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
Parents
Former Member
I started this thread to find out what the "norms" are for swimming 2 or 2+ per lane, not to vilify the my lanemate. I wanted to find out how to handle this situation, and through all your replies, I have some ideas on what's ok to do and what's not and what's a coin toss.
In hindsight, I could have done a couple of things differently. For one, even though he was in the slow lane, I saw that he was a fast swimmer, so when he requested that we circle, I should have....
If he was swimming fast in the slow lane and tapping your feet every 75 yards, you can point out to him that he is in the slow lane. If he does not move and continues to be a jerk, you have every right to get the lifeguard to move him out of the slow lane. Lifeguards are supposed to monitor that kind of stuff so tensions don't escalate during what is meant to be leisure time.
These kinds of things are why I advocate organized masters programs and think one should avoid open rec swim at all costs. There are still tiffs that happen at masters, but nothing like open rec swim. It's worse than the LA freeway.
I started this thread to find out what the "norms" are for swimming 2 or 2+ per lane, not to vilify the my lanemate. I wanted to find out how to handle this situation, and through all your replies, I have some ideas on what's ok to do and what's not and what's a coin toss.
In hindsight, I could have done a couple of things differently. For one, even though he was in the slow lane, I saw that he was a fast swimmer, so when he requested that we circle, I should have....
If he was swimming fast in the slow lane and tapping your feet every 75 yards, you can point out to him that he is in the slow lane. If he does not move and continues to be a jerk, you have every right to get the lifeguard to move him out of the slow lane. Lifeguards are supposed to monitor that kind of stuff so tensions don't escalate during what is meant to be leisure time.
These kinds of things are why I advocate organized masters programs and think one should avoid open rec swim at all costs. There are still tiffs that happen at masters, but nothing like open rec swim. It's worse than the LA freeway.
