At the pool where I swim, during "public swim" times, it's always people doing laps... non-stop... laps.
The swim across, then they swim back, then across, then back, then across, then back...
And that's great. But it's really intimidating for a beginner swimmer like me who wants time to do some of that TI "mindful practice" and not just powering through the water until I can't walk anymore.
But I don't want to interrupt their workouts with "hey, can I have this lane to just screw around and swim slowly?"
Are peaceful pools a luxury only people who own their own pool ever get? Am I stuck swimming with "lappers" until I own my own house and pool one day?
We have lap swimmers and workout swimmers all sharing the pool at the same time. Most of the time there is not enough room to have a lane to yourself so we'll share and just takes sides of a lane. While this works best to have workout swimmers with other workout swimmers, sometimes we have to co-mingle. Usually it doesn't bother the lap swimmers. As far as being intimidated, don't be. Most often, I find, the lap swimmers are more intimidated by the workout swimmers. The lap swimmers plod along and that's what works for them but in the long run the workout swimmers have a higher level of fitness. Just do your own thing and don't worry about them (unless they speak up).
We have lap swimmers and workout swimmers all sharing the pool at the same time. Most of the time there is not enough room to have a lane to yourself so we'll share and just takes sides of a lane. While this works best to have workout swimmers with other workout swimmers, sometimes we have to co-mingle. Usually it doesn't bother the lap swimmers. As far as being intimidated, don't be. Most often, I find, the lap swimmers are more intimidated by the workout swimmers. The lap swimmers plod along and that's what works for them but in the long run the workout swimmers have a higher level of fitness. Just do your own thing and don't worry about them (unless they speak up).
