February 7, 2025 • 15 mins
Discover how a passion for swimming can seamlessly intersect with a high-powered career in aerospace engineering through the story of Charlie Cockrell. As the Director of Engineering at NASA Langley Research Center, Charlie takes us on a journey through his dual life as a dedicated athlete and a committed volunteer with US Masters Swimming. Learn about his impactful role as head starter for the upcoming International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships, and how his trips to the Space Coast for work double as opportunities to engage with diverse Masters teams. Charlie's experiences reveal the welcoming and inclusive spirit of the Masters swimming community, particularly at IGLA events, which unite swimmers from all around the globe. To register for the IGLA swimming events click https://www.usms.org/events/events/igla-championships-2025?ID=10842
Experience the rejuvenating power of swimming as we explore its benefits for both body and mind. Charlie enlightens us with his training insights, emphasizing the balance of high-intensity workouts with essential recovery days. We celebrate the camaraderie that defines the Masters swimming community, where connections with fellow swimmers fuel motivation and joy. The episode underscores the importance of volunteering, which not only strengthens the community but also creates a vibrant and supportive environment. Be inspired by how Charlie integrates his professional and athletic pursuits, demonstrating the fulfillment that comes from engaging with a passionate and diverse group of swimmers.
Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Champions Mojo.
Join us for conversations thatinspire and empower you as an
adult athlete, fitnessenthusiast or master swimmer.
Our goal is to make eachepisode insightful and
inspirational and to discoverwhat it takes to build or keep a
life of personal excellence.
(00:22):
I'm your host, kelly Pallas,and we're here to champion you.
Hey, I'm doing an on-deckinterview with Charlie Cockrell.
He is a 56-year-old swimmer forthe DC Aquatics Club, the
master's team in DC, and I'm ahuge fan of Charlie.
(00:43):
I've known him for years.
He is a tremendous volunteerand official with US Masters
Swimming and we are friends fromVirginia, but then I've swum in
Florida and you come down andswim with us when you're there
for work.
Let's start with telling.
First.
Let's say welcome to ChampionsMojo.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, thanks, kelly.
This is fantastic.
I appreciate what you do, andjust hearing all of these
stories from swimmers all overthe country, it's fantastic, so
thanks.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, you have a fantastic story and first tell
us when you go down to the SpaceCoast and what you do, because
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, I am the Director of Engineering at NASA
Langley Research Center.
If you're not familiar withthat, nasa has 10 centers all
over the country and at Langleywe are a research and
development center.
So we are developing newtechnologies, demonstrating
things and bringing those formissions and commercial
applications.
So when I go down to the SpaceCoast it's really to work
(01:39):
together with our commercialpartners and also some of the
launch capabilities that are atKennedy Space Center.
We do that all over the country.
So and it's one of the parts ofmy job I really enjoy when you
work for NASA, right, I like tosay we are doing this to solve
big challenges for the nationand for society and of course,
that takes a lot of capability.
So we all have to work togetherand fortunately I'm able to
(02:02):
swim with your team, kelly.
Usually when I come down to theSpace Coast and I'm fortunate
enough, when I travel around thecountry and go to the other
NASA centers or places, I canswim with a Masters team or a
group and everybody is always sowelcoming and it's actually fun
to do, to get differentworkouts and meet new people, so
always enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
That is one of the coolest things about Masters is
being able to travel around andswim anywhere with fellow fellow
Masters swimmers.
So also, you are a let me see.
I don't think you can get anyhigher ranking as a Masters
swimming official than you are,because I see you at Masters
Nationals as, like that, the topguy or one of the top officials
(02:41):
.
Tell us about your volunteerism, because it's that does not
come easily.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, I volunteered for years for Masters.
It's something I really enjoyeddoing.
I've been an official, a deckofficial, for a long time in
both USA Swimming and Masters.
I've done a lot of thingslocally in Virginia.
I was the chair of the LMSC, Iwas the official's chair and I
really enjoyed that because Igot to know all of the people
here locally and it was just areally fun group and we all
(03:07):
worked together very, very well.
And then at the national level,let's see, I've chaired the
officials committee.
I chaired the rules committee.
