Swim Rant

:frustrated: After swimming laps at the local Y for years, I wholeheartedly AGREE with this one..... The Water Walkers are the WORST. They think they should have the whole lane for one person taking up a few feet in the deep end, but that their hair (much less their face) should NEVER GET WET! Don't even think of doing a flip turn near them! They'll report you to the Y Directors! Just ran into this yesterday at the Y. There was a "water aerobics" class in lanes 5 & 6, 2 very slow lap swimmers in 4, 2 very slow lap swimmers in 3, 1 "water walker" in 2, and three "water walkers" in 1. I jumped in and started my workout in 2, hoping the walker would move over to 1 ... especially since the other walkers were on the other end of the pool. Nope. I could tell she was not happy, but I know she REALLY did not like my 25 yard fly sprints!! (Although I did take care not to hit her ... she was on the end of the lane and I stopped short). But she was clearly not happy. The guards do nothing, even if you complain about the walkers. After about 30 minutes the aerobics class ended and a lane opened up for me to finish. Cheers!! Ken

Can I rant at myself? For forgetting to empty my swim bag the last time I swam, so now I can look forward to putting on a cold wet suit this evening?

I dont like when people talk to me in between sets and causing me to miss the time im supposed to go on.

My company has the same type of policy, but they will cover the cost of bikes and other types of exercise equipment (HR monitors, fitness balls, etc...) and fees for fitness centers 100% up to the allowable amount. I am going to submit my masters fees tomorrow and see if they will accept them. Someone I work with was taking dance classes with his girlfriend (not sure what kind of dance) and the company would not pay for that. However, I think that swimming is TOTALLY an activity that should receive reimbursement. I'll let you know how it turns out - might be a few weeks.....

Corporate Idiocy (another overly redundant oxymoron) My place of employment actually offers a "Fitness reimbursement". They will reimburse the employee 50% up to $250 (so 1/2 of 500) of health club fees, fitness classes, stationary exercise equipment. :applaud: I bought my elliptical under this last year.:groovy: However, they will not cover "recreational equipment" such as bikes, golf clubs, tennis, etc.:mad: So if you were a triathlete who never went on a stationary cycle or indoor treadmill, you are excluded totally! As we are now into the new year and I can submit again, I asked our HR rep who is supposed to handle the program at our location if I could submit my masters swimming club and USMS registration fees. She forwards it to a corp benefits rep (as our local rep doesn't seem to be able to handle any of it herself :rolleyes: ) but prefaces the request by indicating, "I don't think this should be covered but...." and then makes it sound like they are my swimming club dues (like a local neighborhood pool) or swimming classes. The corp rep automatically backs her and says they don't cover swim lessons or fees to a local recreation center. :frustrated: I replied back to both of them indicating that these are supervised directed workouts and definitely for FITNESS purposes! I gave them links to the USMS site and our local Masters site. :argue: Letting them know that this is not just lounging around on a raft under a diving board with a umbrella drink! I have to wait and see if they can do more than just read their policy; it specifically uses the example of aerobics classes or jazzercize-so the reps look only for those titles. Now if we can just get those folks in corporate to understand that we swim miles a day in the pool and are in better shape than any foo foo aerobics class or trendy jazzercize class taker..... Although this could be like teaching the proverbial pig to sing!!!! :D Maybe I can get our club to call these "water aerobics" classes!!!:thhbbb: Problem is I doth protest too much and have already shown up on the HR radar by raising this issue and "making them 'think' ". (I also need to get the the local recreation center to call my karate classes something like "cardio kickboxing' so maybe these idiots will cover it too.....) Anybody else with this problem?

My wife just started taking belly-dancing lessons...I wonder if that is covered...

Here's a peeve from my wife. Swimming 500s when the guy in the next lane decides to "race" you 25yds out of every 100 you're doing. Here's a peeve for me. Being able to squat 405, but having a breaststroke kick that propels you backward.:frustrated:

Running around in your speedo is nothing compared to what these women "perform" in. I'm not bashing belly dancing. Whatever floats your boat. It seems like people who belly dance tend to have a little bit in the belly department, doesn't it? Seeing someone's belly jiggle doesn't do much for me, but as you said: whatever floats your boat!

My wife just started taking belly-dancing lessons...I wonder if that is covered... Small world! My husband and I attended a "belly dancing" party put on by one of his female colleagues. I'll just say it was interesting watching women of all ages and sizes dance around in elaborate, revealing costumes in the middle of southern suburbia. She ended up leaving her high paying techincal job and now operates her own belly dancing studio. Running around in your speedo is nothing compared to what these women "perform" in. I'm not bashing belly dancing. Whatever floats your boat. Sheesh - I just forgot what this thread topic was all about.

It seems like people who belly dance tend to have a little bit in the belly department, doesn't it? Seeing someone's belly jiggle doesn't do much for me, but as you said: whatever floats your boat! Are you calling my wife fat? Your theory is not really accurate. Some fat people belly dance, and some fat people swim. Belly dance has nothing to do with fatness or fitness. I remember being treated to a belly dance on my 16th birthday at a restaurant. The girl had no belly as you seem to allude to it...just a nice balanced hourglass figure with soft curves--she was beautiful. :D