4:50 am Alarm, and its time for the Plunge.....

The alarm sounds off at 4:50am. I roll out of bed, stumble to the coffee maker and try to maneuver in the dark. I shuffle around the house grab my bag and drive over to Sunrise Middle School for swim practice.

At 5:25am the pool is pitch black, coach John Grzeszczak of Hammerhead Aquatics turns on the outside spot lights. A few more minutes of procrastination and I take the 5:30am plunge.

Coach John calls out our warm up for the 25 yard heated pool:

400 yard swim

200 yard Pull

200 yard kick

After about 20 minutes of warm up, the coffee has kicked in my system.  My eyes begin to  adjust, and I notice other swimmers in neighboring lanes.

There is a quiet rhythm with the morning swimmers. Its almost metronomic/zen like: the monotone rhythm of the water as swimmers go down the lane and push off the wall. The Splash of  water and breathing are the only sounds I hear.

After warm-up the coach gives us our work-out. With the warm-up, the main sets are usually a cross of breathing/speed/drill/kick and timed exercises ranging from 3000 to 3800 yards.

Friends say I am crazy. " You are off all winter and you choose to get up and swim at 4:50am". I quietly nod my head and agree, but think how lucky I am. How lucky that I am able to participate in a masters swim program in Fort Lauderdale with kindred spirits, and a spirited coach.

There is nothing like swimming 3000 + yards (80 to 90 minute workout) and watch the sun gently rise over the horizon. How lucky I am that my father took me to swim lessons as a child. How lucky that I have the motivation.

Swimming Pools, Fountain of Youth?

MaryJane is an 81 year old master's swimmer that I swim with. MJ, started swimming over 30 years ago when she turned 50. MJ is an amazing athlete. She has the speed and stamina of people half her age. Coach John will come up with an interval work-out plan and MJ meets the intervals.  Simply amazing.

I wonder about the aging process. Is it attitude, lifestyle, genetics, good weather? I don't know.  But what I do know, is that the abundant winter sunshine and warm weather keeps people some people young and active in South Florida.

Long ago, Ponce de Leon searched for the Fountain of Youth in south Florida.  The Fountain of Youth might be a swimming pool. It's amazing to see octogenarians swimming. But not only swimming, swimming really good. South Florida has a plethora of outdoor swimming pools that can be used 350 days-a-year. People of all ages utilize these pools daily.

Swimming has so many health benefits. It's good for the body, mind and spirit. It's a great form of exercise that is not too hard on the joints. It allows you to stretch  your body akin to yoga. Like yoga, you must balance your body and learn to control your breathing. Also, there is a sense of inner peace and strength after a vigorous workout set.

With people like MJ, I look forward to the future and to continue to swim!

(some pools, bathing suits may be optional...)

Resources:

International Swimming Hall of Fame, of Fort Lauderdale

Hammerhead Aquatics Masters Swimming Club

FINA

Hammerhead Swim Practice March 9th 2012

One of my favorite things to do in the winter in Fort Lauderdale is to swim with a masters swim club called the Hammerhead Aquatics.

The Hammerheads are a  premier masters swim club made up of athletes age 18 to 80-something. The club is very inclusive and features a wide array of athletes. Some are learning how to swim,  some are training for triathlons, and many are fitness swimmers like myself. One Hammerhead  is striving to qualify for the Olympics in London.

Coach John Grzeszczak

John Grzeszczak is one of the coaches for the team. Coach John qualified for the Olympic trials in 1980. His life's passion is swimming. During the week, practices are at 5.30am, noon, and early evening. Weekend practices are at 8am. There are 14 practices a week. I attend 4 to 5 workouts. The Hammerhead's use two pools in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area: Sunrise Middle School, and Pompano Aquatic Center. The workouts are great, but also, the camaraderie with other swimmers adds a big plus factor in going to practice!
This year the team goes to Iceland in May to compete in the IGLA.

Daily, Coach John designs  workouts depending on swimmers skill levels and abilities. Its almost like personal group training. All practices are coached in a masters' style environment which focuses on timed interval and stroke training. Workouts at Sunrise pool are generally a bit longer (75 minutes), which means more yards!

Here is Today's noon hour workout, for my skill level:
Pompano Aquatic Center. Pool set to 50 meter long course.