That was really a nice job.
It was my favorite job probably.
I really enjoyed doing that andthe legislation committee.
I served two years on the boardof directors and I finished
that this past September and soI'm back to just being an
(03:27):
official.
I'm going to be the headstarter at our International Gay
and Lesbian, our IglaChampionships that are coming up
in Washington DC this June.
It's going to be a great meetand we're looking forward to
welcoming people from all overthe world to the United States
for that meet.
So already in the planningstages of that, that is so cool.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You will be the guy saying take your mark.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I'm the head starter for that meet.
So yes, I will be saying takeyour mark quite a bit for that
meet.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, how many people do you expect for that meet?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think we'll get upwards of maybe 500, 600 or
more people for that meet.
I think we're planning forseveral hundred people.
I just finished the competitionthat we had down in Buenos
Aires in November and I think wehad about 500 people.
So that's very typical andagain at that time of the year
(04:15):
that'll be a wonderful shortcourse, meters, championship and
so great meet in a nice pool,but also in an inclusive and
welcoming atmosphere, which isreally the essence of master
swimming.
But at Igla we also like to dothat and welcome people from all
over the world in thatenvironment.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Isn't that the truth?
That it's just Masters is sowelcoming, and Igla is obviously
is even more welcomingsometimes.
So tell me about Igla.
Can I swim in it?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Absolutely.
We welcome everybody.
It's very inclusive.
So, whether you're part of theLGBT community or you're an ally
, anybody can come.
And the meet that we're going tohost in Washington DC it's
going to be the first week ofJune we will be hosting that.
Dc Aquatics Club is the host.
It's the first time.
The IGLA International Gay andLesbian Aquatics is what that
(04:58):
stands for.
Championships will be in theUnited States since 2019.
Sorry, they were 2019 in NewYork, 2022 in Palm Springs and
now 2025 in Washington DC, andwe're going to have some
wonderful swimming.
The meet will start on aSaturday, so Saturday, sunday,
monday, there'll be an openwater event on Tuesday,
(05:20):
wednesday swimming and Thursdaywill be a complete relay day,
which is going to be a super funday with music and a great time
and a great camaraderie.
Longbridge Aquatic Center inArlington, virginia, will be the
site of the meet.
The short course meters meet sogreat opportunity to get those
short course meters top 10 andrecords.
(05:40):
And great competition, so greatcompetition.
Fun times It'll be the weekbefore the World Pride event is
scheduled to happen inWashington DC and just an
inclusive, fun atmosphere.
If you have never been to anIGLA meet, it's really well run
but also just a super funwelcoming kind of place.
(06:01):
A lot of team camaraderie, buteverybody is welcome to come
from across the United Statesand across the world, so we look
forward to that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And I will put the.
If you'll give me the link,I'll put that in the show notes
so anybody listening to the showcan find it.
And do you have to be a USmaster swimmer to swim in the
meet, or how do you enter?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So it is sanctioned by US master swimming.
So it's just like a regularmeet.
If you are a USMS member, youcan sign up.
We'll put the link in there,just like you would do for any
normal meet, like.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Club.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Assistant.
It's a little bit of adifferent system but it's going
to work almost the same as ClubAssistant, so it'd be very easy
to navigate.
And if you are not a USMSmember, I think we are offering
a one event registration so youcould be a USMS member just for
the meet, just like we would donormally.
So it'll be run just like amaster's meet, just a lot more
fun.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
And you can bring your spouse, and DC is a great
city for people that who don'twant to swim can hang out and do
something else.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Absolutely, there'll be plenty to do.
I should also mention there'sswimming, diving, water polo,
artistic swimming, so you canwatch all those other sports.
There's an open water event and, like you said, plenty to do in
Washington DC.
There's tons of culture,entertainment, food, sports.
So bring your spouse partner,bring your family, and it'll be
a really fun time.
(07:18):
We really would love everybodyto come.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
One of the things I've noticed that you and your
husband, drew, do well isincorporate your swimming into
travel and fun.
So share with us a little bitwhat you might suggest to people
if they're trying to get theirspouse to go to a meet.
