Hey Philly People:
Any one have suggestions for where they swim in downtown Philly. The Christian St. Y has been disappointing–dirty, closed for various “water problems”, no lifeguards there at 7am when I go in, etc…
Any alternatives would be appreciated.
Argh–I might have to buy an endless pool.
Is Kelly Pool still open? It must be a fast pool if Jonty Skinner went 49.44 there in the 100 meters in 1976.
where would kelly pool be? thx
Fairmont Park, I think. I swam a race there in the summer of 1982. Terrible neighborhood then.
The post was sort of a joke; the pool had single lane lines and is no deper than seven feet, but Skinner broke the world record in the 100 Free by more than .5 seconds. Considering pool conditions, etc, it’s certainly a much faster time than anyone can swim now.
Kelly Pool is a free, 50-m outdoor pool in the park by Memorial Hall. I don’t think it’s open yet this year but it should open soon. They usually have a couple of lanes set aside for lap swimming during certain hours.
I know you said downtown, but if you care to make the trek to Ft Washington there’s a great masters program at Germantown Academy.
At the Park Hyatt/Bellevue on Broad Street. I’ve heard there’s masters swimming here, too.
Kelly Pool is a free, 50-m outdoor pool in the park by Memorial Hall. I don’t think it’s open yet this year but it should open soon. They usually have a couple of lanes set aside for lap swimming during certain hours.
I know you said downtown, but if you care to make the trek to Ft Washington there’s a great masters program at Germantown Academy. Dick Shouberg is one of the best coaches in the country so if he coaches the masters program in addition to the club and the prep school team, you would have a fantastic coach. I swam for him when I was 10 and 11 and had my best years in high school and college when I swam with his team in the summer and over Christmas break. You can get out to Fort Washington on the R5 line, assuming that his summer practices are at the school and not out at the LCM at Nor Gwyn or down at Foxcatcher.
I have a memership at PSC, and swim at the society hill club. (5th & spruce). it’s only 20 meters long but rarely is the pool itself crowded. (the chairs and stuff around get crowded, but not the pool so much). sometimes on the weekend hours there are a bunch of kids, so that’s kind of a drag. i’m not sure that it’s open at 7, though. and it’s outdoors and not heated, which i like but not everyone does. for a 20 meter pool, it’s actually kinda nice.
there’s also a pool at friends select. i don’t know how membership works, though.
agree with you on the christian street Y. last time i went there they said there would be lap swimming form 3 to 5, but didn’t mention that at 3:45 the lifeguard takes a 15 minute break and everyone has to leave the pool area!
Call Dave @ Elite Bicycles. He can probably tell you places downtown.
If you can make it to Germantown Academy near Ft Washington, Shouldberg has one of the better training areas.
And of course, buy an Infinite Pool!