Links for Swimmers
One of the neat benefits of being a member in US Masters Swimming is the ability to participate in several “virtual” swim programs. One free program is a fitness event titled “Go The Distance”. The objective of this event is for participants to track the time and distance they swim during the calendar year. When participants achieve specific distance milestones ranging from 50 miles through 1500 miles they will be recognized on the U.S. Masters Swimming website, with free awards given at 50 miles, 250 miles and 500 miles. There are also some awards (like t-shirts) available for purchase at a very nominal fee.
Last year, I swam the farthest I had ever gone, 500 miles. I received a very nice Nike swim suit at the end of the year! This year I’m bringing my goal back to a comfortable 300-400 miles. 
Click the Go The Distance graphic below to read more about the program on the USMS website.
Go The Distance with USMS!
Other Swimming Related Links
Governing Bodies (rules, records, top times, etc):
- Pacific Masters Swimming: http://www.pacificmasters.org
- Pacific Masters Swimming Schedule of Events: http://www.pacificmasters.org/comp/schd.html
- Southern Pacific Masters Swimming: http://www.spmasterswim.org
- U.S. Masters Swimming: http://www.usms.org/
- U.S. Masters National Records: http://www.usms.org/comp/records.htm
- FINA: http://www.fina.org/H2O/
- FINA World Masters Top 10: http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=225
- FINA World Records: http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=226
- FINA Masters World Championships Results: http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1531&Itemid=381
Miscellaneous resources:
- Worldwide Swimming News: http://www.swimnews.com/
- Where to swim locator: http://www.usms.org/placswim/
- A site for Marathon swimmers: http://www.marathonswimmers.org/forum/
- English Channel Swimming Association: http://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/
- Catalina Channel Swimming: http://www.swimcatalina.org/
- Ocean Swims: http://www.oceanswims.com/
- USMS Swimmer Magazine: http://www.usmsswimmer.com/
- Go Swim TV: http://www.goswim.tv/
- NorCal Swim Shop: http://www.swimshop.com/
- Swim Outlet: http://www.swimoutlet.com/
Swimming Photography:
- Tracy Barbutes Photography: http://www.TracyBarbutesPhotography.com
- Cokie Lepinski Photography: http://www.CokieLepinski.com/
- Keven Seaver: http://www.seaverphotography.com/
Swimming Blogs:
- Masters Swimmers Blog: http://www.MastersSwimmersBlog.com
- Rob Aquatics: http://robaquatics.com/
- Cap & Goggles: http://capandgoggles.com/
- Swimming Blogs – a collection of many other swim blogs: http://www.swimmingblogs.org/
- Swimming Science – sometimes technical, but always informative! http://www.swimmingscience.net/