I know Drew's patientlywatching, so I'm filming your
100 IM today, so what do yourecommend?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, my husband Drew .
He's a great supporter.
He'll tell the story.
His swimming career peaked whenhe was eight years old and he
has a blue ribbon for the 25butterfly that he didn't get to
cue in Summer League and hedecided that that was it.
So now he just Wait, end on ahigh note.
Right, I'm still trying to, I'mstill going right, trying to get
(08:02):
to that accomplishment, but no,I just.
For example, we just I mentionedwe went to Buenos Aires to
attend the Igla Championship andso we turned that into a nice
vacation.
I try to balance the swimmingwith things that we could do
outside of that, which is reallyalways nice to do, and those
multi-day meets.
I will tell him come for one ortwo events and then he'll find
(08:24):
some time to go out by himselfand do some touring and then,
when the meet is over, we willspend time together.
And then I try to pick eventsso that I'm not I'm not just
swimming the entire time.
I want to balance, you know,his time and us being able to
enjoy the trip together, andusually we're able to do that
very, very well.
Like I said, he's a greatsupporter, always supporting my
(08:46):
swimming and coming, but thenwe're able to turn that into
really nice trip and vacationand also going with my DC
Aquatics teammates we're able toget out and enjoy the city and
you got the swimming and you gotthe culture and you got all of
those things that you canbalance.
So he's been a great sportabout it coming to all these
meets.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, he is.
He's a sweetheart.
So tell us how your swimmingplayed into.
I'm so impressed with yourcareer and your volunteerism.
How did swimming play this rolein you being, you know, such a
successful career, and give us alittle background on where your
swimming started and how itdeveloped?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Gosh, yeah, I started , probably like a lot of people,
I was a summer league swimmer.
I started when I was nine yearsold in Hampton, virginia, and I
think I just developed a lovefor it.
Overall I was never achampionship swimmer, going to
nationals or anything like that,but it kept me healthy and I
enjoyed it and I enjoyed thesocial aspect of it.
I didn't swim in college, but Ipicked up on master's a little
(09:46):
bit after I graduated fromcollege and what I really
enjoyed about master's is that,first of all, it is a great way
to start your day.
If I don't start my day witheither in the pool or dry land
or something I feel off, and soI think what it does is it
allows me to be, from a careerperspective, really productive
and have energy and staymotivated.
(10:06):
Is it allows me to be, from acareer perspective, really
productive and have energy andstay motivated and it also keeps
me really really healthy andit's a great, great stress
relief kind of thing right, I'dsay I probably would not be able
to do my job well or be a goodleader or be as productive if I
didn't have this aspect of itright.
So I think it's a big component, but also it's just something
that I really enjoy, and thebiggest part of it is the people
(10:29):
.
When I came in today, I saw you, I saw several other other
friends, uh, and I said that's,that's what I really enjoy when
I come to a meet is I leavefeeling energized and really,
you know, just haven't connectedwith people and it's really,
really nice.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, what does a training week look like with
your heavy, you know workschedule, how many days a week
and kind of yardage bit morethan I did in my younger days.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So you know, rather than go and just try to crank
out hundreds and like that, I'vegotten to be a big fan of the
high intensity, with rest andrecovery and trying to do a
little more race pace kinds ofthings.
And then I think in the lastfew years, really appreciating
the value of a good recovery day.
Right, I used to feel bad if Icouldn't swim every day.
Now I recognize it's actually agood thing.
You get a high intensityworkout and recover.
(11:32):
So I will.
I will swim, you know, monday,wednesday, friday, or sometimes
Monday, tuesday, thursday.
Then those other days will bedry land, because now I
appreciate the value of strengthtraining and that's a great
workout.
And then Sunday morning what Ireally really love to do is just
go out for a nice five or sixmile run and I'm not competitive
(11:52):
when it comes to running, butthat's just to get out and enjoy
the scenery, have a great day,listen to music, kind of dampen
down the Sunday scaries a littlebit.
And again, just doing somethingevery day like that keeps me
going.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Well, you swum a variety of events from the 100
IM to the 500 free coming upnext.
So what is that about?
Just this variety?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
That is unusual for me.
I would say I am abreaststroker.
