Have you ever wanted to have a pool in your backyard but really don’t have the room or the budget for one? Well, an Endless Pool might just be the answer for you!

Recently I was contacted by Endless Pools to come and experience their pool. Endless Pools can be enjoyed as a traditional pool to relax in but they also have a unique system that creates a current to swim in for exercise. With four children who swim competitively, I was interested to see how they would like swimming in the pool. We headed up to the Finis headquarters in Livermore, CA for our swim in the Endless Pool.

The team at Finis was great, giving us a tour of their headquarters and helping my swimmers with their stroke. It was fun to see where some of the equipment we use on our swim team was developed. The Endless Pool at their headquarters is in their Stroke Lab and used to help develop new products and give their employees a place to workout.

At first sight, I was impressed with the size of the pool. It was the perfect size for swimming laps but would also be great for soaking or a few kids to play in. An Endless Pool can be customized from 7’X12’ to 10’X16’ to fit your space perfectly, indoors or out. I know my backyard isn’t big enough to fit a traditional pool, but an Endless Pool would be able to fit no problem. There are even options that can include an underwater treadmill.

How was the pool to swim in? I had my 15 year old and 12 year old try out the pool. It took a few seconds to figure out getting in and out of the current that is created, but they got the hang of it pretty quickly. The speed of the current is completely customizable and is based on a 100 yard pace. The different models offer different top speeds of the current. The pool we were in was the Elite model, so my son was able to swim at a 0:56/100 pace, while my daughter swam a 1:10/100 pace, making the pool suitable for all levels of swimmers beginner to Olympian. My kids really enjoyed swimming in the Endless Pool, they both liked that there was a mirror underneath them in the water so they could see themselves swimming. I think it provided a more consistent pace than they are able to create on their own without the current, which would provide a better workout. An Endless Pool would be perfect for home fitness and for a low impact swim workout, with a fraction of the cost of a full sized pool, they also have an option to be able to add a swim current to an existing pool. Plus, being able to fit one of these pools indoors or outdoors (even in a garage), your options are endless (yes, pun intended).

A special thank you to the team at Finis for taking the time to introduce us to the Endless Pool at their facility, and working with my children to better their freestyle stroke. Everyone was very friendly! John Mix, one of Finis’ founders, came out to say hello, and my family is pretty excited to watch CJ Fiala, Finis’ Marketing Coordinator, at the Olympic Trials next summer.To find out more about Endless Pools for endless fitness and fun, visit their website at www.endlesspools.com.  Happy swimming everyone!

About Julie: I’m a 41 year old SAHM, independent demonstrator with Uppercase Living, a self-taught artist/crafter (whichever term you want to put with what I create), and former social worker. My life revolves around myself, husband, son (16), daughter (12), and twin daughters (10). That makes 6 to keep up with! We have an active family who loves the outdoors, scouting, swimming, and volunteering. You can find me at http://juliecorrigan.uppercaseliving.net for uplifting and inspiring words for your life. Opportunity was provided to Jen is on a Journey, all opinions my own.

I have a swim family.  What does that mean?  Well, that we (meaning my children) swim on a swim team and are in the water at least 5 times a week.  It is an activity that all my children can participate in and work to be their best.  While I may know the benefits that swimming has brought to my family, many who have never participated in it as a sport have probably never thought of the wealth it has to offer.  Recently, my family and I were given the opportunity to go hear about the benefits of swimming from three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Dick Franklin (dad to four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin) and Pat Dwyer (dad to Olympic gold medalist, Conor Dwyer).  And to top it off, my kids got to have a swim lesson with Rowdy Gaines!

SwimToday.org is working together with Olympians and their families to spread the word that swimming is the #FunnestSport.  Dick Franklin said that one of the things Missy’s coach stressed was that swimming is all about fundamentals, with the first 3 letters being FUN!  The panel all agreed that making time in the pool fun is key to making a successful swimmer at any level.  I found it interesting that 80% of families who have enrolled their children in swim lessons don’t consider swimming when thinking about sports for their child.  In addition, parents who never tried swimming as a sport perceive it to be less fun than other sports.  I grew up playing other team sports, but as a parent I couldn’t be happier with the amount of fun and life long friends my children have through participating in swimming.

In listening to Rowdy, Dick and Pat talk about raising Olympic swimmers, I heard them talk about all the benefits swimming has brought to my family.  Both Dick and Pat said how some of their families’ best friends were found on the swim team.  That swimming builds great character, teamwork, time management and dedication.  And best of all, everyone can participate in swimming!  I love the swimtoday.org quote “swimming is inclusive, there are no benchwarmers (nor benches) in swimming.” It’s so true!  And if you are looking to have active children, swimming burns 650 calories in an hour, which is more than almost any other sport!  Just be ware, no one eats like a swimmer either!

My family participates in other sports and activities beyond swimming.  I think it helps make everyone well rounded and gives a chance to experience different things.  But swimming is our year round sport, and one that all 4 of my children get excited about.  It’s great to see their self-confidence and self-esteem grow when they get a personal best time or their team cheers them on in a relay (even at practice). Not only does swimming have a low risk of injury, it is a life skill that will set them up for fitness their entire lives.  And where they might not have fit in on one team, their swim team definitely includes everyone.  Will they be Olympic swimmers? Only time will tell what level they will work to achieve.  But I do know that they have found a sport they love and when given the chance to race against three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, my son almost out touched him on a 25 free, which will be a story he can tell for a lifetime.

Interested in giving swimming as a sport a try?  Visit SwimToday.org to find a local club near you. It’s the best thing we’ve done for our children, and in our minds is definitely the #funnestsport!

Follow SwimToday on Twitter: @swimtoday
Like SwimToday on Facebook: www.facebook.com/funnestsport

About Julie: I’m a 41 year old SAHM, independent demonstrator with Uppercase Living, a self-taught artist/crafter (whichever term you want to put with what I create), and former social worker. My life revolves around myself, husband, son (12), daughter (9), and twin daughters (7). That makes 6 to keep up with! We have an active family who loves the outdoors, scouting, swimming, and volunteering. You can find me at http://juliecorrigan.uppercaseliving.net for uplifting and inspiring words for your life. Opportunity was provided to Jen is on a Journey, all opinions my own.