How about some reminiscing about the worst pools you ever were forced to work out and/or compete in ??
Our old pool was 20 yards long, with gutters and the deck was about 2 feet above that. The water level was always low, so it was like ocean swimming every day. There were no starting blocks and the "lane lines" were nylon cord with a plastic bobber every 3 feet or so. The water was always quite warm to accomodate the family swims and lessons that were also sharing the pool during the day.
Since goggles had not yet been invented and the only antiseptic method was chlorine (lots of it), we would have those chlorine "light halos" until the next day. The kick-boards were solid, varnished wood and they doubled as pull-buoys. There were no fins or hand paddles.
Thank the higher power of your choice that we had a GREAT coach.
Oh, did I mention that they used to beat us with knives???
Bert
In the early 60's I swam in a few meets in Massachusetts in which the "pools" were artificial lakes.....basically just big holes in the ground filled with water (one was in Worcester...there's a real pool there now, can't remember where the other one was).
They put docks 50 meters apart and the lane lines had wooden floats on them.
You couldn't see the bottom. Good luck at swimming straight and at knowing how far away the wall was.
Did I mention that the ends of the "pool" were slippery because of the wooden docks? Good luck on your turns (once you figured out where they were).
I think I might have actually won the 100 meter free at one of those pools....what I remember more is that I was 16 and it was the first time my parents let me drive to a meet by myself.
In the early 60's I swam in a few meets in Massachusetts in which the "pools" were artificial lakes.....basically just big holes in the ground filled with water (one was in Worcester...there's a real pool there now, can't remember where the other one was).
They put docks 50 meters apart and the lane lines had wooden floats on them.
You couldn't see the bottom. Good luck at swimming straight and at knowing how far away the wall was.
Did I mention that the ends of the "pool" were slippery because of the wooden docks? Good luck on your turns (once you figured out where they were).
I think I might have actually won the 100 meter free at one of those pools....what I remember more is that I was 16 and it was the first time my parents let me drive to a meet by myself.