Breaststroke and IM is what Iwill usually do.
But this meet I decided to dosome different things and I
can't tell you why.
It just felt like it was areally good to do.
I said when I was signing up.
I said I don't just want to dothe same thing Also just
swimming Igla.
In November I swam all thebreaststroke and IM events and I
(12:34):
thought wouldn't it be reallyfun to try something different
today?
So the 200 back I hadn't swumit in a long time.
It felt really good.
We're going to see what this500 free looks like.
I think it maybe has been over10 years since I've done it in a
meet, so I'm going to just tryto have fun with it.
And but I actually think thatwas one of my goals coming into
this year was to do a little bitmore racing, swim some
(12:57):
different events and get somevariety in there outside of my
normal range.
So I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, I like that.
I kind of did the same thing,like, ok, I've had a meet, I did
all the times.
Well, what can I say?
That's different Because thereare only a few events.
So is there anything that Ihave not asked you that you
would like to share?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
with our listeners.
Well, I would just say, youknow, I've been a master swimmer
now gosh for 30 plus years,which is amazing to say, hard to
believe, right?
And I think one of the thingsI've really noticed is the
makeup of master swimming haschanged tremendously.
When I came in today, you know,I said on the one hand I used
to know everybody at the meetand I and that is not the case
(13:35):
anymore I really enjoy seeingold friends, but I also enjoy
seeing all these new swimmersthat are coming in that are
invigorating the sport.
And I think, as I've gottenolder and I've seen the makeup
of master swimming change, it'sreally made me appreciate the
sport more.
Right, I used to get veryanxious at meets and things like
that and now I try to have alot more fun with it and I see
it as a you know, just reallyvibrant and it's nice to see it
(13:58):
growing.
And again, I'm glad I'm stillable to do it.
I'll do it as long as I can and, again, always about seeing the
people that are involved.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's what keeps us going.
Yes, and it's always great tosee you, and thank you so much
for all your volunteerism for USMaster Swimming, because we
wouldn't be growing, masterSwimming wouldn't be growing,
without people like you.
So thanks, charlie, and thanksfor spending time with me today.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Well, thank you, kelly.
I appreciate you know I'vewatched you swim for many years
and I know you're a very, verygood swimmer, but I appreciate
that now you're out therecollecting and telling these
stories of people all over thecountry.
It's really fascinating andfantastic to see.
So thanks for what you're doingand thanks for letting me talk
to you today.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Thank you for listening to the Champions Mojo
podcast.
Did you enjoy the show?
We'd be grateful if you wouldleave us a five-star review on
iTunes to help others find us,and we'd also love to hear from
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We're on all social mediaplatforms or you can reach us at
(15:01):
championsmojocom.
Welcome to Champions Mojo.
Join us for conversations thatinspire and empower you as an
adult athlete, fitnessenthusiast or master swimmer.
Our goal is to make eachepisode insightful and
inspirational and to discoverwhat it takes to build or keep a
life of personal excellence.
(00:22):
I'm your host, kelly Pallas,and we're here to champion you.
Hey, I'm doing an on-deckinterview with Charlie Cockrell.
He is a 56-year-old swimmer forthe DC Aquatics Club, the
master's team in DC, and I'm ahuge fan of Charlie.
(00:43):
I've known him for years.
He is a tremendous volunteerand official with US Masters
Swimming and we are friends fromVirginia, but then I've swum in
Florida and you come down andswim with us when you're there
for work.
Let's start with telling.
First.
Let's say welcome to ChampionsMojo.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, thanks, kelly.
This is fantastic.
I appreciate what you do, andjust hearing all of these
stories from swimmers all overthe country, it's fantastic, so
thanks.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, you have a fantastic story and first tell
us when you go down to the SpaceCoast and what you do, because
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, I am the Director of Engineering at NASA
Langley Research Center.
If you're not familiar withthat, nasa has 10 centers all
over the country and at Langleywe are a research and
development center.
So we are developing newtechnologies, demonstrating
things and bringing those formissions and commercial
applications.
So when I go down to the SpaceCoast it's really to work
(01:39):
together with our commercialpartners and also some of the
launch capabilities that are atKennedy Space Center.
