Having moved to Miami recenlty, I still need to find a place to swim. Can anyone recommend a pool and/or Masters program that I could join? I hear that threre is a good pool at University of Miami, but is it open to non-students?
I live in Brickell, so I’d rather find something not too far away from there.
Many thanks,
Marcello
In Miami, people just sneak into other people’s pools.
The single best swim coach in Miami is Robert Strauss. Currently he is in charge of the Masters program at the Key Biscayne Community Center. I believe is $67/month 3 x week. You can find more information on www.swimgym.net or call the Community Center to find out more.
Other than that you can swim at Triathlete Beach (right after crossing the Key Biscayne bridge) Saturaday & Sunday early in the morning. Easy to find someone to swim with as there are lots of triathletes training there during the season. You can also ride and run from there, it’s a huge transition area.
How about joining the Four Season’s gym (just kidding - unless you want to take out a second mortgage)?
UM’s outdoor pool is open to the public, but you must purchase a membership (monthly). I’m not sure on the price. The temp can be screwy, and they like to close the instant there is a dark cloud in the sky. Also, you have to compete with swim lessons and swim teams for lane space in the evenings. Their indoor pool is open only to students, faculty, staff, and spouses who are members of the Wellness Center. Both AR and I swim there regularly.
I have never belonged to UM’s Master’s program, but it seems to be a little rocky, from what (little) I know. It is open to the public. Last I heard, they trained both at UM and at Ransom Everglades School in the Grove. I’m not real sure on their schedule. I have also swam at Random on my own - but only b/c no one seemed to notice/mind if I showed up at their early am or evening open swim. I’m not sure if this was the same masters group that trains from UM or not, but I never saw a coach there or saw 2 people doing the same workout. Nice pool though (outdoor)!
On Key Biscayne, there is a place called Swim Gym, which is next to the old marine stadium. I know they are running several programs from there (check out http://www.swimgym.net/), but I do not know anyone there. Of course, for open water, people mostly use the beach on the right immediately after the Rickenbacker Bridge on the Key. Saturday and Sunday mornings you will find plenty of people there to swim with (watch out for rusty bottle caps and broken glass, though).
I know there are several other pools that others use, but these are the locations I am familiar with. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for all the advice! I will go check out UM’s outdoor pool and Swim Gym at the Key. I have been swimming at the triathlete beach, but I have to confess that I am a wimp in that I am always worried about an encounter with a shark…
I have been swimming there for years and have seen: rays, small fish, and beer bottles. I have gotten tangled in fishing line, but that is the worst that has ever happened. If you swim until you are across from the marine stadium and then back again, this is 1 mi. If you swim to the seawall by the Seaquarium and back, this is around 2 mi.
Anybody knows of a place down south? Pinecrest, Palmetto?
Or as someone says you can sneak into someones pool… plenty around. I can always use my aunts pool which is about 18m but dont like the driving part.
Peace
Isn’t there a swim program at tne Pinecrest HS pool in the mornings? I think there was one there 2-3 years ago, and it was pretty good.
eric
as far as swim programs go there are a few. as a native miamian and full time tri coach here i can give you the best options in your area:
-ransom everglades in the grove- hard workouts, no technique instruction, sometimes you show up and the coach doesn’t, morning and evenings- $50.00 or so per month miamiswimming.net
UM- don’t know too much, good workouts though and morning and evening
i grew up swimming under robert s. for 7 years- he’s good and has a good program (i don’t believe he’s the single best coach though)- nice pool, sound methodology- you already got price
-US, bodyzen, we are the best coahces albeit i’m a bit subjective. we only do 1 on 1 or 2 people at a time, we’re very critical, analytical and use video tape, slow mo, streaming video on our website and our trained eye, we run consistent with USAT’s methdology and have coached hundereds of swimmers- $75.00 per session for one person- we come to you; we guarantee to improve your stroke
hope this helps and good luck with whoever you choose!
Thanks for an unbiased review Lee.
The fews times I was there, I went to the local endless pool called the Atlantic Ocean and just kept swimming for an hour. It was free and always open. No coach and don’t know if it was actually safe from predators or not, but I survived. Why swim in the pool when you can go open water?
Actually yeah, I was swimming at Miami Dade College on SW 104th (now UM). Outdoor pool, $2/visit or $10?/month (IIRC). I think it gets pretty crowded with swim teams from 3pm until 6ish, so if you’re an after-dinner swimmer, it might work for you. Not open early enough to swim before work though. Nice pool, just not as accessible (hours-wise) as others. Can’t beat $2/swim though. Good luck