone recommends for no goggle marks, but really hurt my eyes because they were too big for my eye sockets.

If you have another good candidate let me know. I will test all these and post my findings in a month or so.

New Maine Open Water Race!

From the organizers....

It is our pleasure to introduce the first annual NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE, taking place on Saturday morning , July 10, 2010. This year’s event will include a USAT (USA Triathlon) sanc tioned 2.4 mile swim race around the “Nubble”. It will be open to 100 swimmers. and 100 kay aker escorts. The race starts on Long Sands Beach and continues out past the Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the US, swimming through the “gut”, the channel between the lighthouse island and the mainland. The race finishes with a sprint to Short Sands Beach. There will be food from local restaurants and awards following the race at the York Beach ball field which is one block from Short Sands Beach.

The proceeds from the race will benefit the Maine Chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in four adults will experi ence a mental health disorder in a given year. Many types of mental illnesses are hereditary and research shows that children raised by parents with depression or other mental illnesses are more likely to suffer the same symptoms as they grow into adulthood. The U.S. Surgeon General re ports that 10% of children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental health disorder that se verely impacts their daily life at home, at school, and with their peers. Early identification and treatment is imperative to minimize the impact mental illness has on the individual, their family, and the community. NAMI provides educational programs and support to families that are di rectly affected by mental illness. They also educate schools and community agencies by identify ing the symptoms and early warning signs of mental illnesses. Your contribution for the swim will benefit these local programs.

NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE is a non-profit organization established in 2010, to raise funds for the benefit our community based organizations by promoting an annual athletic event. Our goal is to promote a safe and quality event that will be competitive for those trying to establish personal goals as well as those satisfied with the goal of finishing.

The NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE will be exciting, fun and rewarding for all who participate. Spectators will be able to cheer the swimmers on from the rocks at Sohier Park overlooking the “gut”. There will also be great viewing from Ocean Avenue Extension that parallels the swim mers as they head to the finish.

Registration for the event will open March 15, 2010. You can register online atwww.nubblelightchallenge.com. We will send out an email updating the registration date.

We are very excited and committed to making this an amazing day.

Psych sheets for Harvard SCY Champs are up

Psych sheets are up!

Check out how you stack up against the competition.

Yes, swimming can be boring

I know I am supposed to be all 'rah rah!' about swimming here. And usually I really do feel that way... energized with that 'good tired' feeling, feeling the fire of competition and striving for more more more! But today... well I can see why triathletes and non-swimmers find swimming so boring. I showed up to lap swim today. It was me, two elderly men and my neighbor Sarah who just happened to show up. I had the lane all to myself, so no reason to complain there. I even had my new money suit on, so that should have been reason enough to feel good. But god, swimming alone without my teammates was so just so....well BORING. I warmed up for as long as I could possibly stand. 9 minutes. (great.) Then I kicked on my back butterfly for as long as I could. 14 minutes. (better.) But then I just headed for the hot tub. Defeated. I need vacation to be over and I need my team back!!!

So for all you triathletes and non-Masters swimmers out there, the moral of this lame post is JOIN A TEAM!

Top 10 Times US Masters Swimming 2009

I'm happy to say I've made several 2009 Top 10 times both for SCY and SCM in the 35-39 AG.

We'll see what 2010 holds....

SCY Top 10

50 fly - 27.80 (9th)

100 fly - 1:02.53 (9th)

SCM Top 10

50 fly - 29.85 (2nd)

50 free - 27.47 (3rd)

100 free - 1:02.49 (4th)

100 fly - 1:11.09 (3rd)

100 IM - 1:13.50 (8th)

Get a suit for $20

Great deal at Splish right now. Grab bag suits for $20....

I just got one with hundred dollar bills all over it.

Maybe that means good $$$karma is coming my way.

I can live with that :)