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
It is certainly fair - to you only. I guess if they are ignorant on lane speed choice, you can be ignorant on lane sharing etiquette. It all must even out somewhere down the line and who wouldn't want to swim in a club full of ignorant swimmers?
I don't even ask when I join a lane. I just say "are we cirlcing or side-to-side." I figure if they are already there, they can choose. I NEVER ask permission to join a lane
You know, this brings up a good point and made me think of something that I think may make me change my tune next time I rec swim... Perhaps the rec swimmers have had issues with lanehogs previously, and see my lane as a great place to be. I obviously know what I am doing and swim a lot, and therefore probably have good lane ettiquite, right? Maybe all they need is a friendly lanemate, regardless of speed, who is courteous about sharing!
It is certainly fair - to you only. I guess if they are ignorant on lane speed choice, you can be ignorant on lane sharing etiquette. It all must even out somewhere down the line and who wouldn't want to swim in a club full of ignorant swimmers?
I don't even ask when I join a lane. I just say "are we cirlcing or side-to-side." I figure if they are already there, they can choose. I NEVER ask permission to join a lane
You know, this brings up a good point and made me think of something that I think may make me change my tune next time I rec swim... Perhaps the rec swimmers have had issues with lanehogs previously, and see my lane as a great place to be. I obviously know what I am doing and swim a lot, and therefore probably have good lane ettiquite, right? Maybe all they need is a friendly lanemate, regardless of speed, who is courteous about sharing!
