Happy Thanksgiving!  

It’s time to dive in again and start swimming for the winter season of the Women First Swimming program, coached once again by Sara Robertson at Balcones Neighborhood Pool (with Heated pool with full showers and change rooms available).

While we took a break for the summer and fall, the program is will enter its 9th year in 2010!

2009-2010 classes NOW OPEN for registration  

Class Dates: 10-weeks starting Dec 12, Dec 19, then off two weeks for Christmas and New Years, then 8 classes starting Jan 9 through Feb 27.  

Time: 8:30-9:30 am

Class options and Costs: 

•  $125 for all 10 classes (Paid before Dec 12)
•  SPECIAL LIMITED OFFER —  $85 for the 8-weeks (starting Jan 9) IF PAID BEFORE DEC 12
•  8-weeks (starting Jan 9) PAID AFTER Dec 12 goes up to $99.

To Register for the Winter classes, Email Lisa Lynam to be put on the class roster, then send your payment to arrive by the start date as directed on the website payment page. Please note, we’d like to encourage paypal (preferably CASH, DEBIT or eCheck) as the method of payment. New mermaids need to fill out the INFO sheet downloadable from that page too.

2-for-1 SPECIAL and other Incentives

·         Because we know everyone is concerned about their finances these days, and I don’t want to see anyone left out for financial reasons, I will offer TWO 2-for-1 spots in the class for any mermaid, new or veteran, who signs up a NEW friend. Thus, you both get 50% off. First come, first awarded.

·         For a new Recession-Friendly twist to the Attendance Award (which is meant to encourage and emphasize the value of pure participation, rather than performance) instead of a free swim suit from Lane 4, or signed copy of my book Triathlon for Women, I will award the person with the best attendance record (by % of classes) with a FREE registration to their next class. In the event of a tie, there will be a draw.

Happy swimming,

Coach Lisa

It has been a while since the Summer Session ended, but Women First Swimming has updated the website with the latest Mermaid Spotlight interview with Kaz Elskes here.

Althought Kaz joined the program only recently for the January 2009 program, her enthusiasm was evident from the start. Both Coach Sara and Lisa selected Kaz for the Mermaid Spotlight based on her exceptional attendance record, positive attitude and encouraging friends and co-workers to joing the program this summer.

Well done Kaz on getting back into swimming and learning the joys of gliding in the water with fellow water-loving mermaids!

It’s been of over a month since the last session ended, so veteran Mermaids were all smiles again last weekend as they started another round of Saturday mornings with a cool splash in the pool. For the next 7 weeks through September 12 (not including Labor Day weekend), Coach Sara will be on deck to instruct and encourage you. Coach Sarah Woodbury will be our lead coach on August 8 while tireless Coach Sara takes a holiday away from the pool.

The Women First Summer Swim program welcomes 4 new mermaids to the class.

Please welcome our new mermaids-in-training:
Amy Fuller
Veronica Hernandez
Becky Regan-Ramirez
Manon Saakstra

Special thanks to mermaid Kaz Elskes for recruiting  new friends to join the program.

As a recap from the last session in June (it was ‘Bring a friend and win a book’!), congrats to Sandy Morris for winning a signed copy of Lisa’s book Triathlon for Women!

We’ve updated our testimonials with a comment from Jean Hagood. We welcome other mermaids to have their say about what it is that keeps them coming back for more every Saturday morning. Suggestions for the program also welcomed. Drop me an email at womenfirst@hotmail.com.

Happy Summer Swimming!

Greetings Mermaid! We are excited to announce a new session beginning Saturday, July 25 through Aug 29, PLUS Sept 12 (so no sesson Labor day weekend). Classes are one hour long, from 8:30-9:30a.

The cost will be a very reasonable $85 since this is a short summer session. As usual, checks can be mailed to Sara, payable to Lisa Lynam.

There are a couple 2-for-1 openings for anyone who signs up someone NEW along with their own registration. So act fast on this by emailing Lisa if you are ready to sign up with a new mermaid.

See you on deck
-sara

For the last 8 years, more than 250 Mermaids in the Austin area have participated in the Women First Swimming program, and have been encouraged to swim ‘like Mermaids’.

As the final class of the Spring Session winds down this Saturday June 13, I extend this invitation to all former mermaids to come an enjoy a workout at Balcones Neighborhood Pool from 8:30-9:30 am with Coach Sara on deck.

Current mermaids can also ‘bring a friend’, and friends will be eligible to win a free signed copy of my book Triathlon for Women that was recently featured in Pam LeBlanc’s Austin360 popular blog Fit City! It will be a great opportunity to share your Danskin event stories after the class too.

We have many Mermaids who have successfully completed Danskins, Half Ironman, or even Ironman events! I feel privileged that I’ve been able to touch so many lives, and even help some overcome fears of swimming.

If you have a story to share, or a testimonial to be added to the website, please contact me.

If you are interested in a future class, please contact Lisa or Sara.

Happy swimming,
Coach Lisa

 Check out the latest Mermaid Spotlight interview with Katherine Mathis here.

Katherine Mathis was unanimously selected by both Coach Sara and Lisa for her exceptional attendance record and positive attitude. She started swimming with the group for the Spring 2008 session, winning the rookie attendance award, and this year in the Spring 2009 session, had a flawless record again. Congrats for all your hard work at every practice Katherine!

Welcome New Mermaids!

The Spring Swimming program welcomes 11 new mermaids to the class.

Special thanks to those of you who recruited new friends to join the program — Liz Stice, Lisa Stephens, Jean Hagood, Doise Miers, Alison Millard.

Please welcome our new mermaids-in-training:

Peggy Davis

Katherine Kroll

Sarah Obermiller

Ava White

Shannon Franks

Kristen Carey
Kelly McGary

Bev Barrett

Kristen Gibson

Colleen Cunningham

Susan Bage

Attendance awards are also continuing with this program so be there and earn yourself a new swim suit from Lane Four, or a personally signed copy of Lisa’s book Triathlon for Women.

Congrats to Joyce Labaw for her attendance record from the previous 2 sessions — she now has a gift certificate waiting for her at Lane Four!

Happy swimming!

Happy Mermaids on the last day of the Spring mini-session.

Coach Sara welcomes all mermaids to join her in the Balcones Pool on Tuesday evenings for a mid-week Happy Hour swim to keep cool and refreshed as the warmer weather approaches. This is an additional optional uncoached swim session for any mermaid veteran.  The pool is open from 5:30-7:30 so you can hit the deck any time during that window, but Sara plans to swim at 6:30 pm.  The cost to get into the pool is $2. If you’d like to join in check in with Sara.

Statesman reporter Pamela LeBlanc talks with Sally Edwards and straightens out the confusion between the Trek and Danskin triathlons.

read the article here.