Masters Swimming

Years ago Team Z and a masters swim program now called Lane 4 (L4S) Masters Swimming joined forces in an effort to offer an adult swimming program with quality coaching that is user friendly for athletes of all abilities. With these shared values we have grown into the largest masters swim program in the country, made up of a mixture of Team Z’ers and non triathletes of all abilities and backgrounds. With over 20 locations in the metro DC area, beginner friendly swim practices offered every day of the week, and regularly scheduled open water swim practices… Lane 4 Masters and Team Z leave you with no more excuses!

Membership in Team Z is not required to participate in Lane 4 Masters Swimming workouts.

FIVE EASY STEPS TO JOINING LANE 4 MASTERS

1. Join United States Masters Swimming under the team name Lane 4 Masters (abbreviated L4S ). If you are already a USMS member, please log in and change your team affiliation to L4s.

2. Create an account on our Lane 4 Masters Swimming web page (or, if you have an account already, skip to step 3)

3. Purchase a quarterly pass or punch card. Note that you can choose any payment option that you like, but Team Z’s training plans schedule your swim workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So if you decide to join Team Z, and your schedule allows you to follow our plans, the Tues/Thurs only option is a much more economical option for you! If not you have other payment options and lots of practices offered on other days to choose from.

An e-mail receipt is auto generated and notes that you paid the full amount of the pass. If you choose the quarterly payment option, however, your credit card will be billed a prorated amount based on the value of swims left in the quarter at the time of purchase.

4. Receive your pass.  Once you’ve made your online purchase you will either receive a pdf document in your e-mail (if you chose the quarterly payment plan) or your 10 swim punchpass via US postal service. Whichever you choose you will need to bring that to practice and expect to show it to the coach on deck. If you choose a quarterly pass, check your junk mail just in case! And note- quarterly passes are billed automatically each quarter.

5. Check out our practice times and start coming!

See the calendar & start today

Come to an information session and see what it's all about!

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Growing up, I was never even remotely athletic, a distinct liability in a sports-mad country. Moreover, I grew to associate the idea of people being “sporty” with people who were generally obnoxious, who loved to lord their athletic prowess over others.

Triathlon, therefore, was a revelation for me: very ordinary people who were able to achieve extraordinary things. Team Z is the essence of triathlon in that regard, an amazing mix of experienced athletes (who turned out to be quite nice people) and absolute beginners, all sharing their different journeys. The team is full of people who push me when I need to be pushed and who push me when I don’t think I want to be pushed. Because the team pushes me, I’ve become something I never would have believed I could become: an athlete.

Mark Mullen

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Never say never on Team Z! I never thought I would do a triathlon let alone a half Ironman. I told anyone who would listen that the only way I would ever run another marathon was if it was in an Ironman and since I was never going to do an Ironman I had nothing to worry about. Well, so much for my “never” list. With the support of Team Z, I have raced numerous short distance triathlons, several half Ironmans, raced my best injury free marathon (I beat Oprah’s time), and signed up for an Ironman.
Regardless of your experience, speed, motivation, and goals there is a place for you on Team Z. When I joined the Team in December 2011, I did not know what to expect. My old game plan was to go as fast and as hard as possible regardless of the consequences. I do not recommend this strategy. I somehow always fell to side with an injury and burned out long before I reached the start line. This all changed when I joined Team Z. With the help of the coaches and my teammates, I am learning everyday how to find balance physically, set reachable goals, listen to my body, and enjoy the experience. I have a good friend on the Team that says that all the training and hard work is the journey. Race day is the victory lap. Gotta Love Team Z!

Kathy Hsu

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In 2009 I ran the Disney Marathon with my mom, accompanying her on her first 26.2 mile adventure. I remember standing at the start next to her and saying, “just think, those Ironman people have to do this after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112”¦..freaking lunatics!.” Two years later with a couple of sprint and Olympic triathlons under my belt, and after a couple of glasses of wine, I started to wonder, “Maybe I can do an Ironman too?” So I pulled the trigger, dropped the cash, and signed up for Ironman Cozumel. This followed by immediate panic. “Oh dear God, what have I done? I haven’t the slightest clue how to train for an Ironman.” A couple months later, by chance, I ran into a Z’er outside of my work and as we started talking Triathlon, she told me about Team Z. “Why not? It can’t hurt” I thought to myself. So I joined. It didn’t take me long to realize that this team had everything I wanted: knowledgeable and supportive coaches, structured training plans for all levels and abilities, fantastic teammates, and most importantly cold beers ready for you after every race!

Scott Leary