Swim Rant

Mmmmm, Yes, first breakfast is eaten in the car on the way to the pool, just barely enough to quiet the growlies. How do you do that? I have to swim on an empty stomach or else I'll vomit. (And yes, swimming is the only sport that makes me vomit. Tennis, running, cycling, and fencing were all vomit-free for me.)

My rant is about a 30-something (or maybe 40-something, who knows?) woman who swims in my lane and acts like a teenager. Her feet are always on the bottom of the pool. She doesn't leave from the wall, she doesn't swim to the wall, she often cuts across the lane or "dolphins" from the bottom of the pool. You might say, "what do I care?" but it is pretty distracting, especially the not swimming into a wall at the end of a set when the couch has told us to go when the 3rd person touches. She never leads the lane. I have no idea how fast she actually can swim, but she generally insists on going last. She seems to prefer to swim in a lane that goes faster than her and then cut the lane if she gets behind. From time to time she'll chat with a buddy (whispering intently, again very teenager-like) while standing in the pool at the end of the lane. Recently she did this through a whole set and then through the coach's explanation of the next set. It was rude, and again, distracting. She is also often late to the workout. In spite of the above she can get very impatient if other lanemates are trying to figure out the set or who should go first. On the rare occasions she does lead she doesn't rest the amount that the coach has told us to rest. She seems to want to swim at a slow pace for the whole time of the workout and do what she wants whether it fits with what the coach has said or not. Why she attends a structured workout is beyond me (perhaps it's the whispering). And yet, I seem to be the only one who is bothered by this. In particular, she seems to be pals with the coach (who is generally friendly to everyone), and so I am hesitant to say anything. He doesn't seem to have a problem with her not doing the workout he assigned or talking on the end of the lane; he doesn't move her to a more appropriate lane for her speed. I can either "swim up" or "swim down," but I don't want to create a problem for the other lanes. Ok, that's my rant. This has been bothering me for some time, so good to get it off my chest.

Next time she cuts in front of you or causes a disruption of a set by screwing off, either use her as part of the wall when flipping or just swim over the top of her. A few times of doing that to her, she will either get the hint or quit. :applaud: Touche. I have no patience for people who aren't there to actually swim. Geez. Here's another gripe - which luckily I don't have to deal with much anymore because I had to change my workout times & pool, BUT: when people don't seem to remember that "circling" in the lane means you actually need to stay on the other side of the little black line, or come out of their flips into my side (or into me!).

:applaud: Touche. I have no patience for people who aren't there to actually swim. Geez. During swim practice times, it's time to swim. If someone is looking for a time to socialize, find a bar

Next time she cuts in front of you or causes a disruption of a set by screwing off, either use her as part of the wall when flipping or just swim over the top of her. A few times of doing that to her, she will either get the hint or quit. Tempting. But probably wouldn't go over very well in my Masters group, which tends to be "supportive" rather than "aggressive."

Maybe she's married to the coach. It definitely sounds like she has some insider status socially at least!

My rant is about a 30-something (or maybe 40-something, who knows?) woman who swims in my lane and acts like a teenager. Her feet are always on the bottom of the pool. She doesn't leave from the wall, she doesn't swim to the wall, she often cuts across the lane or "dolphins" from the bottom of the pool. You might say, "what do I care?" but it is pretty distracting, especially the not swimming into a wall at the end of a set when the couch has told us to go when the 3rd person touches. She never leads the lane. I have no idea how fast she actually can swim, but she generally insists on going last. She seems to prefer to swim in a lane that goes faster than her and then cut the lane if she gets behind. From time to time she'll chat with a buddy (whispering intently, again very teenager-like) while standing in the pool at the end of the lane. Recently she did this through a whole set and then through the coach's explanation of the next set. It was rude, and again, distracting. She is also often late to the workout. In spite of the above she can get very impatient if other lanemates are trying to figure out the set or who should go first. On the rare occasions she does lead she doesn't rest the amount that the coach has told us to rest. She seems to want to swim at a slow pace for the whole time of the workout and do what she wants whether it fits with what the coach has said or not. Why she attends a structured workout is beyond me (perhaps it's the whispering). And yet, I seem to be the only one who is bothered by this. In particular, she seems to be pals with the coach (who is generally friendly to everyone), and so I am hesitant to say anything. He doesn't seem to have a problem with her not doing the workout he assigned or talking on the end of the lane; he doesn't move her to a more appropriate lane for her speed. I can either "swim up" or "swim down," but I don't want to create a problem for the other lanes. Ok, that's my rant. This has been bothering me for some time, so good to get it off my chest. Next time she cuts in front of you or causes a disruption of a set by screwing off, either use her as part of the wall when flipping or just swim over the top of her. A few times of doing that to her, she will either get the hint or quit.

Maybe she's married to the coach. It definitely sounds like she has some insider status socially at least! She may very well have some sort of insider status with the coach (which is why I haven't said anything to him), but she's not his wife. I don't mean to imply anything nefarious by that -- I just mean close friend or something similar.

I was just reading a thread on a triathlon board about the difference between swimmers and triathletes when it comes to swimming. One guy wrote that most triathletes can't swim because they think swimming 1500 meters in 22 minutes is fast. He wouldn't even consider anyone who swims 1500 meters in more than 22 minutes a triathlete not to mention a swimmer. According to this dude, he started swimming 2 years ago but already swims the 1500 meter distance in 17:55. Is it me or does that guy sound like he's full of it? Full of it. Probably with fins and paddles if true.

...According to this dude, he started swimming 2 years ago but already swims the 1500 meter distance in 17:55. Is it me or does that guy sound like he's full of it? How much current was there when he did the 17:55 and which direction was he swimming relative to it?