Dawn Heckman
Well, MTSC Masters, our latest inspiration is Dawn Heckman. She is indisputably a powerhouse in the open water. A 14 time NCAA All American and four time SEC Champion at the University of Florida, she was a Pan Pacific gold and bronze medalist in open water swimming in 1999, a bronze medalist at the 2000 World Open Water Championships, and a finalist at the 1997 World University Games. She also holds 12 USMS Top 10 records. Yep, you can count on Dawn to be in the front of the pack in any race.

Dawn has managed to "fashion" a career out her swim experience. She has her own line of swimwear called "Splish". WARNING: these are not your mother's (or father's) swimsuits! Her designs are fresh, exciting and innovative, and we are excited to announce that we will carry the Splish brand in our Pro Shop. Come on in and get "SPLISHED"!!!! You'll be glad you did. Oh, and guys—if you're not the kind to settle for a humdrum solid color suit, we can order one for you, too!

Alex Kostitch is a good friend of Dawn's, and for his column in Active.com, he had Dawn give him 10 Tips for Open Water Swimming from a woman's perspective. Gee, after reading this, I can see why she wins…she's tough as nails…long, manicured nails! Anyway, Dawn wanted to say a few words first and share her secrets—no men allowed!

(P.S. You'll notice our background is a little different than usual. This is a tribute to Dawn and her great line of swimwear. Cool, huh?)

Hi, MTSC Masters!

First of all, let me say how excited I am that your pro shop now carries the Splish line! I met with Ron while he was here for his races in California. I hope all of you will check them out and pick up a few. Workout suits don't have to be boring.

I swim a lot of open water events. My friend Alex Kostitch asked me a couple of years ago for some tips on open water swimming for his column. I thought the feminine viewpoint needed appropriate representation, and that was my inspiration. So girls, take it from me, this stuff works. It will work for the guys too, but only if they are in touch with their feminine side. I encourage all of you to try open water swimming if you haven't done so. It's fun and challenging, and there is just something special about open water and ocean swimming. These ten things will make the difference between a good open water experience and a great one.

Take care and keep swimming!

Dawn

A Woman's guide to open-water racing: Top 10 list of do's and don'ts

By Dawn Heckman (from Active.com)

10. Grow your nails. In an open-water race it is not uncommon for people (men especially) to swim over you in order to get by. When you find yourself being plowed over by some huge guy, let them know they're swimming in your territory by giving them a little scratch! When they realize they can't just push you aside, they'll usually back off and chart their own course.

9. Pace yourself. Often men dash out of the start, using testosterone to their advantage by swimming as fast as they can. Then, somewhere near the middle of the race, they get tired and start to slow down. This is the perfect opportunity to reel them in and pass them one by one. The race hurts a lot less, and to be honest, it's quite fun passing men near the end of a race! Their egos are a little crushed, and passing them gives you that extra mental boost to finish the race strong.

8. Relax your stroke. The ocean is more powerful than you are. It's not worth wasting energy fighting it. Try to develop a rhythm with the current conditions. Don't worry about technique. Technique is something you practice in the pool. Your work in the pool will pay off in the ocean.

7. Avoid unwanted hickies. Use Vaseline around chafing areas. There is nothing worse than having your swimsuit straps rub against your neck in salt water for a long period of time. If you don't wear Vaseline, you'll end up wearing a turtleneck for two weeks, or you'll have to constantly explain to everyone (including your boyfriend) that Dracula wasn't sucking on your neck!

6. Don't shave right before the race. Razor burn and salt water? Need I say more?

5. No itsy-bitsy teeny-weenie yellow polka-dot bikinis!!!

4. Race sans jewelry. Although necklaces, anklets, and bracelets are fashionable, they are also very enticing for someone to grab on to. (And if sharks and other forms of carnivorous wildlife are a concern for you, eliminating all shiny things -- earrings included -- is highly recommended.)

3. Wear your goggles under your cap. If you start the race with goggles, most likely you want to finish the race with goggles (especially if you wear contacts). The start of an open-water race is very crowded and hectic. It is not uncommon for someone to knock your goggles off (intentionally or unintentionally). If you put your goggles on before you put your cap on, they will stay put and not fall off.

2. Carpe diem! Seize the moment. Enjoy your surroundings. Embrace nature. Swimming in the open water is very refreshing. Most people are afraid of it. You're doing something most people would never even consider doing, so live for the moment!

1. Draft, draft, draft. Generally speaking, men create larger waves than women. Use this to your advantage. Swim directly behind someone who is slightly faster than you, and let them do the work. When you're close to the finish, pull to the side and use the energy you've saved to sprint the rest of the way.