Ratty Old Suit

Today I swam in the West Village after attending a femme tea at Danal on E. 10th Street. Two of the girls went to a movie, and the other lady, M, walked me to the pool. I swam right before the pool closed. If you know me, you know that I looovve Saturday night swims, and tonight was no exception. I had a hard time with my coughing until lap 29, and then my lungs worked perfectly. That was a relief. The pool was not crowded, and the lifeguard who snapped at me last time was friendly. I had on a nice swimsuit, and perhaps he appreciated the gesture, LOL. I had been swimming in a really worn out old suit. If you swim everyday, the suits sure do wear out quickly. I have a hard time giving up ratty old suits. The thing is, this one looked so bad that I purposely just left it in the shower after I swam the other day! I had to run from in it in order to get myself not to take it with me! My favorite place to shop for swimsuits is Lord and Taylor. They sell nice, quality bathing suits that last a fairly long time, given the amount of swimming that takes place in them.

Bad Friday

I had kind of a difficult swim today. Before I went swimming I felt hot and tired, a little sickly, and my cough was there. I took my honey cough syrup. By the way, P-f, it's seerup not sirrup, LOL. The brand is Robitussin, and I'll send you some in the mail. It's deelish! Anyway, today is Good Friday, so I had off work. It seems others did too because the pool was extremely crowded for 4:30. I had to circle swim quite a bit, and that messed up my breathing. I don't like to go fast-slow-fast-slow. I swim at an even pace the whole time. Swimming with people in front of and behind me throws that off. After the swim, my cough was still there, and I felt headachey and still pretty tired. My time wasn't too good either. I wondered if I shouldn't have swam. Does swimming hurt or help my bronchitis or not make a difference? Or on some days does it help and on others not? I guess I don't care because I've been melancholy and the swimming gives a much needed endorphin rush.
Conversation in the pool:
Guy who I shared a lane with: "Is it always so crowded? This is my first time."
Me: "No. It's because of the holiday I think. It's never this crowded."

Swimming in a Posh Zip Code

I swam on the upper-east side after therapy last night. The upper east side pool is great because it's not too crowded and has a hot tub. It also has a cold tub but you won't find me there! I made great time despite still having this cough. I did fifty laps in 25 minutes. That's not fast but for me it is very good! I coughed at the beginning, and then my breathing regulated, and I ended the swim not coughing at all. It's strange how the swimming improves my cough. At the beginning I allowed myself one cough every ten laps. Is that a Jewish swim routine or what? LOL. After two coughs, I was done coughing. Today I'm coughing (haven't done my swim yet) but took honey cough syrup. Yummy! My cough is dry now, which seems to be a good sign. Well, I have established a new routine in which I do fifty laps in sets of ten. I don't stop inbetween each set but repeat the pattern of ten strokes. I am allowed two laps of back stroke within the ten laps, usually the last two. Anyway, I went in the hot tub after the swim, and it felt so good, as did the shower following the hot tub. Water, water, everywhere, so fun!

Shiloh and his Minnows

Today I arrived during Shiloh Harper's lap class. I've always wondered if the Wednesday evening lap class really happens, and if so, does it close down the other lanes. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was a myth. Anyway, I turned out to be wrong. I was doing my laps and sure enough Shiloh and his minnows trooped in. I didn't want to interrupt my own lap routine, so I decided to try to blend in with the class, yet not take the class. If I took the class, I'd be doing sprints, thus losing my cardio high that I so need. I'd be stopping to listen to Shiloh, not that that would be bad, but you know, just not where I was at. So I swam darn fast (luckily having taken cough syrup before swimming) imitating the strokes of Shiloh's pack. I got to lap 47 (!) before being reprimanded. The lifeguard smiled at me sweetly and told me that there was a class going on. I was like, "Oh, really? Sorry." Then I went by the ladder to stretch and Shiloh approached me so kindly. He said in the most welcoming, unassuming way, "Would you like me to start you in on some drills?" I told him I was getting ready to shower but thanked him. Shiloh, you rock, dude!

Sick No More!

Well, actually I am still a little sick but quite improved. I got sick last Sunday night. Everyone on my office floor has been sick too. I have missed swimming DEARLY. My cold has been in my nose and throat (as they so frequently are), and I always struggle with whether or not to swim. How soon is too soon? There are two swimmers at work, Amy and Carmen (an Italian man). Carmen said that he "swam thru" his cold quite well. He went in the steam room after he swam. I'm too "all business" to indulge in saunas and hot tubs much. Today I swam without taking any cold medication. I have this bronchitis cough that I tend to get every year but it was infrequent. Today I swam 50 laps, though my time wasn't so hot. I started out coughing a little bit, particularly with backstroke, but by the last 15 laps I felt energetic and wasn't coughing at all. Multiple Swim cliches from today in one exchange:

In locker room after my swim and shower,
Pregnant woman, "You wouldn't happen to have been swimming, would you?"
Me, "Yes! That's all I do here!"
P.G. "I know, can you believe we pay all this money just to swim?"
Me, "Yeah, but it's really special here."
P.G. "It's like a haven!"
P.G. "I thought of joining the Mcburney Y. It was just redone."
Me, "Yeah, but it wouldn't be as peaceful as here."
P.G., "I asked if you were swimming because I'm hoping that the water is warm today."
Me, "Yes, it's warm."
P.G., "Oh, good, sometimes I don't mind if it's cold, but other days I do."
Me, "Me too!"