Warm-up 400 swim 300 pull-buoy
12  x 50 meters (Combo, Kick, swim/stroke)
50 meters x 4, rest 20 seconds
100 meters x 2, rest 20 seconds
200 meters x , rest 20 seconds
100 meter cool down.
100 meter, for good measure.
My Total 2100 meters.

Swimming has always been a part of my life. I can not remember a time when I have not been around the ocean, pool or water. Summers in Maine, and summer camp. Lessons at YMCA as a child, and inter-collegiate water polo club in college.

Los Baños, Laguna de Bay, Philippines 1979

International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum

Treat your body well, and it'll see you through for many years.

                                            -Johnny Weissmuller

Every day I run past the Swimming Hall of Fame. Located near the beach, this complex houses a museum, Olympic size pools and a library. Over the years, I have swam at the Hall of Fame and visited the museum. Today, I decided to re-visit this Smithsonian of swimming. The International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum showcases exhibits related to swimming, water-polo, diving and pool related activities.

Fort Lauderdale is internationally  recognized  as the World's capital of swimming, diving and water polo since the Hall of Fame opened in 1965. For generations, university and college swimmers would train in Fort Lauderdale in the wintertime. The omnipresent Gulf Stream keeps ocean waters warm in the winter, and the abundant sunlight creates ideal conditions for year round training.

The main building showcases, a kaleidoscope history of swimming. One such exhibit is Ben Franklin's Useful Hints for Learning to Swim from 1788. The "Black Splash" exhibit features the Civil Rights struggle in the Jim Crowe south during the 1960's with photos.

There is also an exhibit wing located above the Pro Shop that features the art of swimming. Paintings, prints and photographs related to swimming, diving and water polo throughout history are displayed. Bruce Weber's photos are showcased as well as other photographers like Guillaume Deutsch.

Bruce Weber's B&W swim photos on display.

Johnny "Tarzan" Weismuller is immortalized at this museum, with a life size figure.  Also included are Tarzan ephemera, and Weismuller's  swimming gear from different competitions and movie memorabilia. The museum also showcases swimming in the entertainment industry.

Greg Louganis' five Olympic medals, swimsuit and memorabilia are on display.

There are exhibits on Water Polo. Water Polo for years was dominated by the Hungarians, which is fascinating considering Hungary is a land locked country....

The Mark Spitz exhibit is interesting. A Life-size wax figure depicts Mark Spitz' 1972, 7 gold medal performance. The display includes the actual Munich pool starting block.

The swim suit exhibit features bathing suits throughout modern history. This is the pious hijab Islamic bathing suit, I don't think this would be good for doing laps...

The Details:
International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum

One Hall of Fame Drive ( one block south of Las Olas Blvd, East of A1A)

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Telephone: 954.462.6536

http://www.ishof.org/

Admission is $8. Special pricing for students and seniors. Parking available on site. However, there is cheaper metered parking across the street starting at $.75 per hour.

Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm

Sat & Sun - 9am to 2pm

Also at the ISHOF are pools for public use, a 25 yard and a 50 meter pool. Swimming programs and swim camps are also held there.

The Pro Shop/Gift Shop has a great selection of swimwear, books and accessories.

Michael Phelps typical day of training

I like Michael Phelp's practice ethic. He is quite regimented about his schedule. These clips are presented by his sponsor, Speedo.

John O'keefe Memorial Swim Meet

Today I did my first swim meet! The day was perfect, sunny in the 70's, pool in the 80's. The event was held in Miami Shores Aquatic Centre.  The Centre has a nice beach ball sculpture by Miami artist Romero Britto.

This 25 yard pool was refereed by US Masters Swimming Judges.

Miami's Nadadores Swim Club hosted the John Okeefe Memorial Swim Meet, which is one of the official Winter Party Events.

Miami's own diva Maryel Epps sang "Amazing Grace" and "The Star Spangled Banner" to start the festivities!

Guys line up to start! I did the 100 yard freestyle in 1.30 seconds...

Hammerhead Monty, not only swims, but sketches between various "heats". There were plenty of physiques for modelling!

Mike, Monty and Peter between "heats".

Hammerhead coach John Grzeszczak, keeps scores, and critiques our strokes.

Hammerheads, Monty & Greg. Well, I guess I can call myself a swimmer! Now off to the Miami Shores Country Club for much needed lunch!