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Gyms and swimming pools

29 replies

Yetiyoga · 14/07/2020 20:46

Just want to gather people's thoughts and views on these? I am a member but I think my gym (which also has a pool) will extend the freezing for a while longer if we choose, exact details not confirmed yet. I just can't decide how safe it is? What do people think? I do really need the exercise. I have gained so much weight. I feel gross.

OP posts:
Evelefteden · 14/07/2020 20:49

I can’t wait to get back swimming. I’ve been wild swimming to compensate. I’ll be first in the queue when they open

Qasd · 14/07/2020 21:05

I swim so maybe different but feels pretty safe given chlorine kills the virus! Find it odd pools are shut and pubs open to be honest!

Yetiyoga · 14/07/2020 21:06

Thanks both! I am so ready to get some regular exercise back in to be honest! I just can never motivate myself to go for a run.

OP posts:
BusterTheBulldog · 14/07/2020 21:10

I’m booked onto classes as soon the gym opens!

TazSyd · 14/07/2020 21:10

I can’t wait for mine to open. We have to book in advance for a 2 hour slot but I’m happy to do that. I’ve done walking and running but no strength training or yoga or swimming. I miss my old routine.

BigChocFrenzy · 14/07/2020 21:10

I've been going to the gym regularly 5 days per week, ever since it reopened on 16 May
(in Germany)

I'm a happy gym rat 😂🏋🏼‍♂️

I'm 64, so probably at much higher risk than you, fwiw

Yetiyoga · 14/07/2020 21:13

I think my other fear as well is the whole booking in advance (which i don't mind) but realistically it'll book up super quick (it was a nightmare getting on to swim classes as it was) and would i actually even be able to get my money's worth?!

OP posts:
yeOldeTrout · 14/07/2020 21:39

Stuck WFH so I can be pretty flexible about when to go.

MrsPerfect12 · 15/07/2020 14:10

Oh I can't wait for the gym to be open. I do weights 3 x a week normally and cardio another 2 days so missing the weights big time. My butt jiggles now 🤦🏻‍♀️

I don't get whys they're shut and pubs are open. I don't want to go to the pub just the gym!

Yetiyoga · 15/07/2020 14:22

Thanks for your comments! I'm leaning towards going back! I so need some exercise!

OP posts:
Angeldust747 · 15/07/2020 20:09

I'm with total fitness and they're opening up straight away, and have put pool bookings onto the app. I've booked for the first week back, and can't wait as I love swimming. Will be interested to see what happens with classes (not ready to book yet) as previously yoga classes were packed and the 30 spaces were booked within 24 hours of going online!

user1493494961 · 16/07/2020 10:13

I'm not going back to the gym but I think DH intends to (although I think he will get annoyed at trying to book).

emmathedilemma · 16/07/2020 11:22

I'm in 2 minds about. We don't have a reopening date yet but they've said it will be advance online bookings for swim, gym and classes to control numbers. It doesn't tend to be that busy when I go in an evening so hopefully it won't be too hard to get a slot. I'll probably go to see what it's like and how safe it feels (I stopped before lockdown due to an apparent lack of any additional cleaning and everyone ignoring the hand sanitiser). There's rumours that showers and changing rooms might not be open initially which doesn't bother me as i live round the corner but those who swim, go before work, or can't be seen in public without a full face of makeup might be put off.

FishyDuck · 16/07/2020 12:27

Swimming pools will not be a problem as the chlorine will kill the virus. The issue is gym equipment and changing rooms.

There will need to be more frequent cleaning but I don't think these environments will ever be entirely 'safe' at the moment. However, given that the actual number of cases in the community is now very low, the chance of someone with the virus visiting a gym and infecting a surface is tiny.

Blobby10 · 16/07/2020 12:41

I'm going back to my gym as soon as it opens (unless it only opens 6am - 10pm which is too late for me) . I go at 5am and there are usually a maximum of 10 of us there at that time in a place big enough for ten times that number. I will follow the rules in place regarding sanitising stuff after use but won't be wearing gloves and a mask. I think that, given the number of horrendous coughs in the place last December, if I was going to catch anything it would have been then and I haven't even had a cold since last October!

crosseyedMary · 16/07/2020 13:23

My gym has said people have to wear a mask and temperatures checked, I can see that it's a risky environment but I don't think it's as risky as public transport where you will be 'sharing air' at closer quarters with a much higher number of people🤔

ListeningQuietly · 16/07/2020 14:02

I'll be back in the pool the first day

daisychain01 · 16/07/2020 14:13

@Qasd

I swim so maybe different but feels pretty safe given chlorine kills the virus! Find it odd pools are shut and pubs open to be honest!
I've been a twice weekly swimmer for years, but I'm not eager to go back yet.

