swimming outside at 21 F

Words 123

          Twenty years ago, I swam outside while snow was falling.  Today I was again swimming outside—no snow, but it was 20 F outside.  You might think it would be chilly walking out to the pool.  Whoever built this thing thought about that, too. 

We change clothes and shower, then walk into a little corridor, leave our topichki (rubber slippers), and walk down steps into the water.  Then we swim out into the big pool.   Eight 50-meter lanes, the closest lanes with old ladies floating.

          I swam the first 50 meters in 1:01; so that was the baseline.  Just before leaving the pool, I burned another half lap in 56 seconds.  My goal might be 50 seconds, I guess.  Could be tough.