2 Swims (catch-up)

I swam last Thursday and Friday. I can't remember the swims too well except for a lifeguard snapped at me for switching lanes wrong during one of the swims. He was right, but still: "JERK!" That's meant for the lifeguard not for me :-)

Famous Swim Quote:

"All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath."
Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Swim Swam Swum

I was feeling very tired tonight from not getting enough sleep the past two nights but I did my swim anyway, and it felt good. I think I took two minutes longer than usual, but, oh well, I won't go to hell for that. I felt more energetic afterwards. I love that about aerobic exercise.

Overheard locker room conversation:

"It's way too crowded here."
"I know. I'm letting my membership end here and going to Chelsea Piers."
"YOU ARE?"
"Yeah, they have rock climbing and a sun deck."
"It's too bad they don't have an outdoor pool."
"And it's hard to get to if you don't live nearby."

P-f Love your comments. I answered on your last post :-)

Icy Hot

Yesterday I swam in the Village around lunch time. It was a wonderful swim, and then I had a veggie burger and brussel sprouts from the Equinox cafe afterwards. Last night I had muscle soreness as I was going to bed. It was pretty bad so I used Icy Hot, and it went away. I hadn't felt it during the day. It just hit when I lay down in bed in a still position. My muscles felt tight. The next morning I felt fine. I think it's because I am not getting enough sleep. When swimming every day, good sleep helps soothe muscles. It also helps to take a day off once or twice a week, but I'm loving this groove too much to do that! I plan to get a good sleep tonight and do some extra stretching right after my swim.

Time when the pool rush hour ends on weekdays: 7:15pm.

Laps

Today's swim felt so good. Since I have been in the groove of swimming every day, it feels so incredible. I swam next to an anonymous swimmer, and we stayed out of one another's way.

Lifeguard (seeing me walk into pool area about to swim): "How many today, Jenny?"

Me: "Um...42."

Lifeguard: "How about 44?"

Me: "Deal!"

Hot Pockets

I shared a lane with a young woman who is easy to share a lane with (business-like, appropriately suited up, not a splasher, etc.). When I joined her today, she said, "Just to warn you, there's a cold pocket by the ladder." We shared a small giggle, and I thanked her. That's a definite swim/gym cliche. It's an unneccesary but irresistable exchange. I mean I was about to find out about the cold patch soon enough, and there's not much to do about it. What am I going to do? Put on a scuba suit? Frequently pools are unevenly heated, and sometimes there is a zone that may last a few moments that is very hot or very cold. It throws off one's body temperature repeatedly. However, in the scheme of things, it's not a big deal, just annoying.

Swim/gym cliche:
"Brrr...it's cold today."
"I know. It feels colder than usual."

The New Girl

Last night I swam on the upper west side at the mall (Columbus Circle). The Equinox is right next to the mall. I get sushi at Whole Foods in the basement of the mall afterwards. I got into a lane with a cute woman with piercings. She smiled shyly and said that she was new to swimming and didn't know any rules. If only all new swimmers would do this, then life in the swim lane would be so much easier! I explained the basics, and then we got down to business. This pool has become my absolute favorite. It is always cold, has long, wide lanes, and has excellent water pressure in the showers.

Swim/gym cliche:

Me as I'm getting out to a swimmer who is just getting in: "It juussst cleared out!"

Swimmer: Happy smile and nod.

Gaydar in the Locker Room

Today there was a lesbian in the locker room, even two! Of course, the Village is full of lesbians but perhaps, having grown up in Ohio, I get so excited when I spot a dyke! I did what I usually do which is assess if I am correct in assuming the lesbian is a lesbian. This one had so many signs, one after another:

1) Wearing men's underpants

2) With a woman, and when the dyke bent over, the femme said, "Are you trying to flirt with me?"

2) Matching intricate tribals on both upper arms

3) Short hair

4) Jeans

5) Pierced nipple

6) The femme said, "What do you want to do tonight?" and the dyke said, "Go to the girl bars."

I made sure to flash my labrys tattoo!

Catch-up Post (3 swims s/p return from San Fran)

I swam this Monday, Tuesday, and today. All three swims took place in the Village. I am in a great groove with swimming lately and couldn't love it more. I thought I'd do these catch-up posts, so that I can return to writing more about the fine details of the pool experience, part of the reason why I started this blog. Tonight I came towards the end of the rush-hour, around seven-thirty. I was the last one allowed into the pool, and did all front-stroke to be kind to my neighbors. By the time the second half of my swim came, the pool had cleared out enough for me to have my own lane, and so I luxuriated in some back-stroke. When I first went to the pool, I had felt tired with a headache. After swimming I felt energetic and headache-free.  I feel so in love with the water.

Catch-up Post (4 Swims in San Fran)

In San Francisco I swam at the Palace Hotel. It is a swimmer's paradise. The water has chlorine but is also salt-flavored. Another exotic touch is the low water depth, 2.8 feet. The pool is so clean and serene that coasting along the bottom makes one feel like a grateful reptile. The pool is of excellent size: 20 yards (21 yards is standard). I generally found it to be empty and wonderfully free of children, any swimmer's nightmare. Furthermore, a basket of apples is available as are poolside towels. The ceiling is glass, so there is a great view of the sky. I did a routine of fifty laps in 30 minutes for four days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There is an Equinox in San Fran on Pine St. (Anyone know where that is?) but it was very special to be able to roll out of bed and into the pool. I enjoyed that when I lived at the Y in NYC too. It makes a big difference.

Catch-up Post (4 swims before San Fran)

Before leaving for San Francisco, I swam on Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday while I was on vacation from work in New York. Here’s the catch-up of those swims: Wednesday, 2/16, I arrived home from New York in the evening. Friday I swam before going to see the documentary movie, Inside Deep Throat. Sunday I swam in the village after doing work. I swam even though I felt tired. I was depressed and the swimming helped. On Monday I swam before getting together with David, and on Tuesday I swam on the Upper West Side in the evening.