Marlin Members have been active in the Aussi Aerobic Competition for years, and as the as the attached aerobics snap attests, they swim in all shapes and sizes. But make no mistake all these people are competitive and really do want to win.

The difference from most other sporting events however is that success is only over the long haul. Aerobics is like a weight loss program: It requires commitment, regular participation, and achieving your (or their) goals. And much as you magically lose weight (theoretically), your swimming really does improve, you reach the time targets, and you enjoy a modicum of aerobic fitness (and perhaps you lose weight as a side effect, but no guarantees).

If this was a commercial weight loss program, attendance at an introductory session plus a six-month subscription may be needed to actually find out how it all works. But with Aerobics, the advice is free to all - participation is up to you.

The Aerobic Trophy Program is a self-paced competition over distances from 400 m to 1-hour duration across all strokes. The targets are times or distances achievable by relatively fit competent swimmers (whatever that means) as determined by an important AUSSI Committee. Points are ranked for each distance and stroke, and involves a set of five swims over 400 and 800 metres accumulated monthly during a calendar year. More points are awarded for single swims in all strokes (except fly) over 1500m, ?, 3/4 and one hour. And finally to make it all fair and achievable, targets are different for each of the usual 5-year Aussi age groups.

The individual point scores go towards the club's tally for the State or National Aerobic Trophies. We know this because the Marlins team has won the State Trophy for the past three years. But in truth, the Marlin swimmers are in it for themselves - the challenge of doing a stroke longer and faster than they have done before, and the test of meeting and beating the time limits. There is no greater satisfaction for an aerobics competitor than a "Personal Best" time.

So how to participate? Be a member of the Malvern Marlins and turn up at the Harold Hold Pool from 9 am every Saturday Morning (there are other competitive opportunities, but Saturday is the best start).

Bruce Allender - Aerobics Commentator

Summary: Aerobic Swimming Rules

The Marlins aerobic swimming sessions are held at the Harold Holt pool every Saturday morning.

To score points in aerobic swimming you need to:

• Swim 400 metres of any or all of the four strokes and an individual medley (IM), five times in any five different months during the calendar year
• Swim 800 metres of any or all of the four strokes and an individual medley (IM), five times in any five different months during the calendar year
• Swim, just once in the calendar year, any or all of the following swims in either freestyle, backstroke or breaststroke: 1500 metres; half hour; three-quarter hour; one hour.
• For each age group of males and females there is a table that shows how many points you can earn with each swim. The five 400 and 800 metre swim times are averaged over the year and points awarded according to the average time. Points for the 1500 metre swims are also awarded according to time. Points for the other (once a year) swims (i.e. half, three-quarters and one hour) are awarded according to the distance covered.
• A Marlins Aerobics Trophy is awarded each year to the male and female swimmers who have earned the most points in the club. Points earned also contribute to the State and National Aerobic Trophies.
• The maximum possible number of swims over the calendar year is 62 and the maximum numbers of points you can earn is 390. If you were to complete the program (but of course you don't have to!) you would swim 30 km in the year in the 400s and 800s and another 20-30 km in the longer swims. And none of it is sprinting! It's a great way to get fit.
• Details of the National Aerobic Trophy Rules, Times and Scoring are available at any time from the AUSSI Masters web site: www.aussimasters.com.au