X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question

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2010-11-18 11:46 AM

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Subject: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question

I asked about this on the general board, but I was told to go here.  I keep getting conflicting results, so I'm hoping someone here can answer my question.

How long is the pool at this gym???


The website says Olympic (50m)
The people at the front desk say 25m


I know I suck at swimming, but I'm doing an average of:

 - 2.5-3 min/lap (bad (but expected for me) for 50m, really really sucky for 25m)
 - avg. 32 strokes/length, min: 27, max about 36 (pretty good for 50m, terrible (one guy said basically impossible - it's that bad) for 25m)

I was told to pace it out, that eat step should be about 1 m.  So I paced it yesterday: 41 steps



I'm thinking/hoping maybe it's a "custom" pool - in between 25 and 50.  'cause at 50, my strokes/pace just don't make sense, and at 25 I'm just the worst swimmer on the face of the planet :-p (which is possible, I came in DFL in the swim in my first tri)

2010-11-19 4:03 PM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
Well I've been to the Alexandria xsport but I typically go to the one in Merrifield.  The website (for both) just says Olympic Lane Pool and doesn't specify the distance.  In marketing speak I've seen the word Olypic pool used for just about any length pool that you could theoretically swim laps in.  I wouldn't put any credence that when a brochure says Olympic that you can assume it's actually 50m. 

I've been told repeatedly that the Merrifield one is 25m, but I have my doubts.  I did bring my laser range finder to the pool once but it didn't work.  I do plan to bring a tape measure one of these days.

The Alexandria pool seems to be about the same length as the one in Merrifield.

I know, not really helpful.

2010-11-20 7:57 AM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
haha - I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna bring  tape measure next time I go - I just don't want to look like the idiot measuring the pool :-p

I think I'll measure 1 tile, then count how many tiles there are along the edge...slightly less embarrassing - haha 
2010-11-21 4:53 AM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
I also use the one at merrifield, but not alexandria.  Despite everyone trying to say that pool is in meters, my race splits match up better with my training pace if I use 25 yards.

Not sure where they come up with olympic sized pool, the lane lines of that one are very narrow (you can hardly share lanes) and at that it is only 4 lanes across.
2010-11-23 2:23 PM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
I am pretty sure it's yards, despite the "Olympic" pool info in the marketing guide. A friend counted tiles, accounting for grout and is convinced it's yards, FWIW. Wouldn't be surprised if it's a tweener distance. Break out the tape measure!
2010-11-23 3:27 PM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
Pace it off.

A 25 yard pool will be 25-27 paces.  A 25 meter pool will be 28-30 paces.  For my pace.

A 50 meter pool will be about 56 paces.

2010-12-02 9:04 AM
in reply to: #3216727

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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
the result of my "quick measure a tile and then count tiles along the length of the pool, but try to do so in a way that doesn't draw too many weird looks" :-p

25.75 yards or 23.5 meters.


It's confirmed, I suck at swimming, but at least now I know how badly I suck at it, so I can work on it
2017-12-24 5:40 PM
in reply to: rbtrumpet


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Subject: RE: X-Sport, Alexandria VA - pool question
Sorry to unbury this old thread, but it's one of the top results for Googling "Xsport Alexandria pool length" so I thought I'd share my rudimentary measurement result. This is not a certified result by any means haha.

I bought a $20 Milwaukee brand 100ft compact metal measuring tape, laid it on deck along the side of the pool, and got 81 ft 10 inches, or 981 inches, -±2 inches.

That's about 24.97 meters or 27.27 yards. So, it's a ~25M pool like the lifeguard told me, lol.

Not a bad pool, more predictable lane availability than Chinquapin or Wakefield. It's a bit dark though. Nobody paid attention to what I was doing with the measuring tape.. did it twice to double check.

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