It's Postal Season

[davesebastian]

Folks, don't forget that January is the One Hour Postal. This is the most well attended postal event of the year. Over 2,000 entries last year.

We've had a number of people complete their 2009 OHP already. Don't forget to send in your distance to my attention as IM will be preparing relays again in 2009. davesebastian@msn.com

I'm trying to put together a recap of the fantastic results IM individuals and relay teams had in 2008. But IM rocked. Multiple national records, and IM even won one of the meets overall.

For a look at the One Hour Postal event, go to:

http://www.usms.org/longdist/ldnats09/1hrentry.pdf

[orca1946]

I have never tried one of these, but this is the year that I promised to myself that I would.

[heidi k]

The postals are a good challenge. Give the hour swim a try! Illinois Masters always puts together some great relays.

[davesebastian]

Oz come join in the challenge. It's addictive. And we hope you'll share your experience to recruit more to build up IM's overall individual and relay entries.

[smontanaro]

You have a week left. If it bothers you that it's a one hour swim just think of it as two T30s or 4 T15s. :D For me I set a target 500 pace and see how I'm doing as the swim progresses.

Marcia and I were talking after my swim yesterday. I said I got a second wind with about 10 minutes to go. She said the time between the 35m and 50m marks is the toughest.

[bamueller]

You have a week left. If it bothers you that it's a one hour swim just think of it as two T30s or 4 T15s. :D For me I set a target 500 pace and see how I'm doing as the swim progresses.

I tried to think of it as every possibility to make it appear better. T30s, 4T15s, 5T12s, 45-100s, ect.

I just swam my first OHP. I was thinking I would not make it to the 20 minute mark. Time stood still. Minutes seemed like hours - days even. At the 30 minute mark, I popped my head up to request a distance check. I was still on my target goal pace, so I felt better about getting through the next 30 minutes.

It was a mental game for sure. My goggles were fogged up for 55 minutes of it. My calves cramped the last two minutes. My pace only slowed by 4 seconds on the 50 by the end, so I feel pretty good.

Good times! I will do it again though.

Any pointers as for dealing with cramps? I would like to participate in open water swims that are greater than an hour.

[heidi k]

I think it's the turns that cause the cramps, so you may not have the same problem in open water. When I swam my 10K postal last summer, I would switch to breastroke for 30 seconds or so when I felt a cramp starting. Either that or a few open turns to give your legs a break.