Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in

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2010-05-28 11:00 AM

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Subject: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
In my past 2 months of swim-focus, I've had the opportunity to swim in a variety of pools and locations. I spend my time between NorCal and SoCal so I've found places in both to swim in. 

I've really noticed a huge difference in motivation and desire to train depending on where I'm spending my time. To the point that to me, I feel that having a nice, clean, noncrowded place to swim is crucial to continued gains in swimming.

When I started, I used a small dingy 20yd Ballys pool exclusively since I was doing mostly float and technique drills. After a year, I've since moved up to the college 50m pool and regularly do hard interval sessions of 3000+m.

Now if I go back to Ballys I find it so dirty, small, and depressing that it's nearly impossible for me to crank out my 3000m+ workout no matter how motivated I am. I certainly would not be able to mentally train at the same intensity volume I'm doing now day in day out with swimming, and I consider myself to be amongst the more "hardcore" folks about training, meaning I'm pretty fanatic about getting the workouts in despite location and weather.

I never hear the quality of the pool venue being mentioned as an important factor in continued swim advancement, but I'm becoming a believer. Wondering what you folks out there think.



 

2010-05-28 11:11 AM
in reply to: #2888621

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Master
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Midcoast Maine
Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
Completely concur. For me - now that the lakes/ponds are warm enough - it is MUCH easier for me to get out and get a swim in because it feels like fun...swimming in a pool is like running on the treadmill for me - a necessary evil in the winter, but I'd much rather be outside. This directly affects my motivation to get my swim in.
2010-05-28 11:21 AM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
Completely new here with a total of four swims but in those few swims the facility made all the diff to my wanting to go back. First was an outdoor community pool:  new, nice, salt water filtration but only 3 lanes for lap swim and all the others devoted to teams/masters etc.  Next an indoor pool at a local prep school. Not crowded but the water was so full of chlorine and chemicals my eyes and throat burned for a couple of days.

Broke down this week and tried the aquatic center at work, was too intimidated at first.  Finally convinced myself I'm lucky enough to have access to a world class facility for free, I might as well take advantage of it.  Great pool, perfect water, wide lanes set to 50m lanes certain days.  With 2-4 dedicated slow lanes I don't have to worry about  slowing anyone else down.  Can't wait to go back this afternoon, especially since the sun has finally decided to come out Cool
2010-05-28 11:28 AM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
totaly agree with you. I used to swim in the most beautiful 50m outdoor pool with wide lanes, rarely crowded, clean, perfect...I would swim 2-3 times a week. then I moved and the best pool option now is a crappy 3 lane, 25m bath tub in the bally's basement. after 1000m I can't wait to get out. luckily I can OWS off a great beach close to my house but I'm not crazy about long ocean swims by myself so I usualy only get in one good swim per week. kind of a bummer because I know I need more time to continue to improve.
2010-05-28 11:32 AM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
I only swim in the ocean, so there's rarely anyone else in my lane.
2010-05-28 12:00 PM
in reply to: #2888710

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
Spleen - 2010-05-28 11:32 AM I only swim in the ocean, so there's rarely anyone else in my lane.


Just don't look down.

2010-05-28 12:49 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
In Montreal they built an 50m outdoor pool for the world championships a few years ago and we get to use it for training in the summer. Not only are the lanes wide, but the pool is FAST. You feel like you're Michael Phelps in this pool. I love going there, it's great for my morale.

I also recently swam at the national training center in Clermont Florida. While a beautiful pool, you sometimes end up swimming next to a pro which can be pretty humbling.

Yes, the pool, outdoor/indoor, air/water quality makes a huge difference.


2010-05-28 12:54 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
I was content in my 3 lane 25yd gym pool until I started OWS. Now the gym pool feels like a treadmill...kinda boring. 
2010-05-28 1:09 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
The pool itself doesn't have much of an impact on my motivation provided it's 25y or longer.  I try to find pools when I travel but I occasionally get stuck in 15y hotel pools and that drives me crazy.  My real issue when swimming is crowded pools - if I'm doing a nice relaxed distance workout it's not a huge problem as I slow my pace down and just get the distance in.  I'm not the fastest swimmer around, but a 1:20/100 pace for faster 500-1000y intervals has me swimming over the top of everyone else at the pools I frequent, and that's a pain.