We do that all over the country.
So and it's one of the parts ofmy job I really enjoy when you
work for NASA, right, I like tosay we are doing this to solve
big challenges for the nationand for society and of course,
that takes a lot of capability.
So we all have to work togetherand fortunately I'm able to
(02:02):
swim with your team, kelly.
Usually when I come down to theSpace Coast and I'm fortunate
enough, when I travel around thecountry and go to the other
NASA centers or places, I canswim with a Masters team or a
group and everybody is always sowelcoming and it's actually fun
to do, to get differentworkouts and meet new people, so
always enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
That is one of the coolest things about Masters is
being able to travel around andswim anywhere with fellow fellow
Masters swimmers.
So also, you are a let me see.
I don't think you can get anyhigher ranking as a Masters
swimming official than you are,because I see you at Masters
Nationals as, like that, the topguy or one of the top officials
(02:41):
.
Tell us about your volunteerism, because it's that does not
come easily.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, I volunteered for years for Masters.
It's something I really enjoyeddoing.
I've been an official, a deckofficial, for a long time in
both USA Swimming and Masters.
I've done a lot of thingslocally in Virginia.
I was the chair of the LMSC, Iwas the official's chair and I
really enjoyed that because Igot to know all of the people
here locally and it was just areally fun group and we all
(03:07):
worked together very, very well.
And then at the national level,let's see, I've chaired the
officials committee.
I chaired the rules committee.
That was really a nice job.
It was my favorite job probably.
I really enjoyed doing that andthe legislation committee.
I served two years on the boardof directors and I finished
that this past September and soI'm back to just being an
(03:27):
official.
I'm going to be the headstarter at our International Gay
and Lesbian, our IglaChampionships that are coming up
in Washington DC this June.
It's going to be a great meetand we're looking forward to
welcoming people from all overthe world to the United States
for that meet.
So already in the planningstages of that, that is so cool.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You will be the guy saying take your mark.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I'm the head starter for that meet.
So yes, I will be saying takeyour mark quite a bit for that
meet.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, how many people do you expect for that meet?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think we'll get upwards of maybe 500, 600 or
more people for that meet.
I think we're planning forseveral hundred people.
I just finished the competitionthat we had down in Buenos
Aires in November and I think wehad about 500 people.
So that's very typical andagain at that time of the year
(04:15):
that'll be a wonderful shortcourse, meters, championship and
so great meet in a nice pool,but also in an inclusive and
welcoming atmosphere, which isreally the essence of master
swimming.
But at Igla we also like to dothat and welcome people from all
over the world in thatenvironment.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Isn't that the truth?
That it's just Masters is sowelcoming, and Igla is obviously
is even more welcomingsometimes.
So tell me about Igla.
Can I swim in it?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Absolutely.
We welcome everybody.
It's very inclusive.
So, whether you're part of theLGBT community or you're an ally
, anybody can come.
And the meet that we're going tohost in Washington DC it's
going to be the first week ofJune we will be hosting that.
Dc Aquatics Club is the host.
It's the first time.
The IGLA International Gay andLesbian Aquatics is what that
(04:58):
stands for.
Championships will be in theUnited States since 2019.
Sorry, they were 2019 in NewYork, 2022 in Palm Springs and
now 2025 in Washington DC, andwe're going to have some
wonderful swimming.
The meet will start on aSaturday, so Saturday, sunday,
monday, there'll be an openwater event on Tuesday,
(05:20):
wednesday swimming and Thursdaywill be a complete relay day,
which is going to be a super funday with music and a great time
and a great camaraderie.
Longbridge Aquatic Center inArlington, virginia, will be the
site of the meet.
The short course meters meet sogreat opportunity to get those
short course meters top 10 andrecords.
(05:40):
And great competition, so greatcompetition.
Fun times It'll be the weekbefore the World Pride event is
scheduled to happen inWashington DC and just an
inclusive, fun atmosphere.
If you have never been to anIGLA meet, it's really well run
but also just a super funwelcoming kind of place.
(06:01):
A lot of team camaraderie, buteverybody is welcome to come
from across the United Statesand across the world, so we look
forward to that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And I will put the.
