Please tell me that this kind of thing doesn't happen in the States!
This morning, before coming into work, I trained at the local pool in Kenilworth, England, - 25 metres, four lanes. Not brilliant facilities, but acceptable.
At the end of each lane there is a sign: lane 1- slow, lane 2 - slow, lane 3 -medium, lane 4 - fast. Why do some swimmers, who clearly have difficulty in keeping up, always want to swim in the fast lane? This morning one elderly man, joined the fast lane. He swam breaststroke (I think it was!) with his face out of the water, which was a feat in itself because he was swimming so slowly. There were six of us in the lane and three left the pool (myself included).
When on the deck I decided to time him. He was consistent. Every length of the 25m pool was swum in 2 mins 15 seconds!
Please tell me this kind of 'swimming etiquette' wouldn't be seen in your pool.
So that I can continue with my swimming I need to be reassured that this was a one-off. I'm still in shock.
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Former Member
Originally posted by dorothyrde
In our pool, they often go to the fast lane for the ladder. And it is kind of, whatever lane is open, they hop in. I am OK with it.....if they can swim a straight line. Just love the ones swimming backstroke with very wide arms, and not straight.
Swimming backwards and upside down aint easy. There is no T on the pool bottom to look at to know when to turn and you can't tilt your head slightly upwards to see the wall coming.
If you're lucky the ceiling will have beams you can try to follow while waiting for the flags and then counting for the turn. Outside, there are no beams. Because you don't breathe to your side in backstroke, there's no way to gauge your distance from the ropes.
Free is easy to swim straight with a black line on the bottom to refer to. Backstrokers are taught to use peripheral vision and that doesn't help much especially if you have poor eyesight and/or bad goggles (most aren't made with back in mind).
If you're just learning then all of that can be extra difficult. I'm lucky to get lanes to myself. Sometimes when sharing becomes necessary I tell the person that watching out for them, flags, ropes - it's overwhelming. Some people accept it, others flee
There are some people who can swim back pretty straight, but even Natalie Coughlin veers wildly in competition. I don't personally feel backstroke swimmers should lap swim with freestyle swimmers.
Originally posted by dorothyrde
In our pool, they often go to the fast lane for the ladder. And it is kind of, whatever lane is open, they hop in. I am OK with it.....if they can swim a straight line. Just love the ones swimming backstroke with very wide arms, and not straight.
Swimming backwards and upside down aint easy. There is no T on the pool bottom to look at to know when to turn and you can't tilt your head slightly upwards to see the wall coming.
If you're lucky the ceiling will have beams you can try to follow while waiting for the flags and then counting for the turn. Outside, there are no beams. Because you don't breathe to your side in backstroke, there's no way to gauge your distance from the ropes.
Free is easy to swim straight with a black line on the bottom to refer to. Backstrokers are taught to use peripheral vision and that doesn't help much especially if you have poor eyesight and/or bad goggles (most aren't made with back in mind).
If you're just learning then all of that can be extra difficult. I'm lucky to get lanes to myself. Sometimes when sharing becomes necessary I tell the person that watching out for them, flags, ropes - it's overwhelming. Some people accept it, others flee
There are some people who can swim back pretty straight, but even Natalie Coughlin veers wildly in competition. I don't personally feel backstroke swimmers should lap swim with freestyle swimmers.
