#97 Not what I had in mind…

I was looking forward to this weekend for a couple of reasons. First, I was going to check off another new pool and move one step closer to completing the PAC-12 Pool Challenge. And secondly, enjoy some family fun. You see, it was Family Weekend at CU Boulder.

CU has a new beautiful Student Rec Center with sweeping views of the Rockies front range. There are basketball courts, a massive fitness/weight room, indoor soccer, cardio equipment and an indoor rock climbing wall befitting an outdoorsy school like CU. They have two really nice pools that I have been dying to swim in since Sean started school there. For whatever reason previously it hasn’t worked into the schedule. This time I was going to make it happen however my swim wasn’t what I had in mind.

Sean, escorted me into the facility and as we were walking to the locker room we passed the competition pool. It’s a spacious 8 lane pool with a separate diving well. I figured it may quiet with empty lanes mid-morning on a Saturday before a football game. Well, it was a bit more empty than I thought…

That didn’t work out so well so it was on to plan B-the outdoor pool. Like many colleges CU have upgraded their Rec facilities to attract students. They went a bit over the top with the outdoor pool designed in the shape of their mascot Ralphie the Buffalo. In the past I’ve seen co-ed’s playing water volleyball and sunning themselves. A good use of the tuition dollar! I noticed in the middle it had a couple of lanes so I could gets some laps in there. Speedo’ed up I walked on to the deck to find out the pool was closed for weather. It was a gorgeous day! The pool was closed because the water temp was too cold 70 degrees-what? I shamelessly played the “I swam the English Channel three weeks ago card” to absolutely no avail!

When I pleaded my case that I just wanted to swim laps they suggested I swim in the Clare Pool in an annex just adjacent to the competition pool.

So it was actually the Clare small pool built in 1910. It was 4 lanes in a dingy dimly lit room. Not the type of pool a PAC-12 pool would use to attract students with their recreation center. It was all I had so I had to a make do.

Not what I had in mind…but I will be back to swim in the other two pools!

The real purpose of the trip was to visit Sean for the weekend. Shannon, Sean, Courtney and I enjoyed walking up and down Pearl Street, the Hill and campus. We also enjoyed Boulder’s restaurant scene to fatten up the starving college kid. Pre-football game we went to several tailgates to meet and mingle with Sean’s friends.

Sunday we had a fabulous hike up the base of the Flatirons enjoying the sunshine and beautiful fall colors. I’m glad we did that as it snowed the next morning. The weather changes fast in Colorado.

The best part of the trip was seeing Sean, meeting his friends, seeing his studio and knowing how much he likes living in Boulder. Oh and seeing Kenny.