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10 reasons swimming in a lake, pond or river beats swimming in a pool
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Pam LeBlanc jumps off a swim platform at Bamberger Ranch Preserve, a private ranch near Johnson City. Chris LeBlanc photo
I swim laps in a neighborhood pool four or five times a week, crunching out about 2 miles each time.
I swim with a team, so a coach stands on the edge of the pool and barks orders. That keeps me motivated.
I do it because I love the way water feels on my skin, and I love pushing myself. Bonus? It keeps me fit. I’m 57 years old, and I’ve been doing it regularly for the past 30 or so years.
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Who knows what lurks beneath the surface? Photo by Chris LeBlanc
But you know what’s better than swimming in a cement pond? Swimming in a lake, pond or river. Here are my ten top reasons why:
- Swimming pools are chlorinated. Remember when you were a kid, and you swam without goggles for so long that your eyes turned red and burned? That doesn’t happen in the wild.
- Some people freak out that they might touch a fish. I love spying on marine life (including sharks). That’s why scuba diving is one of my favorite hobbies.
- Skinny dipping is generally frowned upon in public pools. But jump in a lake and either nobody knows your naked, or nobody cares. Just find your own private corner to take your dip.
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Pam LeBlanc sits beneath the spillway at Blanco State Park. Chris LeBlanc photo
4. No lane lines mean swimming in a pond doesn’t feel like a workout. It’s just for fun.
5. Fewer people. Last summer, my swim team was shut down for a few months due to the pandemic. A friend had access to a cove on Lake Austin, and we met there once a week to swim. Nobody else was out there at 7 a.m.
6. I’d rather look up from a swim to see a bunch of trees than a parking lot.
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A leaning tree in the San Marcos River makes a good launch pad. Jimmy Harvey photo
7. Fewer flip turns. Generally speaking, you’ve got more room to swim in a river, lake or pond than a pool. That means you can swim a long way before you must turn around.
8. Some ponds and lakes come with swim platforms! That’s the ultimate.
9. Often, you can’t see the bottom of a lake. I find that appealing. Who knows what’s down there?
10. It’s an adventure, and I’m all about adventure.