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
And to continue, when it all comes down to it, this is all about common courtesy. I don't think any of us are at all trying to discourage anyone from actually getting in the pool, as we all love the sport. But I understand Barb's experience, and that it probably happens way too much and has discouraged way too many people from getting into a pool again. Hopefully we can all be good ambassadors and work with facilities to help set good, enforced policies to get everyone into the water that wants to.
And to continue, when it all comes down to it, this is all about common courtesy. I don't think any of us are at all trying to discourage anyone from actually getting in the pool, as we all love the sport. But I understand Barb's experience, and that it probably happens way too much and has discouraged way too many people from getting into a pool again. Hopefully we can all be good ambassadors and work with facilities to help set good, enforced policies to get everyone into the water that wants to.
