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To enter, you need a seed time. I had no idea how long it would take me to swim 66 laps, straight through. I looked up recorded times and recognized a name, someone who usually swims faster than I do. Starting with her time, and adding a minute, I came up with a seed time of 26 minutes and 25 seconds. It was a complete guess.

I checked with the meet director and asked if I had to swim the freestyle crawl during the race or if I could switch it up and swim backstroke (one of my favorite strokes). He replied that any stroke was legal in the freestyle. Phew!

To prepare, Annette advised me to practice a few 500s, maybe a 1000, and work up from there. I didn’t listen. The first chance I got, I jumped into the water and swam 2 laps. That was my warm-up. The excitement of swimming the mile made me want to get going. I glanced at the clock and pushed off.

Right away, an issue arose. My cap started creeping up with every flip turn. I paused at the wall for a second to pull it back down and noted to myself to have the cap on as low as possible for the actual race. I did not need a repeat of the unusual swim-cap-mishap that had happened to my teammate Annette during a 1500 (See: Freestyle Lap Thirteen in my book) to distract me.

Swim. Swim. Keep swimming. That’s all there is to it, I told myself. At regular practice, Coach has us do 3000 yards, so I knew I could do this, but it was the non-stop that worried me. My idea was to swim 10 laps, then turn over for a lap of backstroke to break the monotony, swim another 10 laps, etc. The math seemed like fun; backstroke on laps 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55. But as I swam along, I found that too confusing and abandoned it after the second lap of backstroke.

My first attempt took 28 minutes, judging from the clock on the wall. That was a start. The next week, I jumped in again. This time, I did a more thorough warm-up. Noting the time, I took off and stayed with the freestyle (crawl) the entire event. This time, I clocked 27 minutes. Better, but a full minute off my seed time. I was getting worried that I had entered too fast a time.

The day arrived. Annette and I drove into San Francisco. Since the heat and lane assignments were sent to all the swimmers the day before, we did not have to arrive early to warm up. Heat 1 was already in the water when we arrived. We found a spot on the bleachers, watched a few heats, and did a short warm-up swim. The pool water was cool, refreshing. There was plenty of warm up space available while the meet was going on.

I was in Heat 7. Lane 1. I was happy to be in the end lane, as I’ve been practicing in Lane 1 in my pool for a few months; it felt like home. And I could breathe toward the wall and not have to see the others swimming faster than I was. And there was a ladder close by…if the need arose.

Uncharacteristically, I started from the water; did not take the dive off the blocks. I was wearing new goggles and had not practiced with them on dives yet. I figured, in the words of my sister Jeri, when you’re doing 66 laps, losing those few split seconds that you gain from a dive, was not as important as knowing your goggles stayed in place.

Perhaps with all the excitement, I started out a little fast and by Lap 9, was seriously considering stopping. The thought occurred to me, but then I realized that I had bragged to everyone at the Post Office, including the Postmaster, that I was going to swim a mile. Arriving at work on Monday morning and admitting that I did not finish, had quit (!), was not an option, so I swam on, remembering my backstroke idea.

As I turned for Lap 11, I switched to backstroke and took some deep breaths, did an open turn, then went back to freestyle. I did another lap of backstroke at number 17, turned, and felt my freestyle rhythm kick in. I was going to be OK. I won’t be needing any more backstroke laps to save me, nor that ladder after all, not until the end, not until I had completed all 66 laps.

I placed second, behind Sally, who “lapped” me. She finished, and I still had a little more than 50 yards to swim. She’s a great gal, a fun competitor, very supportive, and a fast swimmer. Getting out of the water, I checked my time with our lane timer. Never having competed in this event before, I did my best time: 26 minutes and 47 seconds, 22 seconds off my seed-time guess. Later, I found out that the timers are members of the CCSF Women’s Swim team and that all the income from the meet would go to support their team.

Annette “counted” for me, and I’m doing the same for her. Now it’s Heat 10, and Annette is up on the blocks. True professional, she is. As always, she is swimming strong, steady. I kept track as the laps flew by and had the nicest conversation with another counter about the homemade bread she’s been baking lately. I was getting hungry listening to her. Another swimmer in Annette’s heat, swam the entire race using elementary backstroke, whip kick and all.

