Here's a thread for the ladies to discuss anything that relates to women and swimming. For example, feel free to discuss how disgustingly ugly fastskins are, how the "curse" can kill a meet, how suits don't fit, how swimming wrecks your hair, how hormones unhinge you, etc.
Leslie and Evilwatersprite,
A friend of mine is moving back to his family's home in Vienna. He has been swimming for years with the U. Pitt masters swimming team, though he does so mainly for exercise (I don't think he swam as a kid.)
Anyhow, are there Vienna-based teams that are accommodating to less than world-class swimmers such as yourselves?
If so, I will refer Yiu to you (pronounced "u2u").
There are no masters teams in Vienna. Closest teams are Fairfax County Masters (punch card), Reston Masters (punch card, I think, and cheaper than GMUP), and GMUP (monthly dues). Machine Masters is part of a USA team that practices in nearby Oakton at 5:00 am next to the Machine age groupers. Reston Masters, as I understand it, is fairly crowded. I can't speak for the other teams, but GMUP has swimmers at all levels.
For other info, check www.pvmasters.org.
Just started up again with a new team (Machine Masters in Vienna, Va.) and while the pool is much nicer than the one at my gym, the locker room ... well, not so much. The showers have one temp (scalding hot), no suit dryer and I have had to get back in the habit of bringing a towel and all my toiletries and taking the suits home to dry. We also get out at about the same time as the age groupers, so it can get crowded in there.
Meanwhile, I coached at my gym today. I participated in a T-shirt relay with the swimmers at the end, so I needed a shower. I totally reveled in the perfect temp and fire hose-like water pressure, towel service and Kiehl's toiletries in the shower. Oh, Equinox locker room, I love you so!
Kiehls toiletries in a locker room?!?!
Yeah, Equinox did a deal with them a few months back. I expected it to last for a month but they're still there. Sometimes my main motivation for going to work out is that locker room. The shower there is so much nicer than the one at home.
Which group are you swimming with at Machine? At Oak Marr?
Yep, the Oak Marr group. Like it so far. I'm not having fun making the intervals but Billy is a good coach. He has creative sets (I have swimming ADHD) and actually watches us for technique flaws.
P.S. This morning, I found a shower stall at Oak Marr that has actual temperature range. #Win
Machine only practices in the mornings. 5 a.m. is crazy early (earlier than I ever swam as an age-grouper) but it affords us an extra 30 minutes of practice, which I find beneficial. However, they are pretty fast. I'm in the slow lane there. BILLING: You pay by month (and can pay online). Their summer LC practices are all the way out in Chantilly so I'm not sure what I'll do come May.
Curl-Burke has both morning and evening practices. They work out at Annandale, American U. (Tenleytown) and Georgetown Prep. (in Bethesda).
If he wants to stay near Vienna, Spring Hill Masters and Reston Masters are also viable options. I don't know much about either program, though.
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Other clubs I know of/about:
My first team in D.C. was Alexandria Masters. They have morning practices at Mt. Vernon Aquatic Center (on the way to the Wilson Bridge) and evening practices at George Washington Rec. Center and Lee Rec Center off of Telegraph Road. I stuck mainly with the Lee practices b/c the pool is bigger, nicer and and fewer swimmers per lane than the morning workouts. I was in the middle lanes, speedwise. BILLING: You pay a lump sum at the start of each season .(I think you can pay online now, too.)
An old work buddy of mine swims with National Capital Y Masters and seems to like it.
I tried a couple of practices with Arlington Masters but they work out at Washington & Lee, which is kind of a crappy pool.
Hope this helps!
There are no masters teams in Vienna. Closest teams are Fairfax County Masters (punch card), Reston Masters (punch card, I think, and cheaper than GMUP), and GMUP (monthly dues). Machine Masters is part of a USA team that practices in nearby Oakton at 5:00 am next to the Machine age groupers. Reston Masters, as I understand it, is fairly crowded. I can't speak for the other teams, but GMUP has swimmers at all levels.
For other info, check www.pvmasters.org.
There is also Curl Masters.
