jock librarian

When you travel up and down the first lane of Baruch's pool, underwater spotlights shine on you so brightly, you feel like an understudy in an Esther Williams dance production. Guessing that Coach Jim was going to give us another one of his perfectly choreographed workouts, I was tempted to send a spirited "It's showtime!" shout out across the lane this morning--but resisted, knowing that too much pep on a Monday would surely invite some glares.

We started with what I have termed Coach's signature "Rockette" set. After swimming to the deep end of the pool, we lined up for a series of vertical kicks (i.e. alternating between breaststroke and freestyle kicks while raising our elbows up in the air for a period of 20 seconds). Like dancers, we were mindful of our posture and position in the water. And although we lacked marabou hats, sparkling sequins and ostrich plumes, Lisa, Anne and I kicked, kicked, kicked with the razzle-dazzle enthusiasm of Radio City's stars.