If you'll give me the link,I'll put that in the show notes
so anybody listening to the showcan find it.
And do you have to be a USmaster swimmer to swim in the
meet, or how do you enter?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So it is sanctioned by US master swimming.
So it's just like a regularmeet.
If you are a USMS member, youcan sign up.
We'll put the link in there,just like you would do for any
normal meet, like.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Club.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Assistant.
It's a little bit of adifferent system but it's going
to work almost the same as ClubAssistant, so it'd be very easy
to navigate.
And if you are not a USMSmember, I think we are offering
a one event registration so youcould be a USMS member just for
the meet, just like we would donormally.
So it'll be run just like amaster's meet, just a lot more
fun.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
And you can bring your spouse, and DC is a great
city for people that who don'twant to swim can hang out and do
something else.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Absolutely, there'll be plenty to do.
I should also mention there'sswimming, diving, water polo,
artistic swimming, so you canwatch all those other sports.
There's an open water event and, like you said, plenty to do in
Washington DC.
There's tons of culture,entertainment, food, sports.
So bring your spouse partner,bring your family, and it'll be
a really fun time.
(07:18):
We really would love everybodyto come.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
One of the things I've noticed that you and your
husband, drew, do well isincorporate your swimming into
travel and fun.
So share with us a little bitwhat you might suggest to people
if they're trying to get theirspouse to go to a meet.
I know Drew's patientlywatching, so I'm filming your
100 IM today, so what do yourecommend?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, my husband Drew .
He's a great supporter.
He'll tell the story.
His swimming career peaked whenhe was eight years old and he
has a blue ribbon for the 25butterfly that he didn't get to
cue in Summer League and hedecided that that was it.
So now he just Wait, end on ahigh note.
Right, I'm still trying to, I'mstill going right, trying to get
(08:02):
to that accomplishment, but no,I just.
For example, we just I mentionedwe went to Buenos Aires to
attend the Igla Championship andso we turned that into a nice
vacation.
I try to balance the swimmingwith things that we could do
outside of that, which is reallyalways nice to do, and those
multi-day meets.
I will tell him come for one ortwo events and then he'll find
(08:24):
some time to go out by himselfand do some touring and then,
when the meet is over, we willspend time together.
And then I try to pick eventsso that I'm not I'm not just
swimming the entire time.
I want to balance, you know,his time and us being able to
enjoy the trip together, andusually we're able to do that
very, very well.
Like I said, he's a greatsupporter, always supporting my
(08:46):
swimming and coming, but thenwe're able to turn that into
really nice trip and vacationand also going with my DC
Aquatics teammates we're able toget out and enjoy the city and
you got the swimming and you gotthe culture and you got all of
those things that you canbalance.
So he's been a great sportabout it coming to all these
meets.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, he is.
He's a sweetheart.
So tell us how your swimmingplayed into.
I'm so impressed with yourcareer and your volunteerism.
How did swimming play this rolein you being, you know, such a
successful career, and give us alittle background on where your
swimming started and how itdeveloped?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Gosh, yeah, I started , probably like a lot of people,
I was a summer league swimmer.
I started when I was nine yearsold in Hampton, virginia, and I
think I just developed a lovefor it.
Overall I was never achampionship swimmer, going to
nationals or anything like that,but it kept me healthy and I
enjoyed it and I enjoyed thesocial aspect of it.
I didn't swim in college, but Ipicked up on master's a little
(09:46):
bit after I graduated fromcollege and what I really
enjoyed about master's is that,first of all, it is a great way
to start your day.
If I don't start my day witheither in the pool or dry land
or something I feel off, and soI think what it does is it
allows me to be, from a careerperspective, really productive
and have energy and staymotivated.
(10:06):
Is it allows me to be, from acareer perspective, really
productive and have energy andstay motivated and it also keeps
me really really healthy andit's a great, great stress
relief kind of thing right, I'dsay I probably would not be able
to do my job well or be a goodleader or be as productive if I
didn't have this aspect of itright.
So I think it's a big component, but also it's just something
that I really enjoy, and thebiggest part of it is the people
(10:29):
.
