Swim Rant

Forgot to place my email address rbg_gis@yahoo.com R. Balbuena

Da aerobics!!! The problem is not only the usage of two lanes (where one would do) but the volume of the speakers playing rock music to otherwise elderly people. Our coach cannot give us instructions due to the noise of the loudspeakers and has to yell at us. I use the earplugs not so much because of water but because of sound. Plus all the otherwise fit guys who are there because of some problem with their backs or spine and are doing the walking in water and other execises, when they should really be swimming over here with us. But "swimming" is exercise and is bad for you, whereas jumping up and down and looking silly in water is okay...billy fanstone

I finally got back in the pool tonight after being out for almost two weeks, and it felt great. It was barely crowded, had my own lane, swam very fast compared to what I usually do. I am very excited to get back in the water, then I look at this weeks weather forecast. Rain all week, and snow thrown into the mix on Thursday!!! its only September, and the winter cover isn't put up until mid October. Grrrr

I couldn't believe it, there I was swimming alone in the pool when I was overtaken by the smell and then taste of someone's perfume. I know it was perfume because it was the same Clinique brand my wife uses. I had to stop to see if someone had gotten in the pool and I didn't notice. It was coming from the locker room and was so strong I started to gag and cough!:mad: I took a break and rode 20 miles then came back, yep still my private pool, but no lingering smell. Then this guy jumps in in his underwear!:doh: He noodles for a few minutes then goes to the Jacuzzi. Has the world gone mad!:shakeshead:

Last week at the pool a group of four fellows showed up. I believe they were from the Middle East. They had turbans on their heads, white boxer underwear, tennis shoes and socks up to their knees. They were at the end of my lane so I stopped and looked up. I couldn't speak their language so I continued with my swim. They each grabbed a pair of bright pink noodles and jumped in my lane dressed as I described. 3 other lanes were empty. They noodled up and down my lane and I kept swimming. After getting whacked with my recovery freestyle stroke, they got out and took their noodles over to the jacuzzi. Motto: never give up water space if you're there first.:duel: Donna

They sell them at the local specialty swim shops here. My daughter needed a new FS II recordbreaker before all stars this summer. We walked right in and out with a light blue, royal blue combo. They seem to stock a fair number of them. At the USA-S meets here, I don't see kids in black and silver anymore. They all have the funky blues, green, purples, pinks and yellows. For $40, I would've bought her one too. Can't even get a practice suit for that price.

I am experiencing total disgust. ...... 90% of the kids, even the 8 & unders, were wearing variously colored FS II suits. Blech. FS II at a run of the mill dual meet? Something wrong with this picture IMHO. Those suits should be saved for championship meets. And since when do 8 & unders routinely sport these suits? I'm sure it's because we were swimming in McLean VA, richest suburb in northern virginia, but please parents calm down and exercise restraint. I was disgusted. I forbid my kid to wear her FS II at these meets. Wholly apart from suit wear and tear, it's just inappropriate and not really consistent with the spirit of summer swim league. I cheered for all our kids racing and crushing the glammed up fastskin kids. :cheerleader: OK. I'll get off my soapbox now. It just really pissed me off. I just came across this older post and I'm wondering......did they really have "Variously Colored" FS II swimsuits???? Other than outfitting the national team in custom colors - I haven't seen anyplace where Speedo sells these. Just this week I must have received a half dozen or so swimsuit catalogs - but the catalogs only have dark blue or black as does the Speedo website? I would love to know how almost an entire swimteam got colored FS II's....... I would want one too. The colors they made for Katie Hoff, Natalie Coughlin, Kara Joyce and the rest of the National Team members are beautiful .... such as light blue, purple, lavender, and hot pink. They must have a fairy godmother over at speedo or something to get those colors. I'll tell you something though - I bought my 8 year old a fastskin for summer league.....(the first version) It was a kneeskin and speedo was selling them this summer on the clearance page for only 40 dollars. It was black - but I couldn't resist. It was a birthday present and she earned it by dropping 20 seconds off her 100 IM. She wanted one REAL bad and her year round team doesn't allow the younger kids to compete in one. For Forty dollars - Why Not?

Okay, this is at the gym but I lift weights to improve my swimming. I find it amusing that so many people just sit for minutes on end resting on the machines without using them! Or, even worse, they sit and talk on their cell phone on the machine! Arg!!! And, it's very difficult to compete with lanemates who wear full wetsuits AND paddles. :doh::doh:

I can bearly find a suit for $40. Haven't had the guts to try a grab bag. A woman in my masters' group said she bought a lot of her suits at Marshall's (one of those discount clothing stores) and she could usually get them for about $20-$30, good brands too, such as Speedo and TYR. But I never seem to have any luck when I go into stores like that. If I find suits at all, they're either little confections meant to be worn while lounging on a deck chair with an umbrella drink or something five sizes too big and with a skirt attached.

For $40, I would've bought her one too. Can't even get a practice suit for that price. I can bearly find a suit for $40. Haven't had the guts to try a grab bag.