"Speedo" One Hour Postal Championship

The tension in the air was so thick you could slice it.  The audience was busy laying odds at tho could go the distance.  The four competitors nervously awaited the task at hand.  And the coach - well lets just say she reassured us that if we needed to get plucked out of the water she would be right there to bail us out - that is - if it was her horse's neck she was trying to save.  Welcome the the annual "Speedo" One Hour Postal Championships, sponsored by your US Masters Swimming program.  More simply put, a national competition that took place during the month of January where swimmers see how far they can swim in one hour.   Participating in this year's event (pictured from left to right) are Walt K, Jeff W, Michelle S, and Drew F, with our beloved and favorite Masters coach Heather B. managing the clipboards.  While Heather is smiling bright and shiny for the photo-opp, we chose to hide the bullhorn and thumbscrews out of cameras view to leave a more favorable impression.  Needless to say I am kidding as we all love Heather to death and she has been a tremendous asset to our triathlon team this past year.  

Each of the competitors, armed with their own personal lap counter and split recorder, made their way into the lukewarm water of Castle High School's Pool, home of the Newburgh Sea Creatures.  Heather started the large digital wall timer - and we were off.  It didn't matter if what stroke we swam, and for that matter, we could even stop and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if we felt the need.  The point was, just to see how far we could get in one hour, "PB" and "JY" or no "PB" and "JY".  The minutes clicked by and the pool laps kept mounting.  10 minutes......20 minutes............30......40.....45.....50 (only 10 minutes left) Could they do it?  57...58...59...ONE HOUR!!!  The crowd rose to its' feet in awe of what had been accomplished.  All four of these finely tuned swimming machines had swam the entire hour without stopping for so much as a tic tac. 

In fact, they swam so many laps it took Heather hours to tally up the split sheets.  Consider it retribution for the "bullhorn incident" Heather. 

Anyway - We all had a great time and we look forward to the challenge again next year!