Anette told me later that her goggles had fogged, and she was only seeing a big white glare, had trouble finding the wall for turns, which meant she could not read the lap numbers on the counter very well. All sorts of challenges come into play in such a long race. And she did great! Time: 31 minutes, her seeded time, and she also placed second. We were consoled by the fact that we both got “lapped” – by very accomplished women. And we are right behind them!

Our GPS took us on a scenic route home, through St. Francis Wood, over hills, giving us views of the ocean and the Farallon Islands, allowing us to maneuver past the traffic of 19 th Ave. It was a very nice day and makes us want to do this crazy swim thing again.

"Donita was instrumental in creating the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator role within the Pacific LMSC, convincing the board of directors to consider adding this important committee. She suggested that the LMSC's meet sanctions include facilities that have gender-neutral bathrooms and she has challenged clubs to find ways to be even more inclusive. Quote from Donita's USMS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

At my first USMS Convention in 2018 my colleagues suggested I apply for a committee. My first choice was the newly formed Diversity and Inclusion Committee, my preference because it was new and I believed it would be easier to have an impact. Being on a committee was also an opportunity to put myself out there while learning about the business side of USMS. But my particular interest was how I could provide swimmers with more opportunities and be more inclusive, with my club and others in our LMSC.

Some of the things I have learned and incorporated into our workouts: I spend equal time with all my swimmers, giving directions, paying individual attention and providing feedback on stroke and technique. I soon came to understand this is a great way to promote inclusivity and bring everyone together as a club. Everyone might be doing the same workout, but not necessarily the same distance. Now everyone enjoys the same experience of being together and making new friendships.

I also write all workouts on a white board. I had not done this before. Having workouts on display benefits swimmers who are visually sensitive. Kerry O'Brien from Walnut Creek Masters showed me how using different colored dry markers allows all abilities to easily recognize differences in set intervals, rest, intensity and number of yards. I use red pens for my advanced swimmers who want more challenging workouts. Black is the easiest color to see so I use it for everyone. Blue or green pens are the "lighter option" for swimmers wanting less yardage and more rest. Different colors let me accommodate all levels of swimmers, allowing them to personalize their workout and intervals. I’ve had great feedback and will continue to use this method.

The USMS Diversity and Inclusion Committee is a cohesive group from across the nation, yet with different life experiences, perspectives and ideologies. We come together to promote diversity and inclusion throughout USMS. I've had the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures, thought processes, and social interactions beyond my little "country in the city" hometown of Sonoma County. What unites us is that swimmers just want a friendly atmosphere at the pool, where they’re made to feel welcome. And never different than their peers.

I did have a recent situation of a member who wanted to be referred to with a different pronoun. I was able to listen and better understand how they wanted to be addressed. They just wanted to be included like everyone else. I learned to adapt and apply the lesson to my dealings with all of my swimmers. That approach has worked with everyone and made us all comfortable on the pool deck and between the lane lines. Sebastopol Masters welcomes all swimmers with open arms to a friendly environment.

As a member of the committee, I've been mentored by some great coaches as made great lifelong friendships. My exposure to different lifestyles has alter my perspectives as well as biases when it comes to identities and sensitivities.

I've changed the way I address my swimmers with regard to their identities and sensitivities. I've learned not to assume what you see on the outside is what's going on inside. I have made it a priority to ensure all swimmers and guests feel comfortable and welcome the moment they step on the pool deck.

Despite our differences outside the pool, we are all swimming in the same pool water. Sets and intervals are based on ability. No one is expected to do more than they can. Sharing great workouts with friends and fostering camaraderie in the pool and your lane is what diversity and inclusion is all about. Diversity and Inclusion committees must be a part of every LMSC. They can build awareness about identities, sensitivities and inclusiveness in order to foster fair, sensitive and welcoming environments to our teams, clubs and workout groups. 

