I've trained and competed mostly outside since I've been doing Masters and have noticed that I lose some of my excitement when I compete indoors. I can see better and feel more "happy endorphins" when I'm racing outdoors. If you can relate or have found a way to overcome this, please let me know.
I completely empathize with you, I grew up in the sunshine state and swimming year round outdoors, I always felt indoor pools were where big meets like districts and states were held but even that pool had a retractable roof haha. I now live in Virgina and can't seem to find a good outdoor pool to workout at, extremely tired of the indoor pool. This past weekend I was determined to find a lane outdoors, so I went to the "aquatic center" (in my mind an aquatic center has a lap pool with maybe some kiddie pools on the side) not at all what I expected haha it should be re-named water park, although they did have a lane set up, I took advantage of it but had to deal with kids jumping in and out of the lane (couldn't really complaine to much since I knew full well what I was getting into when I got there) but even if they had all lanes set up it could only hold 4 lane, oye! Looks like I will just be sucking it up and keep swimming indoors.
I guess I'm just spoiled rotten after 24 years in the desert. There's something about breathing fresh air, listening to singing birds, looking at blue sky and cloud patterns and swimming long course that provide a very zen experience for me. Anything else for me isn't real swimming. The only thing we don't have here in the desert is the ocean, which I love even more!
I completely empathize with you, I grew up in the sunshine state and swimming year round outdoors, I always felt indoor pools were where big meets like districts and states were held but even that pool had a retractable roof haha. I now live in Virgina and can't seem to find a good outdoor pool to workout at, extremely tired of the indoor pool. This past weekend I was determined to find a lane outdoors, so I went to the "aquatic center" (in my mind an aquatic center has a lap pool with maybe some kiddie pools on the side) not at all what I expected haha it should be re-named water park, although they did have a lane set up, I took advantage of it but had to deal with kids jumping in and out of the lane (couldn't really complaine to much since I knew full well what I was getting into when I got there) but even if they had all lanes set up it could only hold 4 lane, oye! Looks like I will just be sucking it up and keep swimming indoors.
I guess I'm just spoiled rotten after 24 years in the desert. There's something about breathing fresh air, listening to singing birds, looking at blue sky and cloud patterns and swimming long course that provide a very zen experience for me. Anything else for me isn't real swimming. The only thing we don't have here in the desert is the ocean, which I love even more!
