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 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
Interesting. You NEVER ask permission to join and purposefully jump in what you perceive to be the lane-hogger lane, but ALWAYS give them the choice of circling or swimming side by side. You obviously have the right to hop in. But is it necessarily better to have a "first come first serve" mindset? Maybe they would choose differently if they knew how fast you are. Or, maybe if they're hogging the lane, they're faster than you and don't mind circle swimming? Seems doubtful.
I must admit I never really "ask" to join a lane either; I just try to make my presence known in a courteous manner and ask for a "side." My own experience, just my own of course, is that pure lap swimmers generally don't like to be constantly swum over and around. I guess if someone really objected to my request for a "side," I'd just swim circles and, if it was a problem, hope another lane opens up. It just wouldn't be my preference because I would likely be going a different speed, doing different strokes and doing a much different interval-based workout.
I spend a lot of time at my rec center and health club pool during the school year when I can't get to my team practices as much. I think people have gotten used to me. Courtesy generally helps. I'm even buddies with one of the elderly "walkers." I shared a lane with her once.
As to Kirk's point, no one at my rec pool EVER follows the slow, medium, fast signs that are prominently posted. They might as well not exist. (Just like the starting blocks.) Everyone just hops in an open lane or asks to join. So far, it seems to all work out and I haven't seen the need for a "pool mother."
But, Barb, I'm happy to villify the guy who grabbed your ankles repeatedly. As Bud commented, that is just rude. A little courtesy or communication would have been nice. I'm not feeling really bad for the guy just because he had to swim against a wall. It's a rec pool. He doesn't have the right to "perfect" practice conditions. We're all just trying to get some exercise and maybe a good workout. OMG, Geek actually agreed with me on something, ankle grabbing.
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
Interesting. You NEVER ask permission to join and purposefully jump in what you perceive to be the lane-hogger lane, but ALWAYS give them the choice of circling or swimming side by side. You obviously have the right to hop in. But is it necessarily better to have a "first come first serve" mindset? Maybe they would choose differently if they knew how fast you are. Or, maybe if they're hogging the lane, they're faster than you and don't mind circle swimming? Seems doubtful.
I must admit I never really "ask" to join a lane either; I just try to make my presence known in a courteous manner and ask for a "side." My own experience, just my own of course, is that pure lap swimmers generally don't like to be constantly swum over and around. I guess if someone really objected to my request for a "side," I'd just swim circles and, if it was a problem, hope another lane opens up. It just wouldn't be my preference because I would likely be going a different speed, doing different strokes and doing a much different interval-based workout.
I spend a lot of time at my rec center and health club pool during the school year when I can't get to my team practices as much. I think people have gotten used to me. Courtesy generally helps. I'm even buddies with one of the elderly "walkers." I shared a lane with her once.
As to Kirk's point, no one at my rec pool EVER follows the slow, medium, fast signs that are prominently posted. They might as well not exist. (Just like the starting blocks.) Everyone just hops in an open lane or asks to join. So far, it seems to all work out and I haven't seen the need for a "pool mother."
But, Barb, I'm happy to villify the guy who grabbed your ankles repeatedly. As Bud commented, that is just rude. A little courtesy or communication would have been nice. I'm not feeling really bad for the guy just because he had to swim against a wall. It's a rec pool. He doesn't have the right to "perfect" practice conditions. We're all just trying to get some exercise and maybe a good workout. OMG, Geek actually agreed with me on something, ankle grabbing.
