Friday after work I headed to Mt. Scott to swim. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it but I miss swimming! Sometimes you have to take what you can get. I paid the $4.50 drop-in fee and got changed. It was crowded for a Friday night. The lap swim lanes had two people each in them and the other half of the pool was the swim team.
I was annoyed but I found a lane with only one person in it and joined it. Honestly, my swim was nice. I was a bit slower than normal but my lane wasn’t crowded so it was nice. Half way through my swim the swim team ended and the pool emptied out. I enjoyed my swim and was sad when it was over.
I relaxed in the hot tub and then showered. On my way out I saw this:
Yep. Starting this weekend the pool is closed for maintenance. The rest of September is a bust if I want to swim. So is the other pool I could drop-in to. I remember when I was a member of Mt. Scott before they closed for two weeks every September to drain the pool. I remember being so frustrated because it was my only place to workout. This was before I was a runner, before I had a bike. I didn’t have any options. Now? I have more options. I can continue biking to work, I can run. I can hike on weekends. I can do a lot of activities at home. What I can’t do: skip the pool.
So I’m done with this gym-free experiment. I didn’t last long. I’m not surprised. Had this happened in July I would have lasted longer. If I had access to the nearby pool I’d be ok. But they are all closed. It took me 2.5 hours on Friday night to swim. Too much. At some point my TIME is worth more.
As soon as I can I’m renewing my gym membership so I have a steady place to go that I can count on. Something that works with MY schedule, MY location.
Swim Stats:
Time: 58 minutes
Calories Burned: 390
I finally got home, cranky and hungry. Michael was making us homemade pizza! Thank the Goddess! He was done with most of it by the time my cranky butt walked in the door.
We did the toppings and he put the pizza on the BBQ outside! It was the first time he’s done homemade pizza on the grill. Usually we do Papa Murphy’s on the grill and it turns out great. This time–it took 4 minutes to cook the pizza. It was a tad crispy but still tasted great.
The pizza was spicy–pepperoni, Jalapeños, onions, and spicy sausage. It was a great combo. I was so hungry I ended up eating three pieces.
We watched the series finale of Entourage (which sucked) and I treated myself to a sort-of banana split. I sliced up half a banana, had some chocolate ice cream, a few chocolate chips, a drizzle of chocolate and caramel sauce. It was small but just what I wanted. And I had an ulterior motive–I wanted the banana to prevent any possible calf cramps I might have the next day when I ran.
Really, though, who needs any excuse to eat dessert? Not me! It was kind of a crappy week and I was grumpy about the pool situation. I just went to bed and read for a bit.
QUESTION: Do you have fun working out or do you dislike it?
Carbzilla
One of the many reasons I admire you is that you’re wiling to try things out. So you go back to the gym, no harm no foul. You tried something new to find out what works for you – that’s awesome.
I went back to the gym this week, and it was great. Since I only have an hour, I ran in, changed, did two circuits of light weights so I wouldn’t hurt myself, changed back and was back at my desk in exactly an hour. If I want to add sweaty cardio, I’ll just do it at home.
I did check that I can do a 5:30 class and still get back into my office garage to get my car out. That’s a long day though and Chris would have to rush home to take the dog out. But I still may try it one day/week come the dark days. 🙂
Hope you have a better day today!
Lisa Eirene
Thanks Tiffany! I was so willing to try the gym-free thing, even testing out other gyms instead of sticking with what’s comfortable. But it was so miserable. And in the end, I need to take care of myself. And it’s not fair to Michael to be grumpy and irritable and stressed all the time. It’s just better to admit defeat.
That’s great that you went to the gym, even for just a little bit. You can totally figure out different ways to fit it in. Maybe during lunch? Or before work. I know it’s a lot harder to have super long work days with a dog…that’s one thing I’m worried about when we get a dog. Luckily Michael works close to home and they are pretty laid back. He could always stop in at home during his lunch break to check on the dog. It would be harder for me since I work so far away.
Rachel
I go in phases….sometimes I love the gym, and sometimes I hate it. I mostly hate it when it’s busy…which is all the time, aside from weekends, for me. I go right after work and I’m lucky I get off at 4, because by the time I’m done at the gym by 6, it is CRAWLING with people.
I hardly ever swim, even though it is my workout of choice, because I hate sharing lanes. Occasionally I’ll go on a Friday night, but part of me hates to do that because I like unwinding on Friday’s. Ugh. Too many people 🙁
Lisa Eirene
I totally get that, Rachel. It’s really annoying to go to a gym where it’s too crowded to enjoy it. And I hate sharing a lane with someone in the pool too. I know it’s selfish but I hate it. People don’t follow etiquette and just do wacky things that are annoying. Like why is this person swimming down the middle of the lane?!?!
For me, swimming on Friday nights IS my wind down. I love it. It relaxes me, it gets me to work through stress so I can enjoy the weekend. It’s great.
Lisa
For me – working out has to be enjoyable! Otherwise it feels too much like a chore and I dont put enough effort in lol
Lisa Eirene
Yes, if it feels like a chore I’m going to stop doing it.