Morning ST.
Any ideas on where I could swim sometime Thursday? Prefer open swim vs. specific Masters workout.
Thanks
I don’t know but going to watch this thread because I’m looking for the same info
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http://www.mesaaz.gov/parksrec/Aquatics/pools/Skyline.aspx
There are links to other pools in mesa on the right of the webpage.
I have been in this pool and it is awesome. I believe it is $10 and they have great hours. It is on the ASU campus so you could walk to it from the race site. But there is a parking garage there also.
Nice signature 
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What about a nearby lake?
Morning ST.
Any ideas on where I could swim sometime Thursday? Prefer open swim vs. specific Masters workout.
Thanks
I have always swam at Cactus up in Scottsdale.
Canyon Lake has a great spot to swim, but requires a $10 (or so) national forest pass that you have to display to park at the lake. These have to be purchased at local gas stations that sell them.
Saguaro Lake is okay to swim at as well, although not as protected as Canyon (the swimming spot, that is). Same parking pass doohickey needed.
Depends on where you are staying.
I swim at El Dorado, which is very close to Tempe, south Scottsdale. Lovely outdoor city pool, 25 yards. $4 to get in (I think). Probably a 10 minute drive up Scottsdale Road from Tempe Beach Park. Take right off Scottsdale at McDowell, take next major left onto Miller. Pool will be about a mile up on the left.
I believe their hours are 6AM til noon right now, then 5 to 7 at night.
ASU rec center. Free. Great pool. Free street parking across the street, but get there early. Walk to and through the ID booth and veer left. Way down the hall on your right.
The closest swim in open water is at Lake Saguaro. It is about 50 minutes from Tempe. You can drive to Butcher Jones Cove where you can swim safely. You have to buy a Tonto Pass which is $6 per car and has to be purchased at a gas station close to the lake but all gas stations are at least 8 to 10 miles from lake. If you need any more info, let me know.
How far away is it? Also what is the water quality like and boat traffic, thanks may go wed or th
ASU rec center. Free. Great pool. Free street parking across the street, but get there early. Walk to and through the ID booth and veer left. Way down the hall on your right.
Wait a second, it is free for the particular week of Ironman or always free?
ASU rec center. Free. Great pool. Free street parking across the street, but get there early. Walk to and through the ID booth and veer left. Way down the hall on your right.
Wait a second, it is free for the particular week of Ironman or always free?
It’s free whenever I’m in town and stroll on through the ID kiosk like I belong or I’m important;) Just so the same. Has worked about 10-12 times so far.
YTZ
If you go up the bike course (up the beeline) then stop at the chevron across from the casino to buy tonto pass. Then keep heading north and exit at bush hwy which is about 8 miles from gas station. Turn right off the exit and go about 3 miles and turn left into butcher jones cove. This cove does not have much boat traffic as there are buoys that protect the cove from boats from coming in past the first set of buoys and a second set of buoys where boats only can idle which are usually just fisherman. The water is not great, but much better than tempe town lake. I swim there often and never have a problem.
Thanks will go tomorrow am if anyone else following this wants to go let me know, we can take 3 others and leave in am…
YTZ
If you go up the bike course (up the beeline) then stop at the chevron across from the casino to buy tonto pass. Then keep heading north and exit at bush hwy which is about 8 miles from gas station. Turn right off the exit and go about 3 miles and turn left into butcher jones cove. This cove does not have much boat traffic as there are buoys that protect the cove from boats from coming in past the first set of buoys and a second set of buoys where boats only can idle which are usually just fisherman. The water is not great, but much better than tempe town lake. I swim there often and never have a problem.
This is good. It’s a protected cove, not much traffic. Probably not the thing for IMAz week, but the run from the parking lot to the road and back (slightly over 4 miles round trip) is a definite leg worker on the hill coming in. It’s all up at a pretty good grade from lot to highway. Definitely not a bikeable route once you get off onto Bush. Minimal to no bike lane on a narrow, windy 2 land road, and the boat trailers whiz by you at 65+.
John
Saguaro is where I’ve always done my practice swim the Friday before IMAZ.
There’s not much boat traffic near the buoys, but it does exist and they are NOT looking for you, so prefer if there’s more than one swimmer (and a spotter on shore) just for safety.
You need to pick up that pass well before you get to the lake, or you’ll have to backtrack a bit to the nearest gas station that sells them.
On the plus side, when you’re done with your swim and headed back to tempe, you’ll be out by the bike turnaround and you can get in your practice ride on the only incline of the course. Don’t worry if you don’t though – you’ll see it three times on race day and the wind direction will be different each time. 
I am going to ASU masters swim practice at 12-1:15 on Thursday. I have a friend who swims there. If you are a USMS member you are good. I’m sure there is a drop in fee and normally those are around 5-8$ in the places I regularly go throughout Ohio.