If interested in learning more about Pacific Masters' Diversity and Inclusion Committee, contact Vicki Shu at DivIncChair@pacificmasters.org.

I have truly benefited from the community of Pacific Masters and my interest in this position is to help Pacific Masters continue to grow and flourish in its mission to promote health, wellness, fitness and competition through swimming. My time as a volunteer at both the local, LMSC, and national level, in combination with my professional leadership experience, I believe has given me a solid background to help lead Pacific Masters into the future. The past 4 years in the role as Secretary for Pacific Masters have given me a good understanding of the governance and operational structure of our amazing organization. It would be an honor and privilege to serve our swimming community as LMSC Chair.

Our meets are special because they are a fun social gathering as well as an individual and team-based competition. We are lucky to have such a wonderful line-up of high-quality meets and opportunities in our region. I love volunteering, working as a team and hope to get more involved with the organization of our pool meets. I have been fortunate to discuss this interest with Matt Roper, and with his encouragement, I would like to formally announce my candidacy for VP of Pool Meets once his term ends later this year.

When the update was launched last October, it was primarily a transfer of pages from the old site to the new site. Now we are working on making the site more user-friendly. We have begun tweaking the website for better Search Engine Optimization (SEO) so we can better promote Masters swimming to the adult swimming community.  The Update underwent redesign earlier this year again to better communicate with our members. I would like to serve another term and continue modernizing our communication tools so we can serve our members and adult who would like to engage in our great sport.

Since then, I’ve enjoyed racing a variety of distances in both fresh and salt water—solos, series, relays, 5Ks to raise money for sea turtle conservation, at altitude, and even some cold-water during my days in Colorado. Most recently, I won my age group at USMS national 10K this past summer in Applegate, OR. I’ve also had the honor to give back to my community by crewing, most notably for a trio of swimmers simultaneously crossing Catalina Channel.

Since moving to Reno and joining Pacific Masters, I’ve had lovely opportunities to grow in community involvement—becoming an OW committee member, serving as an OW event evaluator, submitting content for the Pacific Masters website (e.g. contacting every LMSC team this past spring to learn who may offer OW training, swimmer profiles), attending the 2023 annual conference, and event director of the inaugural Pacific Masters Eight Bridges Virtual Swim, which attracted 97 entrants this past summer. I thoroughly enjoyed the array of tasks this event presented, such as tracking website liaison, writing copy, advertising, opening a virtual store, and trouble-shooting participant issues.

As a professional, I’ve spent decades under that vast umbrella of “writing-editing-marketing-PR.” Just a few examples of past posts and gigs are wellness director for a Fortune 500 company, marketing director for a non-profit organization, fitness guru columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and a celebrity fitness ghost writer. As such, I have an eye for detail, prize offering timely responses, and am a confirmed people-person. For a sample of my freelance writing, please see my blog, experimental swimmer, where I often write about PAC-related topics (e.g. Kim Swims documentary review, Linda Hepworth’s book review, my Del Valle OW Festival experiences). Currently I own and run my own business, Mariposa Herbalism, to see clients and produce custom remedies such as tinctures, teas, syrups, lotions, and balms. Education: BA in History/English, University of Vermont; MA in History, University of New Mexico; DDS (Dietary Supplement Science) Franklin Institute of Wellness, Franklin, Tennessee.

Thank you for your interest and my consideration for Vice President of Open water!

I volunteered as a USA Swimming official for many years and began taking the USMS coaching and ALTS classes in order to assist our over-worked masters coach. When that coach moved away, I took over the team rather than see it dissolve, as I loved coaching the swimmers who had become my second family and were an integral part of my life.

Over the past decade I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn and grow as a head coach, due in large part to the incredible wealth of knowledge that is so freely shared amongst our USMS coaching and member community. I am the head coach of Marin Aquatic Masters, a growing team that focuses on both fostering the inclusion of all swimmers, and community service with robust Adult Learn to Swim and Beginning Masters programs.

