Tip, #2

I've wanted to go outdoor swimming for quite awhile now. While the Pacific Northwest has been having unseasonably warm weather, it's been the opposite in the Midwest.

Accuweather was promising 91 degrees for today but it was still rather cool around 1:30 p.m. When I left work, though, it was nice and warm. The times they are a-changin' because I never thought I'd hope for heat.

Now, here's the tip.

Do not assume that an entire pool has warmed up just because it's over 90 degrees.

I went to the Kennedy Recreation Center. Actually, I flew out to the Kennedy Rec Center to get in an hour of swimming. Just call me 'Drea Andretti.

Are you here for lap swimming?, the lad at the desk wanted to know. She quickly informed me that lap swimming was no more and that the pool will be closing mid-August. Unbelievable. It seems like the pools just opened.

I changed quickly and headed out to the pool area. When I stepped in the water, it was so cold. I just sucked it up and immersed myself in the water because I have been waiting for this day. As Anita Baker would say: Been So Long.
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Past Tense

I worked week-old stiffness out of my neck at the Kennedy Rec Complex.

I did eight laps before being overrun by the furious front crawlers in the designated lap lane.

I thought about Thich Nhat Hanh and mindfulness as I watched the clear blue sky and the clear clouds.

I practiced doing the sidestroke on my left side which turned out to be a clumsy effort and I, of course, practiced the front crawl.

Lately, I've been feeling like this clinging bird on a wire.

No Pool Left Behind

In an effort to leave no pool behind, I went to the Maplewood Family Aquatic Center. In order to be admitted to the pool, you have to be a resident or be accompanied by one.

The price of admission is $6.00 for nonresidents -- $2 dollars more than The Kennedy Recreation Complex and $6 dollars more than the city pools. It would almost be better to pay the fee at The Heights which is $7 dollars since you're able to use the pool, sauna, hot tub and cardio equipment etc. In addition, you can leave and reenter The Heights if you get your hand stamped.

I went to the MFAC because I didn't want to deal with the city pool and I didn't want to jockey for position in the sole lap lane at Kennedy.

I was surprised to see that Maplewood has an Olympic size pool as well. They also have a nice area for the kids.




The Olympic lanes seem infinite. It took about an hour and a half but I got in 20 laps. I like the fact that there are two lanes devoted to lap swimmers. I was amazed by the man who did the front crawl forever and ever and by the toddler who jumped off the diving board. His father, who was sitting on the sideline, had complete confidence in his son's ability to jump and tread and make it back to the edge of the pool.

While I was doing the back crawl, I spotted a bird in a holding pattern. It was so cool; we were both gliding but the bird was far more graceful.

Back At Kennedy Rec Complex

I went back to the Kennedy Recreation Complex. I guess I kinda like the joint.


I did about eight laps before I took a break. Then, I went and leisurely swam around in the deep end since I felt like I was being chased in the lap lane at times. I also noticed that the deepest part of the pool is 13 feet deep and not 10 as I thought.


I went back to do a couple of more laps then went to the general area again.

After swimming, I went to a bicycle shop. I haven't had a bicycle in a very long time and I'm a little bit surprised by the hefty price tags and all of the different kinds of bikes. I saw a light green Raleigh hybrid that really looked nice but I'm not willing to cough up $400 plus dollars for a bicycle that I may not ride often.

I saw bikes that were more than $2,000 dollars. Just what type of material went into them?

Reconnaissance

I was grateful for my GPS today and don't know if I would have found The Kennedy Recreation Complex without it. Well, I would have found it but it would have been a precarious situation trying to read directions on winding roads.


I went to do reconnaissance. Lap swimming was slated for 5:00 p.m. and right on time, the lifeguard moved a red divider to make a lane. Voilà, lap swimming. I thought he would at least put another red divider up but that didn't happen. One lane, albeit a wide one, was set aside for lap swimming.

The Kennedy Complex has an Olympic-size pool which means the lanes are 50 meters instead of 25 so one time down equals one lap. Those Olympic-sized lanes wore me out. I thought I would never reach the end at times. In addition, there were fast swimmers present. This one guy was swimming behind me and caught up to me rather fast. He straight up swam under me and surfaced in front. It was mega-cool and he seemed so at ease in the water.

Before I got in the pool, I walked the perimeter to check out the depth of the pool which has a small deep end section which, at its deepest, is 13 feet.

Overall, the pool is very nice. I also like the area to the side which has a canopy over it and sufficient seating. There were chairs everywhere because, obviously, some people wanted to be out in the sun.

I also like the locker room which is spacious and has low flow showers.




After swimming, I headed to Target and was surprised to see Dannon All Natural Strawberry Yogurt for $1.74 as opposed to $2.32 at Dierbergs. Target, like Dierbergs, only has strawberry and blueberry. It seems that they've stopped selling peach. I hate it when I have to go cold turkey.