It's been a tough summer for me. I have not been getting in my laps as I have in the past.
I live in Forest Hills, Queens, NY. I work 45+ hours a week. My swimming options are limited. Here's why I have been missing workouts in the pool, while opting for dryland workouts:
YMHA(Young Men's Hebrew Association)
This is the closest pool to my house. Costs $400 a year. It's closed from Friday night until Sunday afternoon. The pool is clean and the staff is professional. But like most pools, the lap section is dominated by crusty old men and women who float or do doggy paddle, making laps impossible.
Queensboro Community College
Gotta take the LIE or Grand Central, so I'm facing traffic delays just to get to the pool. Very limited hours and it's closed three months out of the year. Sometimes the elderly take over the lap lanes for doggy paddle and floating.
Queens College
Nights only. Closed Friday.
Aspalt Green
The best pool in New York City area. Lots of lanes. Clean. Serious environment. It's 1:10 mins from home. It's so expensive. $875 is the cheapest rate. But I have to admit, swimming here is just awesome.
Wanted to let everyone know that I was asked to stop swimming at a lake in Pennsylvania on Thursday. I happened at Beltzville Lake Park. There are three sections. The center is where kids and families play. If it gets crowded, they open the side sections.
Before I hit the water, I told the lifeguard that I'd be swimming in the empty section to avoid colliding with everyone. After about 30 minutes, another lifeguard told me that I have to swim in the center section with everyone else.
I exploded!!!!!!
This was the straw the broke the camel's back. I told the lifeguard that this is wrong. You have this big lake, with kids splashing and pissing in the water, adults on speed boats and jet skies, but a man can't actually SWIM in the water.
So I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to maintain a fit lifestyle, I'm only going to be able to swim once a week. I'll have to hit the gym the rest of the week, where I'm guaranteed to get a complete, uninterrupted workout.
It's a shame, but most pools emphasize horseplay by kids or attract elderly people who just take up space. You'd never see this in the weight room or on the cardio equipment. I wish I could say the same about the pool.
Parents
Former Member
You're not alone. I'm experiencing similar difficulties in Washington. It seems that in a city of any size there are no convenient answers.
I lived in New York (Flatbush, Brooklyn) for a while, so I understand the travel times involved. If I were there now and didn't happen to have my life laid out so that there was a pool along the way somewhere, I would probably give it up too.
In my next move, I'll probably take pool location into account when looking for an apartment. That's the advantage of a journalist's gypsy lifestyle; I can pick up after a year and reconfigure.
Good luck.
You're not alone. I'm experiencing similar difficulties in Washington. It seems that in a city of any size there are no convenient answers.
I lived in New York (Flatbush, Brooklyn) for a while, so I understand the travel times involved. If I were there now and didn't happen to have my life laid out so that there was a pool along the way somewhere, I would probably give it up too.
In my next move, I'll probably take pool location into account when looking for an apartment. That's the advantage of a journalist's gypsy lifestyle; I can pick up after a year and reconfigure.
Good luck.
