For me, it's now going on four weeks since my last swim. We were in Turks and Caicos March 7-14 for spring break where I was doing daily open-water swims along the beach. My last swim was a 3-miler on March 13. When we got back to the U.S., we had to go into mandated 14-day quarantine so I wasn't able to get out to go to the pool before they all closed. Who knows when I'll swim again...either open-water warming up (I live in RI), or pools opening again. I am maintaining fitness with bike rides, and a run here and there. And I know I there is other 'dry land' training I could be doing. But my concern when returning to the water is injuring myself because of doing TMTS. I'm just that kind of athlete. Raise you're hand if you think you're a candidate for a TMTS injury too.
Dan
Regarding pools on military installations...
I'm retired Navy, and my regular pool is at the nearby Navy base (NAVSTA Newport, RI). I also lifeguard there on a part time/on-call basis and have been part of the planning meetings for reopening. The pool (and the adjacent fitness facility) only just (re)opened late last week...phase 1 in the multi-phase reopening plan. I can't speak for other pool/gym facilities in other states around DoD...but phase one permits only active duty troops to use the facility on a scheduled reservation basis only. You can't just show up and use the facility like we could pre-pandemic. Although DoD is setting their own guidelines for their facilities that don't necessarily align with local state/municipal guidelines. Following phase 1, phases will include DoD civilians; then military family members; and ultimately military retirees in the final phase...whenever that is. The problem with the phases is that they can't predict when they'll be able to move from one phase to the next. And of course the pool (and gym) will be limited to the number of patrons permitted in at any one time, and also will limit the amount of time patrons are allowed in. I'm mostly a long-distance swimmer and have been in the open waters since they warmed up in the spring. My concern is that our facility won't be able to progress to the last phase (that permits us retirees to swim) until later this year...well after the open water has become too cold to swim in. As a lifeguard staff member, I 'could' get access to the pool for "lifeguard proficiency training." But in reality I don't really want to 'buck' the system, and potentially keep an active duty member from getting in their fitness. I'm just hoping we'll be able to open fully by the fall.
Dan
Regarding pools on military installations...
I'm retired Navy, and my regular pool is at the nearby Navy base (NAVSTA Newport, RI). I also lifeguard there on a part time/on-call basis and have been part of the planning meetings for reopening. The pool (and the adjacent fitness facility) only just (re)opened late last week...phase 1 in the multi-phase reopening plan. I can't speak for other pool/gym facilities in other states around DoD...but phase one permits only active duty troops to use the facility on a scheduled reservation basis only. You can't just show up and use the facility like we could pre-pandemic. Although DoD is setting their own guidelines for their facilities that don't necessarily align with local state/municipal guidelines. Following phase 1, phases will include DoD civilians; then military family members; and ultimately military retirees in the final phase...whenever that is. The problem with the phases is that they can't predict when they'll be able to move from one phase to the next. And of course the pool (and gym) will be limited to the number of patrons permitted in at any one time, and also will limit the amount of time patrons are allowed in. I'm mostly a long-distance swimmer and have been in the open waters since they warmed up in the spring. My concern is that our facility won't be able to progress to the last phase (that permits us retirees to swim) until later this year...well after the open water has become too cold to swim in. As a lifeguard staff member, I 'could' get access to the pool for "lifeguard proficiency training." But in reality I don't really want to 'buck' the system, and potentially keep an active duty member from getting in their fitness. I'm just hoping we'll be able to open fully by the fall.
Dan