I have participated in many areas of Pacific Masters; as a swimmer, official, coach, meet director, mentor, and as a member of several committees where I have been privileged to learn from many dedicated individuals. In an effort to continue the cycle of learning and teaching I would consider it an honor to work in a position to support our Pacific Masters Clubs and Coaches in this role.

I have degrees in accounting, finance, international business and economics and have been doing taxes much of my career. I run my own tax practice now, where I specialize in small business and individuals, doing their taxes and accounting. I love being involved with PacMasters, where I work closely with Chris Ottati, reconciling the bank accounts, preparing monthly and annual financial statements, preparing the year-end tax returns and 1099’s, and the quarterly and annual payroll returns. I also annoy everyone on the board once a year when it’s time to prepare the annual budget. My goals for this year are to continue to strive for an accurate budget, while still giving back to our members.

A Team Within A Team
This year we made more changes and took a financial risk.  We had about 70 participants in ALTS in June and July.  Those who could navigate the pool safely without in water instructors were invited to our inaugural Beginning Masters program.  They had to join USMS when their 30-day free membership expired but we continue to cover all of their other costs to swim. We provided suits if needed, goggles, caps, equipment, and most importantly patience and love.  We had over 30 volunteers from our team during the 4-week ALTS program, but one coach and a few amazing volunteers for the Beginning Masters.

We rented additional pool space for the Beginning Masters program. It was basic Masters Swimming 101 to be sure. In addition to learning to swim better, we have covered pool etiquette, pool lingo, flags, lane lines, lines on the bottom of the pool, pace clocks, and learning as a team were all part of the program.  We only asked in return that they volunteer for 2 hours at our Long Course meet. By volunteering they were able to get to know some more of our team members, see a swim meet in action, and witness up close the benefits of swimming and the amazing community provided by Masters Swimming. It was inspiring, and about 30 have continued swimming at no cost consistently 2-3 times per week. Our group of 30 has become a true team within a team.  They encourage and teach each other. They know how to circle and to accommodate those in their lanes who can't go as fast or aren't as advanced.  They're all working toward being able to swim a mile in the deep pool.

Swimmers to Competitors
Swimming as a relay at an official meet served two purposes. First, a goal for the participants themselves, and second to raise awareness in our community about the life changing possibilities of the ALTS program.

Ranging in ages from 33-68, they worked and struggled as a team to succeed at something that absolutely terrified them. For the past month, 12 members braved the deep-water pool to practice relays at the end of each practice. They worked up to a 50- meter free (with a little rest at the turn) and encouraged each other as they swam far outside their comfort zone. Unfortunately, 4 of our relay participants were unable to attend the meet due to anxiety or illness but they are looking forward to the next meet!

Two ALTS relay groups from our team, and one from Davis Fitness showed up for the Pacific Swimming Short Course Meters Championship meet. Relatives came in support from as far away as San Diego, and two brought their tiny babies to cheer. One relay had a married couple, another two sisters ages 66 and 68. The Pacific Masters swimming community came together in support of their incredible bravery and cheered from the deck for an amazing display of commitment, grit and sheer will as the ALTS graduates successfully complete the 200 free relay.

It was an amazing testament to the power and purpose of the ALTS program. The swimmers' effort in taking on the challenge of learning a skill so foreign to them and which they never thought they could master was inspiring to all in attendance. Many ALTS participants come to us after frightening experiences as children, others have dreamed of swimming but have never had the opportunity to learn.  While most programs don't have the resources to allow people to swim for free, without such programs many adults are kept away from this life saving sport.

It is estimated that at least 35% of adults in the United States cannot swim. Of the 70 people MAQ taught this year, 95% were from extremely diverse non-white backgrounds.  It's impossible not to appreciate how tragic and inequitable it is that everyone is not afforded the opportunity to learn this life saving skill. In our community we've taken steps to change that.  Our community is safer when adults learn to swim, and our team benefits greatly from increasing our diversity with respect to both background and ability. We are dedicated to giving others in our community what we've taken for granted all of our lives because pools were available and/or parents could afford lessons.

While we give our time, expertise, and love to these new swimmers what we receive in return is the most valuable gift of all, the knowledge that we have changed lives and strengthened our community.