I need some help here folks.
Those of you who "know" me know that I am a beginning "serious" swimmer. I've been slowly but steadily working my way up to swimming a mile as my first goal I'm pleased with the progress I've made, feel stronger, dropped some pounds, added some muscle - all good stuff.
Because I am a slower swimmer, I've tried to be careful not to get in the way of stronger swimmers' workouts. I try to enter lanes where I can match the pace and let people pass me if I get overtaken.
Usually, if I share with just one other person, we split the lane down the middle rather than circle swim. This works out great. If we add another swimmer, we circle. I thought this was the norm for two people.
This evening, though, I asked to share a wall lane with a man who was a faster swimmer. All the other lanes had 2 people. No one was circling. I suggested we split the lane, and he said, no - circle swim only. I warned him that I swim slowly, but no dice. Circle swim only.
So we circle swam - no, he circle swam, and I got out of his way every 50-75 yards. I'm mad at myself because I messed my own workout up as I was pushing myself to swim faster and exhausted myself far short of my goal.
So, please help me out here: is it wrong to split a lane with just 2 people? What is the "right" way to handle this situation? As I develop into a stronger swimmer, I feel I have a place at the pool. I'm just not just where that is.
Many thanks - Barb
Count your blessings he asked to swim with you - and hopefully he was gentleman enough to thank you when whichever one of you got out first got out. I agree with Professor Nelson - first person there has squatters rights over circles vs. splits, even though most pool rules specifically mention "CIRCLE SWIM ONLY!!!"
When I am swimming during a rec swim and get a lanemate, I generally see them approaching during turns, etc., and will start taking a side and I finish whatever I am working on. When I stop and they ask to join, I welcome them to the lane, and tell them I will take *this side, and then push off at the closest :05/:10 on the clock to avoid any further interaction, such as you describe. If they don't like the arrangement, they're going to have to deal with it at least until my next interval is up.
To further discourage lanemates, warn them you are doing an interval workout that may include some fly. The massive splashage and wakeage could help to move a quasi-noodler to another lane.
Count your blessings he asked to swim with you - and hopefully he was gentleman enough to thank you when whichever one of you got out first got out. I agree with Professor Nelson - first person there has squatters rights over circles vs. splits, even though most pool rules specifically mention "CIRCLE SWIM ONLY!!!"
When I am swimming during a rec swim and get a lanemate, I generally see them approaching during turns, etc., and will start taking a side and I finish whatever I am working on. When I stop and they ask to join, I welcome them to the lane, and tell them I will take *this side, and then push off at the closest :05/:10 on the clock to avoid any further interaction, such as you describe. If they don't like the arrangement, they're going to have to deal with it at least until my next interval is up.
To further discourage lanemates, warn them you are doing an interval workout that may include some fly. The massive splashage and wakeage could help to move a quasi-noodler to another lane.
