The best pool deck routine I've ever seen was last summer, by a collegiate water polo player who would show up around 3 times a week. From the time that she walked out of the locker room to when she entered the water was always at least 10 minutes, spent assembling her toy pile, putting on her cap, maybe some stretching. Putting on the cap always took her at least 5 minutes; I guess I've been doing it wrong all these years since mine goes on in seconds. Next came sitting on the edge of the pool with feet in the water. This was the big decision point - would she swim in the main pool, float in the kiddie pool, or sit in the hot tub? After several minutes of deliberation, if she actually got in the pool, she'd get in very very very slowly. Then she'd walk two or three 25's with her still-dry arms held up out of the water. (Note: the pool is 4 feet deep and never cold) Then she'd swim some laps without the water polo ball, then some laps with the ball, and get out. Her total yardage on the days when she actually swam was probably around 1000, done at minimal effort level. I suppose when she went back to school in September she was able to tell her coach that she'd been to the pool 3 times a week throughout the summer.
Next came sitting on the edge of the pool with feet in the water.
I've never understood this one--the people who have to dangle their legs over the edge for a while before getting in. Just dive in and get it over with, for Pete's sake!
Read this feature on Rec Swimmers from Mel Stewart. Then check out The Screaming Viking's reply on page 2. It's hilarious.
www.alpha.swimnetwork.com/.../rec_swimmers__love__em_or_hate__em_-8803.html
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I swear Jim Matysek did this before the 200BR at zones last year...:joker:
3. I stand at the edge and repeatedly swing my arms like I am going to dive in, but then stop to stick my toes in again to check the water. I do this for about 5 minutes and every once in a while I adjust my suit or rub my fingers on my nipples.
I've never understood this one--the people who have to dangle their legs over the edge for a while before getting in. Just dive in and get it over with, for Pete's sake!
I do this all the time, while I arrange my toys and put my goggles on...and talk to whoever.....and .....
I actually know a guy who, incidentally has some WR's and is just getting back into swimming - again - he actually does the routine described by Viking (body rubbing and all on the edge of the pool)! He takes 15 min. or more to go through his pool edge show to swimming his first lap.
Hilarious!
I actually know a guy who, incidentally has some WR's and is just getting back into swimming - again - he actually does the routine described by Viking (body rubbing and all on the edge of the pool)! He takes 15 min. or more to go through his pool edge show to swimming his first lap.
Hilarious!
So you've wateched and timed him them eh?
Oh Jim...:whiteflag:got me!
I've never understood this one--the people who have to dangle their legs over the edge for a while before getting in. Just dive in and get it over with, for Pete's sake!
Definitely. Back in college the pool was always cold (and felt even colder at the start of morning practices) so I made a ritual of diving off the blocks to start practice. I was typically the first one in the water, since no one else seemed to take "on the 60" literally.
You can't help not notice a 6'5" guy wiggling, squirming and flailing about at the end of the lane balancing on the edge of the pool in a "small" speedo (not jammer) when the pool is a 6 lane SCY.
You can't help not notice a 6'5" guy wiggling, squirming and flailing about at the end of the lane balancing on the edge of the pool in a "small" speedo (not jammer) when the pool is a 6 lane SCY.
So long as it's fine for me to gawk too then that's ok...which reminds me...I was swimming the other night and two young women had some sort of water-cise thing they were doing with an instructor...I wondered why they were riding on noodles in the deep end wearing skimpy bikinis...good job I'm focused to my swimming...such distractions do not belong in the YMCA!
At the pool I frequented before the current one, there was a Japanese man in his 30's who would do a little kung fu routine before getting into the pool. Once in the water, the workout was brief. 1000 yards on the long end for sure. Once he climbed out of the pool, the kung fu antics began once again. Perhaps he was training for a biathlon of sorts. Swimming and beating people up.
