Swim Rant

Two issues that always bother me: 1. Having to explain circle swimming to the "newbies" that appear each fall and New Year after they resolve to lose weight. They resent the explanation for some reason (might be my bad attitude after years of explanations. Explanations that appear required despite the clear diagrams posted at the front of each lane). The other thing I find (not that it bothers me much) is that few people want to share a lane with me because I am a pretty fast swimmer. I could care less if they want to share: just swim in proper circles. 2. My personal issue: that one guy that insists on carrying on a full, detailed conversation while we are in the changing room at 5:30 am. Maybe he likes yapping at that hour, but I like silence. Quieter the better. If I liked constant noise, I would take up a sport where my mouth and ears are NOT submerged in water all the time. Man am I becoming a crusty old man these days. One happy point: where I live there are always clearly marked lap swimming lanes that are defended by the lifeguards dependably. We do have "noodlers", but they are kept to themselves and only during scheduled classes. They are NEVER allowed in the lane swimming and will be asked to move by the guard. I rarely have any problems doing a full demanding work-out whenever I want. I really feel sorry for you American swimmers; it sounds like your pools all need barium enemas to clean out the "noodle" hippos.

Two issues that always bother me: 1. Having to explain circle swimming to the "newbies" that appear each fall and New Year after they resolve to lose weight. They resent the explanation for some reason (might be my bad attitude after years of explanations. Explanations that appear required despite the clear diagrams posted at the front of each lane). The other thing I find (not that it bothers me much) is that few people want to share a lane with me because I am a pretty fast swimmer. I could care less if they want to share: just swim in proper circles. 2. My personal issue: that one guy that insists on carrying on a full, detailed conversation while we are in the changing room at 5:30 am. Maybe he likes yapping at that hour, but I like silence. Quieter the better. If I liked constant noise, I would take up a sport where my mouth and ears are NOT submerged in water all the time. Man am I becoming a crusty old man these days. One happy point: where I live there are always clearly marked lap swimming lanes that are defended by the lifeguards dependably. We do have "noodlers", but they are kept to themselves and only during scheduled classes. They are NEVER allowed in the lane swimming and will be asked to move by the guard. I rarely have any problems doing a full demanding work-out whenever I want. I really feel sorry for you American swimmers; it sounds like your pools all need barium enemas to clean out the "noodle" hippos.