So I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the new rec center up the road to open. I've been thinking how cool it will be... walk a mile and a half to the pool, work out, walk a mile and a half back... think of all of the calories burned! Think of the workout to be had!
Didn't really think they'd rip me off on the pool.
When they said "warm water fitness pool," I thought "25x25 pool warm enough to keep the blue hairs happy." I did not think "warm puddle just big enough to wave around your pool noodle." After all, all of the high schools in the area have swim teams and they use the rec center pools for practice. It would only seem logical to have a pool of an appropriate size to use for that purpose. Um, no.
What we have is a warm puddle (which I didn't even bother getting into) then we have a kiddie pool with all of the accompanying stuff to climb on, and then we have this "current area" (that's what they call it) which is sort of like a thin lap lane that winds around and through the kiddie area, and has a current to it, to add to your workout when you're walking around with your pool noodle.
Of course, sticking the "current" area in the middle of kiddie land makes absolutely no sense, being that the blue haired ladies don't like to get their hair wet... and being in the kiddie area ensures that you're going to get wet!
I was pondering the merits of trying to swim against the current, but it's not really a wide enough channel to pull that off. Not to mention that I'd probably get whacked with a noodle if I tried that.
Oh well, I guess I'll just go back to the old pool. At least it's quiet and generally noodle-free.
Parents
Former Member
Personally, in my area, I haven't had any serious beefs with the places I swam in.
Back in the spring of 2004, I used to swim at the Socorro Aquatic Center, which is owned by the Socorro Independent School District. It has an outdoor recreational pool with a zero depth entry, water slides and what not. It's only open from Memorial Day all the way to Labor Day. The Indoor pool is a 25 Meter pool, which the High School teams use, is great to swim in, but unfortunately, it is overly-chlorinated and the air quality isn't the greatest. The smell is quite strong, that it leaks into the locker rooms and the end result reminds me of a Taco Bell being repainted with latex paint, while getting the floors mopped with a great deal of Chlorox.
When I joined USMS in the summer of '04, I stopped swimming in that facility and started swimming at the University pool, which is a great facility. It houses two 25 meter pools, one for competitive lap swimmers and the other for Hydrobics and Aquatic Therapy. The pools use Bromine, which is less expensive than Chlorine and the air quality is much better there than at the SAC. The Mens' Locker Room is great to take a nice warm shower after a good workout at the pool and the floors are rarely ever wet. The only way to have access to this pool is to either be a student at the University, a faculty member or be a member of the University's Alumni Association, which I am proudly a member of. Membership is $35.00 annually and although it costs five dollars to use the pool, (without a time limit) it's well worth the money.
I also swim at the Military Base's indoor long-course on Saturdays, which is just as great as the University's facilities. The only difference there is that the Military Base uses Chlorine. The air quality there is good too.
As to the whole Water Parks thing, I suppose that's okay for recreational goers. However, they're not ideal for swimmers, which is why I stress saying that research is always important when looking for a good place to swim. I also forgot to add that I take the bus to these pools and time to get to these pools varies from half an hour to fourty-five minutes. Although they're not close to my house, like the Socorro Aquatic Center (five minutes from my house) I'd prefer making a longer distance to go to quality facilities for my workout.
Personally, in my area, I haven't had any serious beefs with the places I swam in.
Back in the spring of 2004, I used to swim at the Socorro Aquatic Center, which is owned by the Socorro Independent School District. It has an outdoor recreational pool with a zero depth entry, water slides and what not. It's only open from Memorial Day all the way to Labor Day. The Indoor pool is a 25 Meter pool, which the High School teams use, is great to swim in, but unfortunately, it is overly-chlorinated and the air quality isn't the greatest. The smell is quite strong, that it leaks into the locker rooms and the end result reminds me of a Taco Bell being repainted with latex paint, while getting the floors mopped with a great deal of Chlorox.
When I joined USMS in the summer of '04, I stopped swimming in that facility and started swimming at the University pool, which is a great facility. It houses two 25 meter pools, one for competitive lap swimmers and the other for Hydrobics and Aquatic Therapy. The pools use Bromine, which is less expensive than Chlorine and the air quality is much better there than at the SAC. The Mens' Locker Room is great to take a nice warm shower after a good workout at the pool and the floors are rarely ever wet. The only way to have access to this pool is to either be a student at the University, a faculty member or be a member of the University's Alumni Association, which I am proudly a member of. Membership is $35.00 annually and although it costs five dollars to use the pool, (without a time limit) it's well worth the money.
I also swim at the Military Base's indoor long-course on Saturdays, which is just as great as the University's facilities. The only difference there is that the Military Base uses Chlorine. The air quality there is good too.
As to the whole Water Parks thing, I suppose that's okay for recreational goers. However, they're not ideal for swimmers, which is why I stress saying that research is always important when looking for a good place to swim. I also forgot to add that I take the bus to these pools and time to get to these pools varies from half an hour to fourty-five minutes. Although they're not close to my house, like the Socorro Aquatic Center (five minutes from my house) I'd prefer making a longer distance to go to quality facilities for my workout.
