Welles Park and the (alleged) fast lane
by CarolineConsistent features of any recreational lap-swimming facility:
• Cute retired women who inevitably end up naked in the shower (this used to make me feel awkward)
• Thirtyish dudes trying to reclaim something (not sure what)
• Men wearing swim caps (never, in ten or twelve years of competitive swimming, did I see a boy wear a cap at practice)
• Waterobics types who mostly float
• A small clump of something unalluring floating near the bottom (usually a hairball)
• Too-warm water
I got out this morning and went into the locker room, where a charming naked lady (see first point) asked about the water temperature (see last point). I said it was warm enough that I felt sluggish, and she said, “That’s perfect for me! Well, and anyone else who has arthritis.” That explains the temperature.
Swimming in the summertime makes me remember the outdoor meets that lasted all weekend, in giant 50-meter pools sometimes eight lanes wide like the Olympics. In the pool we’d freeze and run into each other during warm-ups, and out of the pool between events we’d bake in the sun. Diving back in for races was always, well, let’s just say bracing.
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