When I came in today, I saw you, I saw several other other
friends, uh, and I said that's,that's what I really enjoy when
I come to a meet is I leavefeeling energized and really,
you know, just haven't connectedwith people and it's really,
really nice.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, what does a training week look like with
your heavy, you know workschedule, how many days a week
and kind of yardage bit morethan I did in my younger days.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So you know, rather than go and just try to crank
out hundreds and like that, I'vegotten to be a big fan of the
high intensity, with rest andrecovery and trying to do a
little more race pace kinds ofthings.
And then I think in the lastfew years, really appreciating
the value of a good recovery day.
Right, I used to feel bad if Icouldn't swim every day.
Now I recognize it's actually agood thing.
You get a high intensityworkout and recover.
(11:32):
So I will.
I will swim, you know, monday,wednesday, friday, or sometimes
Monday, tuesday, thursday.
Then those other days will bedry land, because now I
appreciate the value of strengthtraining and that's a great
workout.
And then Sunday morning what Ireally really love to do is just
go out for a nice five or sixmile run and I'm not competitive
(11:52):
when it comes to running, butthat's just to get out and enjoy
the scenery, have a great day,listen to music, kind of dampen
down the Sunday scaries a littlebit.
And again, just doing somethingevery day like that keeps me
going.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Well, you swum a variety of events from the 100
IM to the 500 free coming upnext.
So what is that about?
Just this variety?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
That is unusual for me.
I would say I am abreaststroker.
Breaststroke and IM is what Iwill usually do.
But this meet I decided to dosome different things and I
can't tell you why.
It just felt like it was areally good to do.
I said when I was signing up.
I said I don't just want to dothe same thing Also just
swimming Igla.
In November I swam all thebreaststroke and IM events and I
(12:34):
thought wouldn't it be reallyfun to try something different
today?
So the 200 back I hadn't swumit in a long time.
It felt really good.
We're going to see what this500 free looks like.
I think it maybe has been over10 years since I've done it in a
meet, so I'm going to just tryto have fun with it.
And but I actually think thatwas one of my goals coming into
this year was to do a little bitmore racing, swim some
(12:57):
different events and get somevariety in there outside of my
normal range.
So I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, I like that.
I kind of did the same thing,like, ok, I've had a meet, I did
all the times.
Well, what can I say?
That's different Because thereare only a few events.
So is there anything that Ihave not asked you that you
would like to share?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
with our listeners.
Well, I would just say, youknow, I've been a master swimmer
now gosh for 30 plus years,which is amazing to say, hard to
believe, right?
And I think one of the thingsI've really noticed is the
makeup of master swimming haschanged tremendously.
When I came in today, you know,I said on the one hand I used
to know everybody at the meetand I and that is not the case
(13:35):
anymore I really enjoy seeingold friends, but I also enjoy
seeing all these new swimmersthat are coming in that are
invigorating the sport.
And I think, as I've gottenolder and I've seen the makeup
of master swimming change, it'sreally made me appreciate the
sport more.
Right, I used to get veryanxious at meets and things like
that and now I try to have alot more fun with it and I see
it as a you know, just reallyvibrant and it's nice to see it
(13:58):
growing.
And again, I'm glad I'm stillable to do it.
I'll do it as long as I can and, again, always about seeing the
people that are involved.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's what keeps us going.
Yes, and it's always great tosee you, and thank you so much
for all your volunteerism for USMaster Swimming, because we
wouldn't be growing, masterSwimming wouldn't be growing,
without people like you.
So thanks, charlie, and thanksfor spending time with me today.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Well, thank you, kelly.
I appreciate you know I'vewatched you swim for many years
and I know you're a very, verygood swimmer, but I appreciate
that now you're out therecollecting and telling these
stories of people all over thecountry.
It's really fascinating andfantastic to see.
So thanks for what you're doingand thanks for letting me talk
to you today.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Thank you for listening to the Champions Mojo
podcast.
Did you enjoy the show?
We'd be grateful if you wouldleave us a five-star review on
iTunes to help others find us,and we'd also love to hear from
you.
We're on all social mediaplatforms or you can reach us at
(15:01):
championsmojocom.
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