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
I made a few people downright irate by refusing to circle swim when there was only two people in a lane. What is the point? Three or more I would have no problem but some people feel the need to circle swim all the time, like it somehow justifies their existence.
I likewise refuse to circle swim when I'm swimming alone in my rec pool and there's 2 people per lane. There is no point. That way, if you are different speeds, you swim unimpeded. In my experience, people seem pretty content with splitting the lane.
I have no problem sharing a lane with a slower swimmer. No one should have to wait for a lane. And I'm happy to dodge them on fly. But I don't want to circle swim with them. If I were you, Barb, I would be pissed at having my ankle repeatedly grabbed.
Besides, circle swimming just reinforces circle swimming. Don't want to be circle swimming in meets. (Just watched my daughter do this big time her last 200 free.) Nice to have a chance to swim straight when you're not practicing with the team.
Don't worry, Barb, Muppet won't think it's a "scrap." More likely to laugh and give a :dedhorse: .
I made a few people downright irate by refusing to circle swim when there was only two people in a lane. What is the point? Three or more I would have no problem but some people feel the need to circle swim all the time, like it somehow justifies their existence.
I likewise refuse to circle swim when I'm swimming alone in my rec pool and there's 2 people per lane. There is no point. That way, if you are different speeds, you swim unimpeded. In my experience, people seem pretty content with splitting the lane.
I have no problem sharing a lane with a slower swimmer. No one should have to wait for a lane. And I'm happy to dodge them on fly. But I don't want to circle swim with them. If I were you, Barb, I would be pissed at having my ankle repeatedly grabbed.
Besides, circle swimming just reinforces circle swimming. Don't want to be circle swimming in meets. (Just watched my daughter do this big time her last 200 free.) Nice to have a chance to swim straight when you're not practicing with the team.
Don't worry, Barb, Muppet won't think it's a "scrap." More likely to laugh and give a :dedhorse: .
