Swim Rant

oh my word! I am not the only person being prosecuted this way!!! dont know if I feel better now, but at least I am not all alone....rudeler noodlers be GONE!!!!!!

This is just a slight rant: people who want to stop you during your set and talk about whatever, "how long you been swimming," "how many laps do you swim," "I just swam down and back and I'm exhausted," and so on. I try not to be rude, but at the same time I'll set goals during my swims and part of that is trying to make a certain interval, which means: 1) I'm breathing too hard to talk, and 2) I can't stop to talk or I'll miss the interval. In the grand scheme perhaps I'm taking my swimming too seriously. :D No, you aren't taking yourself too seriously. You are there to work out, same as the people in the gym. Many people just are completely unfamiliar with interval training. I am friendly to people during the if I am doing some easy kicking or if I am between sets, but if it takes to long I tell them I need to get back to my workout. If they talk to me in the middle of a set, I tell them I'm on an interval and have to leave in 5 (or whatever) seconds. I can't see well without my contacts or glasses, so when I'm at the wall between repeats, I'm always holding my wrist watch up very obviously. I like to think that this helps to discourage conversation. But some people have never been exposed to the idea of interval training and it would just never occur to them that they are interrupting something. Just yesterday, I was right in the middle of a fly set when a very nice lady that I sometimes chat with started a conversation. When I (quickly!)told her what I was doing, she was amazed; she'd had no idea. I usually like to be a good ambassador for swimming--but I won't let it interfere with my workout. If it's the right time, I kind of like answering some of the questions. Some of the smartest questions come from new triathletes who are trying to improve their swimming, and some good questions also come from novice swimmers who are trying to burn some calories. Some of the not-so-smart questions come from the people who only use the gym for the steam room & hot tub--for them the pool is just a place to cool off, and conversations are just something to pass the time, since the pool area is the only place that has no tv's. I don't like it when they ask me how many laps I swam so far today (I don't know) or how many miles I swim.

oh my word! I am not the only person being prosecuted this way!!! don't know if I feel better now, but at least I am not all alone....rudeler noodlers be GONE!!!!!! You are definitely not alone. I've also suffered astonishing rudeness from noodlers where I swim. Thankfully, their numbers have waned considerably in the last 6 months or so. All I have to do now is stay away during their class time (Even if there are only 4 people that day they will not share the pool with a lap swimmer).

Elaine, I am glad you are able to swim again and just think how fast and easy it will seem when you swim a meet at a pool with gutters! You will probably feel like you're about to fly out of the pool on turns. :) I swim at the same pool as Chicken of the Sea, and I second her noodler comments. The pool temp is 80-82, but if it's not exactly at 82, you're going to hear about it!!!

Thanks, Carrie! Well, my first meet at the end of the month should be interesting... I hope you're right! :D I am also hoping that training in an 84 degree pool will help when it comes time to competing in a cooler pool. My preference is 78! What temperature do you think the pool at Nationals will be? The one thing working against me is the lack of starting blocks at our pool. So, I have to go to another pool from time to time to practice starts off the blocks. Back when I competed 31 years ago, both feet were lined up at the edge of the block. Now it's a push off with the dominant leg in back. I'm not used to that... So, I guess that's another rant: No starting blocks at our pool where I live. But, considering I am the only competitive swimmer in my community, I can see why!

Starting blocks that you can't use? :confused: That's way more frustrating than not having any starting blocks at all. I don't know if I could resist the temptation... As for Tom Petty, did he have a good album? Sorry, I guess I'm not a Tom Petty fan...

The :censor: desk receptionist who insists on setting the music to "50's on 5", rather than the 70's or even 60's station the other receptionists set the dial to when they work. Sheesh! The average age in our adult community is 60 which means most of the residents didn't start getting into music until the 60's and 70's. They were too young to remember the 50's! :confused: This reminds me of my mom. My parents live in an over 50 community (we warned them they'd regret that move!) and she always complains that the old folks listen to '40s music in the fitness room. :) Elaine: you should convince them to change it to Howard 100 or 101. I'm sure no one would be offended! As for the noodlers and their perfume, my wife calls this "OLP" for old lady perfume.

This reminds me of my mom. My parents live in an over 50 community (we warned them they'd regret that move!) and she always complains that the old folks listen to '40s music in the fitness room. :) Elaine: you should convince them to change it to Howard 100 or 101. I'm sure no one would be offended! I hope your parents don't regret their move to an over 50 community, because my husband and I love ours! It's a very ACTIVE adult community; not a lot of oldies here. We have a very active group in the fitness center and on the tennis courts everyday. As for the music, it's just that one receptionist who insists on living in the waaaaaay past. At the New Year's party, the band got the most people dancing on tunes from the Stones, Doobie Brothers, Pat Benatar, Elton John, etc. Yes, it's "classic rock", not up-to-the-moment music, but at least it's CLASSIC. :D The music we have is Satellite and they have programmed the pre-set buttons to "50's on 5", "60's on 6", "70's on 7", and "The Bridge". Unfortunately, the DJ on the 60's station is fixated on early 60's instead of late 60's. Oh well...

Nothing worse than a bad song you cant get off your mind while swimming

I hope your parents don't regret their move to an over 50 community, because my husband and I love ours! It's a very ACTIVE adult community; not a lot of oldies here. We have a very active group in the fitness center and on the tennis courts everyday. My mom hates it. It's just too dull for her. Their old neighborhood was very young with lots of kids in the neighborhood. Their new one doesn't allow kids and it's dead quiet. When you walk around you hardly even see anyone outside.