Apartment Aquatic Awkwardness: A bona fide method of disrupting the normal flow of public entertainment and gain ample amounts of annoyed glances – all while swimming in a sub-par aquatic facility.
Awkward is taking photos of yourself at a public pool.
Last week, I was in Reno staying with my sister at her new apartment. I had a swim on my training schedule and after asking my little sister about where I could swim, she assured me, “Oh you can swim in our pool! It’s 25 meters and has swim lanes!”
I love my little sister, but to be honest, I was doubting the legitimacy of her claims. An apartment that has a full lap pool? What lux complex was she living in?! You fancy, huh? I gave her the benefit of the doubt and made my way to the pool in the early evening.
I entered the gated pool area and immediately realized that her perception of what made up a lap pool had been severely inaccurate. This pool was not only small, but it must have been anywhere between 15 and 20 yards and while it had lane lines on the bottom of the pool, there were no actual lanes in sight. Instead, the pool and surrounding areas were littered with a couple proudly displaying too much PDA, moms talking loudly on cell phones, a gaggle of young girls playing across the entire pool, and a creepy old man watching on. Lovely, just lovely.
With the clock ticking before I had to leave for dinner, I had no choice.
MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, CHILDREN! We’re going swimm-annnng!
My “I will never see these people again” mentality kicked in, I chose a side of the pool and put on my serious face. Well, as serious as someone swimming in a mini-pool could be.
For the next forty minutes, I successfully achieved Apartment Aquatic Awkwardness as I navigated around Little Mermaid reenactments, underwater handstand contests, the PDA-couple doing what PDA-couples do, and switching directions more often than I cared to count, all while I felt as if they watched on with glares wondering WTF I was doing. It was officially the most awkward swim yet.
But hey, I suppose it’s like they say…when there’s a will; there’s a way.
What is the strangest place that you’ve ever gone swimming?
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In other more serious news, I’m honored to be featured as Women’s Running Magazine’s Blogger on the Run feature today! Yes this entire post was about swimming, but you know my true love is still running. You can check out the interview here.
Wait, wait – it get’s better…A GIVEAWAY!
Simply visit the article, leave a comment on the blog post and they’ll pick one winner to receive a one-year subscription to Women’s Running. All entries must be received by Friday, August 3rd.
Happy Running!
Ha- that is a bad place for a practice swim! Good on you for pushing through it, handstanders in the way and all.
My most awkward swim was at a resort gym pool. We usually go there every summer and it’s my fave place to bike and run. I was injured last year so was trying to swim more. I was dodging old people bobbing with noodles and playing with their grandkids. It wasn’t quite as bad as your AAA, but it made me miss running and cycling even more!
Exciting about the interview on Women’s Running! Way to go.
Hahah – I am LOL! That is so cute. I am glad you got your swim in! I have no weird swimming stories (though I have lap swam a lot in a small hotel pool on vacation….but it was early enough that no one was there yet!).
I have, however, run 1 mile out, 1 mile back, 8 times in an area of Canada once, where I was worried b/c it was so dark and wooded. I thought maybe I’d end up on some forensic show otherwise. Suffice it to say but the 4th time people started seeing me, they looked totally weirded out.
hahahaha i can totally picture this!
Defidently not a fan of this post! Even the front desk lady said it was full size !
Oh little sister, that’s not what I meant!! I still love that you were looking out for me. Maybe we just need to have a conversation with the front desk lady!
Rock. Star. Cool interview!
Congrats on the article!! That is so stinkin awesome!! And how awkward is that swimming pool?? Sheesh. Thats how I feel about our apartment pool.. Not to mention all the balconies are facing the swimming pOol :/
<3 Sam
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My awkward swim moment: I needed to “test” out my new wetsuit in the ridiculously warm pool the week before my first 70.3. There were tons of little kids and moms there for swim practice and they were looking at me so strange as I put it on and swam INDOORS in an 85 degree pool in it!
Congratulations on the article!! I love your response to why you run- so true. So many exciting things- Womens Running blogger, hanging with the TIU girls, your Oakley Ambassadorship and all of your Tris! You have been busy, girl!
This is HILARIOUS. I def would have skipped the swim – you have way more guts than me! I can just imagine you doing this and it cracks me up!
And CONGRATS on being featured in Women’s Running!!!!