fourwhitefeet

I am very lucky the micro-gym in town has this pool. Swimming in it is torturous, but getting to a real pool means at least 2 more hours driving and far exceeds my one-day bicycle commute distance. For a few weeks, swimming was the only exercise I could do and it is still on the schedule once or twice a week.

I’m thinking the name, Endless Pool, does not actually refer to the fact that one does not have to turn, but that swimming in it gives one a sense that their workout will never end. Nothing really compares to swimming-in-place in this pool; not running treadmills or stationary bikes. There is no feedback about speed or distance. The current creates “waves” that probably don’t equal the confusion of a mass-start triathlon, but exceed anything one experiences even during crowded lap swimming. Combine that with the tendency of the current to pull one’s feet down and you’ll get an idea of why I call it the “drown-in-place pool”.

I was surprised to see that in the photo the business end of this thing looks a little barbaric; like a monster about to bite a swimmer’s head off. Hmmm.

I really should have taken a photo with the motor on.

While I’m pretty certain the Endless Pool people will not be contacting me for an endorsement, it does have some benefits over a real lap pool. I’ve not ever been knocked in the head by a floaty toy and it is private; nice for those days when I am not feeling so great about the fit of my swimsuit. It gives one immediate feedback about whether a stroke change is producing additional speed or just using extra energy. The number one benefit: swimming in this “torture device” has made me a stronger swimmer and more confident about attempting open-water swims.

Thanks to IHateToast for inspiring this post.

It was pretty warm running uphill, but a few minutes after heading down and into the wind we were getting frosted. It was good to be out. I kind of like it when my handheld gets slushy.

This photo reminds me of Yoda.