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
Originally posted by Courteous Swimmer
Men can't swim at the YWCA on 53rd.
Where did you hear that? There are many men on the YW Masters team. (I'm a member of a different club, but I know the YW team very well.) I suggest you contact Conrad Johnson, the coach, at CJohnson@ywcanyc.org (212-735-9812) for more information, if you're interested.
But, many of the Manhattan based teams have workout schedules that accommodate swimmers who can only make one practice per week (That's my situation, as well, but I swim on my own at Asphalt Green every night.)
Since you're going to Asphalt Green once a week anyway, have you considered talking to one of the Masters coaches about joining one of their workout groups? They have workouts every night and, I believe, Saturday and Sunday morning.
My team (Red Tide) has practices on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Baruch College (24th and Lexington) and Sunday afternoons at John Jay College (58th St and Tenth Ave.), as well as a special membership plan for swimmers who can only come once per week (we also have workouts weekday mornings and evenings). The only catch here is that we're very competition oriented and we expect members to come to at least two meets per year (we don't care how you do -- win or lose -- just show up).
You should also check out the Metropolitan LMSC website at www.metroswim.org
Originally posted by Courteous Swimmer
Men can't swim at the YWCA on 53rd.
Where did you hear that? There are many men on the YW Masters team. (I'm a member of a different club, but I know the YW team very well.) I suggest you contact Conrad Johnson, the coach, at CJohnson@ywcanyc.org (212-735-9812) for more information, if you're interested.
But, many of the Manhattan based teams have workout schedules that accommodate swimmers who can only make one practice per week (That's my situation, as well, but I swim on my own at Asphalt Green every night.)
Since you're going to Asphalt Green once a week anyway, have you considered talking to one of the Masters coaches about joining one of their workout groups? They have workouts every night and, I believe, Saturday and Sunday morning.
My team (Red Tide) has practices on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Baruch College (24th and Lexington) and Sunday afternoons at John Jay College (58th St and Tenth Ave.), as well as a special membership plan for swimmers who can only come once per week (we also have workouts weekday mornings and evenings). The only catch here is that we're very competition oriented and we expect members to come to at least two meets per year (we don't care how you do -- win or lose -- just show up).
You should also check out the Metropolitan LMSC website at www.metroswim.org