I'm not so concerned about the pool, it's the changing facilities and difficulty in getting everyone to adhere to social distancing. They probably will for a few weeks then it will be back to "normal". I'm not comfortable about that.

It is safe, not "odd", to keep environments closed that represent an elevated risk of transmission. Hot damp sweaty environments like pools and gyms, and closed environments like pubs where people are potentially crammed together at closed quarters are my idea of hell atm. I'm not a pub fan but I do enjoy gym/swim. But I've learned to adapt for now.

ListeningQuietly · 16/07/2020 16:51

My pool is outdoors
the changing rooms are huge

it was always madness to keep lido pools closed

Lily27 · 29/07/2020 12:15

I’m interested too! I’m wondering about indoor swimming pools in gyms and the ventilation. I think the pool itself should be fine but not sure about recirculated air from the gym

cologne4711 · 29/07/2020 12:21

it was always madness to keep lido pools closed

Completely agree, they could have been among the first places to open. Unfortunately because the government dithered for so long a lot of them are staying shut for the entire season.

I'm not sure how you can wear a mask in a gym, you won't be able to breathe.

EBearhug · 29/07/2020 13:08

I'm going swimming in the pool for the first time this evening. I had to book a session (45 miss, less than I'd usually do,), and it's earlier than I would normally go, as they're on reduced hours, so not open after 7pm, which is when I'd usually aim to get in the water. I will arrive with cossie under my clothes as requested, but changing rooms are available for after, and there's time between sessions to clean cubicles.

Not sure what they're doing in the gym, but I have seen ads for one of the local private gyms so each bike, treadmill etc is separated by perspex screens floor to ceiling. (Perspex suppliers must have been doing well in recent months.)

I'll see how it is - if I'm not comfortable, I will not go again for ... some time.

lurker101 · 29/07/2020 13:24

Our gym has reopened and the measures taken seem appropriate. Class sizes are reduced with markings on the floor to show you “your area” and equipment is flagged as out of use for distancing and everyone has to clean equipment before/after use. Went first time on Sunday, back yesterday for a class and going tonight and at no point has it appeared “busy” in an unsafe way

EBearhug · 30/07/2020 00:19

I have been swimming!

You have to book, and sessions are only 45 minutes, which is fine for now, as I haven't done tons of exercise during lo known, but it will become less fine as my fitness returns. I can still do 1000m in half an hour, but it was a bit harder than it used to be. :-)

Only the 25m pool is open, not the teaching pool nor the leisure pool (with slides and stuff.) They have 3 double lanes - slow, medium and fast. Usually only the slow lane is double and the rest are single, but this allows people to swim in a more socially distanced way, and there's room to overtake. Although there are still people with no sense of lane discipline.

There's 15mins between sessions, which allows one group to clear out before the next comes in. Only a handful of changing cubicles are in use and they tell you to come with swimmers under your clothes and to be prepared to go home with just a towel dry and clothes over wet swimmmers if there aren't any cubicles, but I had a choice of several. They are much improved after deep cleaning, too! They said no showers but there are actually two available, but I just showered when got home anyway.

There are one way systems marked on the floor to go in and out. Parking was really easy, though I don't suppose that will last.

All-in-all, it was a good experience, and it will keep me going for now. I hope aquafit classes will come back at some point. I hope they will have some later sessions at some point, too. If I go back to the office before they go back to usual times, I wouldn't be able to do sessions before or after work, because the timing wouldn't work. I can only get there for the 18:15 session now because I am not commuting currently, and in the morning, the first session is currently 8am rather than pre-pandemic 6am.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 30/07/2020 00:27

DDs been swimming for the last two weeks as a local ish lido was open, she finishes late and gets changed in the car. They've also opened up to restricted public swimming now too. Arrive pool ready, 60 min sessions and a one way system in place.

We're back to our normal pool next week and it'll be the same, arrive pool ready, get out throw a bathrobe on and change in the car, no different to getting changed after a day at the beach. No spectators at the indoor pool though.
Local gyms/indoor pools haven't opened to the public here yet I don't think.

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