2004 Postal Pentathlon Entry Form

[Sarah H]

The 2004 Postal Pentathlon entry form is found through the following link:

http://www.minnesotamasters.com/form..._Form_2004.pdf

[mjtyson]

I just recently discovered postals; sadly, too late to complete your pentathlon.

I was wondering if you guys were planning on doing a pentathlon for 2005?

[Nancy Graham]

I am "toying" with doing at least one postal swim this year. Since I am new at this -- what do I need to do? Do I need to "join" something (like USMS), will a new registration form for 2005 be put up soon, anything else I need to know?

I must say, at my rate of swimming, and with the amount of swim time I usually have each week, it could take me a loooooong time to swim across one of those short lakes. But it seems like a nice motivation goal.

Thanks, Nancy

[suares]

Could someone please explain what a Postal is?

It appears to be a method of documenting how far one swims.

If so, how does this differ from a regular work out?

[mjtyson]

I did my first (and only so far) postal early December. I swam for 30 minutes and my buddy documented my lengths.

I then filled out the form from O*H*I*O masters (who were sponsoring the event) with the distance I swam, and my buddy signed as a witness and I sent it in.

I will then be stacked against others my age and sex. I also bought a T-shirt.

I liked it and it was nice for someone like me, in the military, who has to join a different masters group every 2-3 years. Additionally, my luck is I deploy whenever a meet comes up, so these postals are a way for me to compete.

[suares]

Tyson,

Thanks for responding.

That sounds interesting. I guess there would be no reason to cheat since its just you and nobody even knows you exist so why try to be something you're not?

Are there guidelines for doing a postal?

[mjtyson]

I guess you could say there are regulations. The postal I did required a witness/timer/counter to time me. I had a "split" sheet on which my friend wrote down the lap time and cumulative time.

I didn't have to turn that in, only my registration form with mine and his signatures.

[Rob Copeland]

And if you are interested in other postal events; the annual One Hour Postal is currently underway (January 1 – 31)! Entry forms and information can be found at:

www.usms.org/longdist/ldnats05/1hrentry.pdf

[Kae1]

I have a question about the timed postal events....

I know it's supposed to be how far you can swim in a given time, without stopping, but what's considered "stopping"? Can you stop at the end of a lap for a drink of water? Adjust the googles/cap? Or, is it one of those things where if your feet touch the bottom of the pool, you're done?

Kae

[knelson]

I've never seen any requirement about not stopping. As far as I know, you could do 100 yard repeats and stand on the bottom in between swims if you want.

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Postals are great, especially for those of us who live relatively far from swim teams and train alone. They are a great way to measure your growth. I do many. Last summer I sponsored on for IM's. The purpose was to see how many IM you could do in one hour. You didn't have to do them consecutively(sp). Only one other person did it. I was very disappointed. I would liek to do it again this summer. Would any one be interested?

[ljodpundari]

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
Last summer I sponsored on for IM's. The purpose was to see how many IM you could do in one hour. You didn't have to do them consecutively(sp). Only one other person did it. I was very disappointed. I would liek to do it again this summer. Would any one be interested?

I plan to start working on my butterfly form soon (having knee problems at the moment). I like the challenge of IM's, but can't take the laughter from the other lanes.
I should be up for it by summer.
Tom