Ending 2024 with a Masters short course, long distance swim followed successes in ocean swimming in his age group category, Howard Roby decided to begin 2025 with another challenge: to take on an aspect of the Masters Swimming E1000 program, an endurance challenge consisting of 62 one-hour swims (each accruing points) to be completed by one swimmer during the calendar year.
Howard decided his first challenge would be to break the recorded 70-74 age group time for an unbroken one hour FS swim. Using the Tattersalls pool on Thursday 9 January – with a referee and timekeepers adjudicating – Howard conquered the old 3300m mark, completing 3725m in the hour.
Averaging 1:36 per 100 – and on target by bettering the existing times at the 30, 45 and 60 minute marks – Howard set a new standard not only for himself but for any other 70-74 year-olds who maybe considering to attempt the E1000 challenge in 2025.
The aim of the Endurance1000 series is to provide an incentive to improve aerobic fitness and to recognise achievements. It began in 2012 and the nine different swims as: three 30 minute swims (1 x FS; 1 x BK; 1 x FS); three 45 minute swims (as above); three 60 minute swims (as above).
After completing 150 tumble turns and the amazing swim it was the easiest of choices to award Howard our January Athletic Department Member of the Month.
Howard has successfully completed one of the one hour swims. Now turning his attention to the next 60 min swim it has us wondering what event it will be- 60mins of Backstroke or 60 mins of Breaststroke?
