Checked out the Y this morning

[cjsmith]

Junk Mail Santa had brought us a coupon good for a "free 1-week pass" at the local Y. Try it, see how you like it. Must be redeemed by 31 January.

So yesterday I drove over on my way to work. Can't park anywhere NEAR the place. Signed the waiver stating I had inspected the premises and found them safe (ha! I wasn't past the front desk!) and got my card.

This morning I went in to swim. Pool is maybe a touch warmer than the outdoor one at Fremont High. Much more comfortable stepping out of it, of course. Staff very friendly. Locker room just as nice (although the Y has a swimsuit spinner to get the water out). Less crowded at Fremont High, though the Y swimmers were perfectly nice about the passing and all. The Y's lap swim runs an hour later in the morning. More walking to and fro at the Y: the main door is at the south end of the long building, all available parking is up at the north end, and OF COURSE the women's locker room is the northernmost thing inside the place. And no, you can't enter at any other door. Not good.

My feet hurt again and I didn't stand on the pool bottom once. Either it's the extra walking at the Y or it's the kicking in the water. Should go back to the Fremont pool again and see.

If I swim three times a week, the prices for the Y and the Fremont High pool are roughly equivalent. Swimming at Fremont is no commitment; I can go any time and pay my daily entrance fee. But to swim at the Y, starting next Wednesday, I'd have to join.

Chlorine level: Fremont wins.
Cold: Y wins.
Companionship: Might get to swim with gs at Fremont sometimes, so Fremont wins.
Crowding: Fremont is ahead but summer might see a reversal.
Friendliness: Y wins.
Parking/walking: Fremont wins.
Price: Fremont wins on the no-commitment angle. (2x/week is noticeably cheaper.)
Actually Exercising: Y wins because of the price commitment.
Timing: Y wins hugely.

Not a clear-cut decision. I'll give myself the rest of my Y free week to make it, and then *poof* I have an exercise program.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I'm such a big Y fan, but mostly, I think because I'm used to the Berkeley Y where people with all level of body size, boob-sag, and hairiness or hairlessness walk around naked.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

They wear swimsuits at the Cupertino Y. :-)

[firecat]

Parking at the Redwood City Y is horrendous.

[rampling.livejournal.com]

(http://www.poolcenter.com/pooltoys_swimaids_fitness_doggie_vests.htm)If the foot pain is from the kicking in the water, you could use something like this Pull Buoy Swim Trainer (http://www.poolcenter.com/pooltoys_swimaids_fitness_doggie_vests.htm) -- helps you do arms-only (or even arms-mostly) swimming. I remember them from swim team (though I didn't use them -- I was a diver, not a swimmer back then).

Hey, you didn't consider a third potential source of foot pain -- pushing off the sides of the pool at the end of each lap. Did you do that much?

Good for you for getting out there and trying out the pools!!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I hope my arms get strong enough for arms-only swimming soon. That sounds like a useful thing for me to do.

Good point! Yes, I did push off -- I *think* I was flat-footed but I am not sure. I will pay attention to that!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I expect that if I get there early enough it will be better. I *hope*. At 9am, water exercise class begins, and there's not a parking spot to be had -- we were orbiting for a while. But at 830 there are a few.