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
Former Member
But as I began with, I think it is a bit premature to pass judgement on this unknown swimmer since we don't know how he perceived the situation.
Awww...I gotta put away the pitch fork now??
While reading through this thread, the whole thing I was thinking is that we know one side of the story....what about the guy's version?? Maybe he was planning to do some fly and didn't want to be hitting the lane lines--or you? Maybe he was expecting some other folks to join, or they had just left? The possibilities are nearly limitless on why he preferred to circle.
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 waited until I could either have split with another swimmer (where speed doesn't matter) or waited for a lane to slow up enough that we all could circle comfortably. I would never intentionally insert myself into a fast circle. Last week, I got invited to circle with two solid swimmers who were starting their cool-down (they had seen me swim previously): I swam a little quicker than usual, they swam a little slower. It worked out great. I also should have exited the situation quicker once I realized that he and I were not meant to share a lane, rather than wearing myself out and getting frustrated.
At least the guy asked to share and worked out some sort of plan (even though he insisted on "his" way).....
When I was one of the "more serious rec swimmers" at the local Y, I learned that I always had to swim with my head up, looking forward as I would have people just get in the lane and swim at me, not bothering to work out sides or circling or whatever!!! And I had to get on the Y directors as the lifeguard did nothing to keep me from getting clunked in the head (such as stop the other swimmer who she was supposed to be watching from running right into me).
I seemed to remember another topic and set of posts here somewhere--where there were a few swimmers who were very protective of "THEIR" Lane and would work to get people to move out of it......
I think after having my ankle grabbed more than once, I would have had to return the favor as he passed..... but would have had to hold on firmly for, ...Oh, ....a good 1/2 length or so (veritably skiing behind him, or acting as the lead weight anchor)...:joker:
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.
The club I once swam with in North Vancouver was great, but since we were actually part of the city's recreation program anybody could join in and were hard to turf out for bad behavior. There was this one triathlete who started swimming in our second fastest lane, always wore huge paddles and more often than not swam over people trying to do stroke sets etc. Until I spotted him swimming over my future wife who was doing breastroke at the time (we had commenced dating). Flames shot out of my nostrils as I donned my paddles, ducked under the ropes, and 'passed' him several times in the same manner. Never saw him again, but future wife was briefly angry as she had planned to launch him with a well-placed breastroke kick.
I agree with Kevin. The second person entering the lane should ask the first person whether they'd like to split the lane or circle swim. If he wants to circle it's not going to bother him (or shouldn't) that he's got to pass you regularly. You shouldn't alter your workout to try to avoid him. Just swim how you normally would and let him do his thing.
Count your blessings he asked to swim with you - and hopefully he was gentleman enough to thank you when whichever one of you got out first got out. I agree with Professor Nelson - first person there has squatters rights over circles vs. splits, even though most pool rules specifically mention "CIRCLE SWIM ONLY!!!"
When I am swimming during a rec swim and get a lanemate, I generally see them approaching during turns, etc., and will start taking a side and I finish whatever I am working on. When I stop and they ask to join, I welcome them to the lane, and tell them I will take *this side, and then push off at the closest :05/:10 on the clock to avoid any further interaction, such as you describe. If they don't like the arrangement, they're going to have to deal with it at least until my next interval is up.
To further discourage lanemates, warn them you are doing an interval workout that may include some fly. The massive splashage and wakeage could help to move a quasi-noodler to another lane.
To further discourage lanemates, warn them you are doing an interval workout that may include some fly. The massive splashage and wakeage could help to move a quasi-noodler to another lane.
There is nothing that quite annoys me more than this selfish attitude. I don't care what you are doing, you don't hog your lane cause you are doing some interval work or causing a lot of splash. Share the dang pool. When I can't find my own lane and have to share the first thing I look for is some blowhard who thinks he/she owns the lane and I jump right in with them.
Most people who come into a pool will first look for the empty lane. If you know there aren't empty lanes, you should go to one side of the lane you are in and leave room for other swimmers, regardless of their ability.
As to this situation, some swimmers, especially those who swam competitively for a long time, seem to prefer circle swimming. I have to constantly remind my daughter to not circle swim in meets. It could just be a habit and nothing insidious, although it is more fun to speculate about sinister motives!
