I grew up in northern Minnesota, 20 miles south of the Canadian border not too far from Winnipeg. My graduating class… just 39 people. Needless to say, my high school didn’t have a pool or a swim team.
But, three blocks from home, there was an outdoor city pool where I swam away my summers. Sunup to sundown, sunburned skin, a quick afternoon break for orange Shasta or a bike ride to the pharmacy for sweets. It was my second home even when I got older thanks to a lifeguarding, teaching swimming lessons and managing the pool. Case in point: I took a senior pic in the pool. #bestjobever #ilooksoyoung!
But, then swimming fell by the wayside, and other than the occasional ocean swim on vacation, I never got in the pool… until I started triathlon.
Since then, I’ve swam my way around Saint Paul’s pools. Check ’em out…
LA Fitness // 1370 University Avenue
Pros
Convenience – it’s open all day.
Price – membership is a steal (I pay about $30 a month).
Locker room sauna – my go-to during the polar vortex to warm up as well before and after swims.
Giant windows let in lots of sunshine.
Free parking.
Cons
Water temp is hit or miss (there have been swim at your own risk too hot warning signs).
Super chlorinated – I smell even after taking a shower.
It can be busy – noodle swimmers are the norm.
Inconvenient aquafit class times (6p MWTh and 9a on Saturday).
Not the cleanest.
Only four lanes.
Oxford community pool at Great River Water Park // 270 North Lexington Parkway
Pros
Convenience – just a few blocks from our house.
Moss filtered! (i.e. little to no chlorine).
Eight lanes.
$5 for lap swim.
Convenient lap swim hours (both early morning and after work and 11a-12:30p on weekends).
Free parking.
Cons
There’s a current in the pool… no idea why, but it’s weird.
Small windows = not much natural light.
University of St. Thomas // Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex, 2115 Summit Avenue
Pros
Sparkly and new.
Cool, clean water.
Eight lanes.
Top-notch digital time clock.
Motivation from the university swim record board.
Convenient hours (6a-9:30p M-F, 8a-6p Saturday, noon-8p Sunday).
Cons
It’s $10, pricey for drop-in.
A hassle to pay – first visit the rec complex front desk to pay, and then walk to another building to swim.
Parking is kind of a pain (limited street parking and not even sure where a parking lot is).
St. Catherine University // Butler Center, 2004 Randolph Avenue
Pros
$5 for lap swim.
Cool, clean water.
Eight lanes.
Convenient hours (5:30-8p daily, 9:30-11:30a Saturday, 3-5p Sunday).
Motivation from the university swim record board.
Welcoming atmosphere.
Sauna + hot tub.
Free parking.
Cons
Hmm… I love this pool, so none that I can think of!
Highland Park Aquatic Center // 1840 Edgcumbe Road
Pros
It’s outside in the sunshine!
50 meters!
Eight lanes.
$5 for lap swim.
Free parking.
Cons
It can be busy, i.e. multiple people sharing a lane.
Lane lines aren’t always in.
Limited lap swim hours (not sure what they are this summer, but last year were 5:30-7p).
Crazy kids occasionally.
Happy swimming, friends!
22 Comments
I love all your options!! We only have 4 pool options in Ames. To use the Iowa State University pools, you must be a associated with the university to obtain membership. The City of Ames Parks and Rec/Ames High School pool (it is the same pool) has VERY limited pool hours…11am-1:30pm & 8-9pm weekdays and weekends are sporadic due to swim meets, lifeguard training, etc. The outdoor 50 m pool has limited hours this time of year, but it is our favorite during the summer months with early bird lap swimming available from 6-8 am weekdays and 7-9 am Saturdays (there is lap swimming available at any time on any day of the week, but these times have been set aside specifically to lap swimming, so we don’t have to deal with the kids playing in the pool). Ames Racquet and Fitness Center (private gym) has lap swimming available most hours except when there is aqua class (8-9 am weekdays & 5:30-6:30 pm M, W, Th) and family swim time (F 7-9 pm, Sat 2-4 pm & Sun 2-4 pm). I wish we had more/better options, but we get by with what we have 😉
Hi! Just found your blog! I’m also a TC athlete and enjoy a swim from time to time. I know it’s not St Paul, but my go-to is the U of M Natatorium pool. If you haven’t gone, it’s the tops! Only $2 for public swim and the most gorgeous pool. Here’s a link to the schedule: http://recwell.umn.edu/aquatics/. Enjoy!
