First of all, I'm a new "masters" browser here and I enjoy reading all your humorous and informative posts. I recently started swimming low speed laps by myself and enjoy the nonimpact fitness I'm slowly attaining (started with the near death 1 lap swim, now a 500 free + broken up 200 IM + under water laps).
I'd like to know what kind of conditons other people swim in? Do you consider your pool setup to be good, fair, poor? My pool situation is as follows: I live in a gated community which has a 25 yard L-shaped pool. It's about 1/4mi away from my house. There are 2 lanes with lane lines open at all times to one side of the pool. Pool is about 9 months old with no starting blocks or flags. Rules are no diving allowed, no lifeguard on duty, no shampoo in the outdoor shower (what?). I usually drive my golf cart over to check for open lanes pretty much any time of day from 8am to 8pm. Open lane bliss can usually be found around 6pm each evening. The noodles floating around at this time often get smacked around by big lap waves since I'm rather tall. I've never had to share a lane with another lap swimmer (which is probably a good thing cause I think I would fail play nice with the other lap swimmers). The temperature of our pool is warm. Weather is warm for 9 months and dips to the 50s in winter. Lightning closes our pool daily in summer. An occasional car or lawn mower will blow in to the pool area sometimes making it impossible to swim, but nothing too bad overall. I think I'm fairly if not extremely fortunate to have such a set up as this, although I'm curious what others have to endure or relish at other pools. What are some of the pools like that you swim/train at?
Parents
Former Member
I live in Colorado Springs. Within the city, everything is within 30 minutes (or less) of anywhere else. We have at least 4 YMCAs. They seem to be building them as fast as Wal-Marts. (We have at least 4 of them too!) :)
So wherever my daily travels in town take me, there will be a YMCA out that way. The one I use most is sort of in the center of the area. Lately they had been making an effort to keep the lap pool a bit cooler (low 80s, most often 83.) But it seems that with the onset of summer (and therefore summer swimming lessons for kids out of school) they have cranked the temp up to 85-86. It seems that the other YMCA facilities in town tend to follow similar temperature maintenance.
All the facilities have 25 yard pools. All but one have 6 lanes. (One has 4 lanes. I wonder why they even bothered to spend the money for that one...) Some of the facilities are older, some almost brand new. I've traveled the country and used my "AWAY" YMCA membership in dozens of pools. In general the Colorado Springs pools all rate better than average. I can't complain.
I live in Colorado Springs. Within the city, everything is within 30 minutes (or less) of anywhere else. We have at least 4 YMCAs. They seem to be building them as fast as Wal-Marts. (We have at least 4 of them too!) :)
So wherever my daily travels in town take me, there will be a YMCA out that way. The one I use most is sort of in the center of the area. Lately they had been making an effort to keep the lap pool a bit cooler (low 80s, most often 83.) But it seems that with the onset of summer (and therefore summer swimming lessons for kids out of school) they have cranked the temp up to 85-86. It seems that the other YMCA facilities in town tend to follow similar temperature maintenance.
All the facilities have 25 yard pools. All but one have 6 lanes. (One has 4 lanes. I wonder why they even bothered to spend the money for that one...) Some of the facilities are older, some almost brand new. I've traveled the country and used my "AWAY" YMCA membership in dozens of pools. In general the Colorado Springs pools all rate better than average. I can't complain.