-matthew
2010-05-28 1:09 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in

I'm lucky that we have a first-class county-run aquatic center with a 50M pool.  They set it up for long course in the mornings and short course in the afternoons (when I usually swim after work).  In six years I think I've only had to share a lane once or twice.  It's outdoors, but here in FL that's not that much of a deal, except during thunder storms.

They just raised the daily use fee from $2 to $4, but since I'm over 55, I still pay the "senior rate" of $2.   

I also have access to the gulf beaches, in particular Siesta Key, which is great for OWS practice.

Mark

2010-05-28 1:25 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in

agarose2000 - 2010-05-28 12:00 PM
I never hear the quality of the pool venue being mentioned as an important factor in continued swim advancement, but I'm becoming a believer. Wondering what you folks out there think.
 

I think for a majority of people, they don't have much choice in pools. In my case, I'd have to drive 45 minutes and pay $7 per session for the next closest 25 yard pool, and drive well over an hour to get to a 50m pool. For that investment, I could be swimming at Clearwater...thus I've never been in a long course pool.

2010-05-28 1:30 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
I have access to both a pretty decent LA Fitness 25 SCY pool as well as ample OWS locations. I try and OWS a few times per month, but if I could only have one, I would take the pool. A pool really allows for more structured, repeatable training than OW does.

Edited by bryancd 2010-05-28 1:31 PM
2010-05-28 1:35 PM
in reply to: #2889057

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
bryancd - 2010-05-28 11:30 AM I have access to both a pretty decent LA Fitness 25 SCY pool as well as ample OWS locations. I try and OWS a few times per month, but if I could only have one, I would take the pool. A pool really allows for more structured, repeatable training than OW does.


x2....usually using open water swims just for the experience factor.
2010-05-28 2:11 PM
in reply to: #2888806

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
sand101 - 2010-05-28 1:00 PM
Spleen - 2010-05-28 11:32 AM I only swim in the ocean, so there's rarely anyone else in my lane.


Just don't look down.


Wait, i thought Im supposed to look down?

I wish I had more OWS locations that I could use. In the nanny state of Maryland, they like to dictate what, where, when, how you swim so most lakes are closed to swimming. The remaining lakes are private property.
2010-05-28 2:14 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Master
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Redlands, CA
Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in

I think this is why I HATE swimming.

I swim at a 3 lane 25 scy pool at LA Fitness.  There are times I show up and there are 20 people in the pool, none are swimming, either walking or lounging, and they will not give you a lane.  The times you do get a lane to yourself its not uncommon to hit someone who just jumped in your lane without letting you know. 

We have a Olympic Sized pool opening up next month at the Community College, which I'm super psyched about. 

2010-05-28 2:57 PM
in reply to: #2888621

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
Honestly, I'm just happy to have anywhere at all.

Five years ago, the area I lived in would have made it absolutely impossible to train for tri's at all. None of the gyms had pools, none of the neighborhoods had community pools (it was assumed that most people had their own - but we were of the very small % of poorer people who didn't). The only public pool was a city pool - but their hours were SO limited for lap swimming, like only two days a week for 2 hours (and only June-August) and the rest of the time it was jam packed with summer day camp kids, so no way to lap swim.

I was so thrilled when we moved here that so many of the local gyms had pools, I was really excited to be able to swim again. Sure, its small, sometimes you have to share a lane, etc. But its more than I used to have access to, so I'm happy! But I just naturally love swimming, so I think I'd do it any pool (not a fan of OWS, but that is another story!)

2010-05-28 4:07 PM
in reply to: #2889070

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Subject: RE: Importance to you of having a nice pool or OWS place to train in
Fastyellow - 2010-05-28 1:35 PM
bryancd - 2010-05-28 11:30 AM I have access to both a pretty decent LA Fitness 25 SCY pool as well as ample OWS locations. I try and OWS a few times per month, but if I could only have one, I would take the pool. A pool really allows for more structured, repeatable training than OW does.


x2....usually using open water swims just for the experience factor.


Man - I can't believe you learned to swim as fast as you do in a 25 SCY pool. I feel that the 50m pool is a completely different experience and significantly harder than the 25 SCY pool, even if I do the same length workouts because of the extra wall breaths and added speed on the wall pushoffs. I'm nearly 5 sec/100 faster on the SCY pool vs the 50m pool (adjusted for yds vs meters) which is significant.
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