Upcoming Events

March 15-16 – TFAM 2025 Sprinting into Spring Invitational in Frisco, TX

March 22-23 – Red River Masters Spring Invitational in Shreveport, LA

April 12th – The 19th Hall of Fame Meet in Little Rock, AR

August TBD – TMSC Oklahoma Memorial State Championship Meet in Jenks, OK

September 20-21 – OZ Mile Swim in Eureka Springs, AR

For a full listing of events around the country, visit the USMS Events Calendar.
For events happening within our zone, visit the South Central Zone Event Calendar Page.
Interested in hosting a meet? Here’s a Meet Checklist to help!

Swimming Highlights

Photos from the First Chance Long Course Meet Jan 24-25, 2025 Kudos to all whom swam!

Top photo from left to right: Cameron Wright, Diana Sheridan, Bonnie Adams, and Carie O’Banion

Bottom photo from left to right: Srdjan Markovic, Tom Bullock, Calvin Schildknecht, and Byron Shefchkik

Lots of top ten records were broken at the First Chance Meet! Check them out here…

Hello, Arkansas Masters!

Lately, I’ve been reminded just how important it is to listen to our bodies. In January, I faced a setback that I never saw coming—an upper rib popped out of place, leading to intense pain and inflammation in my back, shoulder, and neck. Like many of us, I initially tried to push through, but after weeks of unnecessary suffering, I finally went to a Physical Therapist. With their expertise, I built back my strength and flexibility, and am now pain-free.

Looking back, if I had gone in sooner, my rehab would have taken just a week or two. But if I had stubbornly continued to “tough it out,” my recovery could have stretched into 6 months or more! So, here’s the moral of the story: Don’t suffer in silence! If something feels off, get it checked out. Finding a PT you trust—one who understands adult athletes and helps keep us moving well for life—is an absolute game-changer. If you’re in NWA, I highly recommend Specialized PT—their team gets it because many of them are athletes themselves.

Attending the swim meet in Little Rock last month, I was beyond inspired by the octogenarians gliding through the water with grace and power. I want to be like them when I grow up! Seeing their energy and passion reminded me why we do this—because swimming is more than just a sport; it’s a lifelong gift.

So, take care of your body, keep chasing your goals, and never stop moving forward. Let’s all be in this for the long haul! And when in doubt, remember the wise words of Dory: “JUST KEEP SWIMMING!”
See you in the water,
Bonnie Adams, Chairman AR Masters Swimming

Article on Fitness by Tom Sherrill …..Arkansas LMSC board member

In 2006, my swimmer friends encouraged me to train for a long-distance triathlon with them. While searching for a coach, I came across Bob Seebohar’s first book on the periodization training for endurance athletes. Inspired, I reached out to him to ask if he would coach me virtually.

At the time, I didn’t realize that he was the sports dietitian and exercise physiologist coach for the University of Florida’s basketball and football teams, my alma mater. Both teams went on to win national championships in 2007—Go Gators!

He agreed to coach me, and over the course of 10 months, Bob helped me prepare for the Coeur d’Alene Ironman in 2007. Using a Garmin, TrainingPeaks, and the internet. He created a periodization program that gradually built my endurance for swimming, cycling, and running. It was a success—I finished respectably and, more importantly, without injury.

Periodization training in swimming involves the same structured approach that divides the training period (usually months) into blocks (typically weeks) to enhance performance and minimize injury risk.

For my training, the 10 month period was broken down into 4-week blocks, each focusing on different aspects like endurance, strength, or speed. The intensity and volume of training gradually increased from one block to the next, with built-in recovery periods (typically the 4th week of each block) to allow my body time to adapt. The first week of a new block was usually less intense than the third week of the previous block. This method of training, aimed at gradually improving fitness without injury, is called block periodization.

For those of us who are considering entering the Oz mile swim this September the 20^th, and want to prepare using block periodization training method, consider creating your own training schedule. To do this, visit the website: https://chatgpt.com/ and type in the following request:

“Please design a periodization workout for a swimmer to prepare for a 1-mile swim over the next 6 months”

An AI detailed training schedule will be generated. Give a try.

Hope to see you in September at the Oz Mile Swim.

Tom Sherrill

How to apply for a grant:

Did you know that as a member of the Arkansas Masters LMSC, you might be eligible for a grant? We budget for several grants each year which are approved on a first come, first served basis. Grants can be used to (1) help pay for USMS coach certification class, or Adult Learn to Swim certification class, (2) defray costs to attend a Zone or National Meet, or (3) assist in the cost of hosting a swimming event. Please go to this page and read about all of the details and how you can apply. The process is quite easy, but you do need to apply prior to attending your event.

New Officials:

Do you have friends or family that cheer you on at Masters meets? Do you know young adults that need volunteer hours? Let’s ask them if they would like to become officials for our swim meets! It doesn’t take too much time to earn a certification, and we’re great people to spend time with for a few hours! Check it out and spread the word: how to become an official