I exercise after I drop one or both kids off in the morning. I can usually get midway through a run before the sun gets really strong. When the sun does decide it wants to make an effort, one knows instantly. I'm running, the weather is pleasant, I'm settling into a groove, then BAM, on the very next step, the temperature rises as astonishing 3000 degrees and running just doesn't seem so enjoyable anymore.
By the end of my run, I'm leaving a wet trail of sweat and other fluids on the ground as I gasp desperately for water.
Because I'd like to feel good after finishing a workout instead of feeling melted, I have been looking for alternative exercise.
Indoors is OK, but running on a treadmill is boring, particularly in the morning when nothing's on TV. Swimming is much more preferable. I get my heart rate up, I get upper body exercise and the water keeps me cool as the day's heat builds. In the summer, it is by far the superior form of exercise.
This morning I arrived at the pool to find it empty. That's not unusual, so I started stretching and getting ready for my laps. That's when the lifeguard approached.
"Hello," said the lifeguard, "We have a group of Marines coming in for PT today. Do you think you might limit yourself to this lane?"
Living on a military base, I've gotten used to yielding right of way for our troops. "No problem," I said.
As I was swimming, I heard the cadence approaching. It became immediately apparent why the Marines needed most of the pool. There were about thirty of them, and they all had to exercise at the same time. On command, they all jumped into the water (with steel-toed boots on) and treaded water for 10 minutes or so. Then they swam the width of the pool under water, right under the lane in which I was swimming. Then they did pull ups out of the pool, again in unison upon command. Then it was time for laps.
All in all, it was rather intimidating. They looked pretty tired. I was all set to slink away to my civilian life when it happened.
The commander lined them all up, and, on command, each United States Marine took a turn down the water slide. As each pair of steel-toed boots hit the water, I had trouble suppressing my smile. The Marines no longer seemed quite so intimidating.
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