Too many quotes!

I had a great experience at a local community pool this evening.  Due to limited pool availablity at my typcial locations I was forced to look elsewhere or skip another swim day.  A new pool always brings some good stories.  I've talked about things all being "relative".  I see it all the time and I try to be as honest about it as possible.  I will be the first to admit I'm not a fantastic swimmer, I just happen to be a significantly faster than the average recreational swimmer people see at these pools.  This creates some funny and flattering situations and comments.  It's to the point that it turns into sort of an ego boost whether I like it or not.  The quotes are just too funny not to share.

As usual, I arrived on deck, stretched for a few minutes while getting a few looks from other swimmers... seemingly just noticing that I don't belong there.  I knew the pool was both yards and meters in an "L" configuration.  I inquried upon the lifeguard as to which way the lanelines were setup.  She replied "meters".  I dove in and did my typical 500 warmup.  I was sharing the lane with two other swimmers which quickly dropped to one other swimmer after I had passed the other one a few times.  Shortly after my practice began a swimmer joined my lane and her personal trainer started instructing her on her stroke technique.  I found it odd that it seemed like she was doing a lot of the same drills I was doing but didn't think much of it.  I had anotehr swimmer join my lane a little while later.  This person eventually stopped at the wall at the same time as me, waited a moment and then asked "how did you get so fast?".  I smiled and just replied, "well, I've been swimming for quite a while... you do anything long enough and you get pretty good at it".  He just shook his head and said "it's just amazing how easily you go though the water, you're like a dolphin".  The last comment gave me a chuckle due to an inside joke.  I talked to the swimmer for a few mintues and he told me he was training for the Coast Guard so we discussed that program for a bit and I mentioned "nice talking to you" before I took off again to finish up my workout.

A little later I met up along the wall with this swimmer who had the personal trainer.  I inquired upon what she was training for.  She told me she was preparing for her first "Ironman" triathlon.  I was immediately impressed!  I let her know how much I would love to participate in something like that and how much credit I give her for even committing to such a race.  We talked about the competition for a few mintues and then she said... "and how about you? You're obviously a professional swimmer".  The comment alone was worth another laugh.  She went on to say "when I got in the pool, my coach said, you see that guy?  He's a professional, just do what he does".  I got yet another smile from that one.

When I was finishing up my practice I ran into a guy I swam with in high school, we talked about life, college and swimming for a few minutes.  It was nice to catch up.

I hit the hot tub before they shut down the pool for the evening.  Overall it was a wonderful evening.  Lots of uplifting comments and smiles both given and received.  The pool was fantastic for a community pool and I will definitely return!