Hi, Marie! Thanks for stopping by! I’ve heard GREAT things about the U pool and really need to get over there for a swim! Maybe I’ll see you there sometime 🙂 Any races coming up? Have a great weekend!
Love this! Wow- I bet you’re counting down the hours until you can hit the outdoor pool- it looks gorgeous!
I love your picture in the pool from school! I also lifeguarded and taught swimming, but at an indoor pool expcept for one summer outdoors.
I don’t think I knew you grew up that close to Canada. It must have been cold that close to Winnipeg!
I usually went between three pools during training. My favourite was a 50m pool just because it felt a lot better to swim fewer laps 🙂
Love the senior pic! So pretty!
LOVE this post! Since I have a YMCA membership I stick to those pools but it’s fun to see what else is around. I want to check out the Oxford pool because of the little chlorine. It’s funny you mentioned a current…..there is one Y that I always swear there is a slight current but I’ve always thought I was maybe just crazy. Ha! And I am longing for an outdoor swim…..the YMCA in West St Paul has an outdoor 50m pool that I hit up in the summer when I can. Ahhh, those are the days!
p.s. I also was a pool rat growing up…..and did the lifeguarding/pool managing gig in high school/college as well :)!
Ooo… I didn’t know there was an outdoor 50m pool at the Y! Totally checking out. Thanks for the tip, Kendra! Hope recovery is going well!
Hooray for pool rats! 🙂
So, which of the above pools is your favorite and which do you frequent the most? I only have two pool options where I live, one of which is included in my gym membership (w/similar pros/cons as LA Fitness pool) and one is a 16 lane that opens up on occasion to 8 lane 50m (this is by far my favorite). During the summer we have more options, but all of our outdoor pools close in the winter. I think it is so cute and foreshadowing of things to come that your senior picture was taken in a pool.
St. Kate’s is hands-down my favorite! It’s worth the farther drive from our house… I always swim better when I’m there (is that possible?!)! Your pools sound great, too! Is summer almost here because I’m longing to swim outside! Happy a fantastic weekend, Kristen 🙂
I can’t believe you had an option to have your senior photo in the pool!! Awesome!!! I can’t believe how many options you have! Lucky!!! I swim at 2 pools. Not awesome but they work. I am a member at both!! I wish there was a 50 meter pool around or one outdoors but if there is I probably can’t bike to it!! 🙁
We grew up hours from each other! And I used to head down to Minneapolis frequently for softball tournaments.
Love it! Too bad we didn’t know each other back then 🙂 If you’re ever in MPLS again (or even in Winnipeg!), you must let me know!
Damn that’s a lot of options. Lol! I think our city pool is the shiz. They host a ton of meets there so that’s the only thing that can be a pain. Plus, I miss the outdoor pool in my old hood sometimes. 😉
I find that University pools tend to be top quality! I also have to pay drop-in rates for those, but they are great when I want to treat myself. The pool I go to is a local YMCA… I do Master’s practice there a few times a week, but the water temps are never consistent… some days warm, some days cold… drives me crazy! I also can’t help but think about all of the little kids in diapers that swim in there during the day… ha ha
Great post! I’m going to have to check out Oxford — I’m really wanting to start swimming again since running hasn’t been super appealing. Does St. Kate’s not have public morning hours anymore?
Definitely check out Oxford… let me know if you do! Shoot… did I miss that? St. Kate’s is open M-F 6:30-8a 🙂 http://www.stkatesathletics.com/sports/2007/8/19/Butler%20Center%20Hours.aspx
HAha, thanks 🙂
I just love that you mentioned my home city the first sentence. 😉
I love that you’re from Winnipeg! Lots of happy memories of that city 🙂 Does your family still live there?
Sooo fun that you were a lifeguard. I always had crushes on all the hot lifeguard dudes at my pool growing up. I love your high school graduation pic! Adorable!
Oh my gosh! You have so many options. I’ve done NO swimming but can’t wait to hop in the pool in Florida this weekend!
I haven’t been in the pool for a few years, but swam competitively for years. Can’t wait to jump back in! Thank you for the info.