really need some help finding something local(Norfolk, Va.)

You might want to check out the Virginia Masters Swim Team Page, there are places to swim and hopefully you can find a group there. www.vmst.org Also, the USMS Places to swim might also help you find a place (there are more listed under Virginia but I am not sure how up to date those are). Good luck!

contact Betsy Durant. She is very resourceful about Norfolk. Her forum name is Betsy. I know that there is a pool right near the Rt. 13 bridge.

One of the perks of being in the Navy, you can always find a place to swim. In Norfolk, there's the 50m pool at Fleet Rec Park, NNSY in Portsmouth has a 25yd pool (I remember it being very warm), and Dam Neck has a long course pool IIRC. Don't be confused if you see only two guys in one lane, facing each other, vs. circle swimming. Give them a wide berth and slow bell.

The Virginia LMSC website also has information: www.vaswim.org The "places to swim" section of the website is taken from USMS' site. Here is a direct link: www.usms.org/.../placswimform.php I see 3 entries for Norfolk with contact info, though I am not sure if two of them (the Fleet Rec ones) are actually distinct. There is indeed a pretty active masters community in Virginia Beach and Betsy is the point person. PM me and I'll give you some contact information; she will be up here in Richmond this weekend for a meet.

I have a prepared handout with coached workouts in the area. Send me your email address. Betsy Durrant (durrant6 at cox dot net)

I'm going to have to find a group that does evening practices. between church league softball, Ship softball and swimming i'll be a busy guy... evenings are going to be my best bet. I think the one at fleet Rec is going to be the closest and it also from what i read has evening practices...

The Fleet Rec may be your best bet. That was my favorite place to swim when I was there. 50m pool, Masters swim on M/W/F at 6 PM. The same Masters group also does morning practices at Virginia Wesleyan college. www.tidewateraquaticclub.com If you're on base, the gym down by the ships (forgot the building name but it's the nice newer one right by the dock) has a 25m pool.

I appreciate all the help... I'm sitting off the coast of Haiti, so i'm limited to the internet, cause it's so slow out here. I will save the info i've got and check it when i get back home on a faster connection. again... thanks for the help!

If you're on base, the gym down by the ships (forgot the building name but it's the nice newer one right by the dock) has a 25m pool. damn. I spent 3 years in and out of Pier 12, now there's a scm pool right there?!? Gotta love that.

Lots of places especially if you are active duty. I was stationed there from '96-'00. Fleet Rec Park pool is great. 50M indoor pool with really flexible hours (early morning, lunch & evening). It is set up for lap swimming all the time, no noodlers or rec swimmers! The pool at Dam Neck is also a great facility, 50M indoor. Va Beach municipal rec centers all have pools that you can join for very cheap rates; mostly SCY facilities. I used to swim with the Old Dominion Masters at ODU. They had coached practices from 6-7:30 am. Not sure what their status is anymore. For awhile, there was a masters group that practiced at Norfolk Academy. Good luck, Tree