Dumpster Pools at Summer Streets

I love NYC.  There's really just one problem.  There aren't any good places to swim in Manhattan in the summer.  The public pools work in a pinch, but the draconian rules make for less than leisurely lounging.  Some of the hotels have rooftop pools, but getting in usually requires quite a bit of cash, if not a room key.  This is why so many New Yorkers leave the city in the summer.

Well, desperate times call for desperate measures.  So, when a friend told me that this year's Summer Streets would include dumpster pools, I figured we should check it out.  We woke up early last Saturday morning and were able to join in the first swim of the day. 

Dumpster pools are, in fact, actual dumpsters that have been converted into pools.  For Summer Streets, there are three pools, each with a different depth.  As you can see, despite their trashy origins, they're pretty spiffy.  And it was pretty cool to splash around looking up at this:

Curious New Yorkers and intrepid tourists have one more chance to check out the dumpster pools this Saturday at Summer Streets.  The pools are located at 40th and Park.  The bracelets required to enter are handed out on a first come first serve basis starting at 7:00am, and 35 people are let in at a time for 20 minute swims.  There are changing rooms on the premesis and little cubbies you can leave your stuff in.  This is New York, though, so I brought my things up to the pool.

Happy Splashing!

-Gym Belle-

Rollin' with My Hommies: Summer Streets

This Saturday was the first of three Saturdays of Summer Streets 2010.  During Summer Streets, Park Avenue is closed to traffic from Central Park (72nd St.) to the Brooklyn Bridge from 7am to 1pm.  Walkers, runners, bladers and bikers have access to 6.9 miles car-free road.  No wheels?  No problem.  Bikes and blades can be "rented" for free along the route.  This year, Summer Streets also has dumpster pools.  I didn't have time to check that out this weekend, but hopefully I'll get to next week.

I decided to kick off Summer Streets by breaking out my roller blades for the first time since last summer.  When I was a kid, I was actually pretty good at roller blading.  Even in college, I remember racing people once in a while.  At some point, though, I lost my nerve.  I still enjoy speed, but I freak out going downhill.  I feel totally out of control and end up riding the break a lot of the time, which I know has to be a bad plan.  This is why I've never roller bladed in Central Park.

Park Avenue isn't as bad as Central Park, but it does have its hilly spots.  At around 68th street, for example, the incline is pretty steep.  On Saturday, I stood at the top of that hill for a full minute wondering how lame it would be to unlace my blades and walk down a bit before starting again.  I decided to go for it.  I did, however, chicken out at Grand Central.  I remember seriously fearing for my life last year winding through the dark tunnel and then shooting out back onto Park at top speed.  I wasn't going there again.  Anyway, aside from going down the 68th street hill, it was all very pleasant.

The weather was perfect on Saturday, and I'm hoping we luck out for next week, too.  It's so nice to see everyone out enjoying the road.

 Maybe I'll see you out there?

-Gym Belle-

Summer (Boot) Camp

Saturday mornings are tough.  It would be nice to sleep once in a while, or watch cartoons in bed, but there is always so much that I want to do.  New York Road Runners holds a lot of its races on Saturdays.  Weekend mornings are the only time that I can hit up some of my favorite Equinox classes.  CrossFit Metropolis runs its super intense Kryptonite Hour at 10am on Saturdays.  And, now that its summer, boot camps and outdoor classes abound. 

IntenSati in the ParkThis past weekend, I joined Jess of Fit Chick in the City for her Saturday morning boot camp in Central Park.  Though it was brutally hot, the park was full of activity, as always.  The Pride Race was done by the time I got there, but plenty of runners and bikers were out on the loop.  Not far from where we met for boot camp, another group was doing IntenSati.  I also saw ninjas practicing!  (Ok, maybe they weren't actual ninjas, but they were dressed head to toe in black and whatever they were doing looked intense.)

I was a little late to Jess's class (new cabbie - don't ask), and when I arrived the group was doing supersets.  I jumped in on the third round the first set which consisted of skipping up a hill, lunging across a bridge, running down a path, doing 20 park bench push-ups and running back.  After that, we did two more equally sweaty supersets before heading to a grassy spot for some tricep dips and planks.  Fit Chick Boot Camp tough and very fun.  If you're looking to shake up your summer workouts, check out her new session starting July 10. 

July 10 is also the day of the Splash and Dash 10K.  (Yay, Lasker Pool!)  Will I see you there?

-Gym Belle-