What's the proper lane etiquette for the following scenario:
You're swimming during common lap swim with two other people who are your speed. The three of you are doing a set workout on specific intervals. You arrived early so you could get a lane. Most other lanes have 2 people in them and are being split.
A fourth person who you do not know (but have seen swim before) wants to join your lane since the other lanes are filled with non-competitive swimmer types. This person is quite a bit faster than the three of you are. The three of you still want to do your workout.
Do you:
a) abandon the workout in order to stay out of this faster guy's way
b) tell him he's welcome to join the workout but that he can lead since he's faster (but you still pick the interval)
c) tell him he's welcome to join the workout, and try to keep up with him in vain when he swims intervals that are impossible for you to keep.
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Former Member
I think that there are some really great replies here.
Yea, paddles and butterfly are not necessarily a great combo for the shoulders. I would avoid that.
I second the others' responses here, particularly Muppet's. What I've done before (in addition to the fly trick) is stop when I see someone hovering over the lane and explain what we're ALL doing and that they are welcome to join in our set; however we are doing the set on x intervals and if that works, she's welcome to join on in! As long as you three stick together on your set, I think that a faster swimmer would quickly become annoyed at not being able to fit in (passing 3 swimmers every few laps is no fun for all parties) and look for another lane situation.
On the flip side, when I've been the faster swimmer or even just the swimmer who comes late to a packed lap swim, I'll actually wait (gasp!) until there's a lane that makes sense for me to join. I build that extra time into my workout and by waiting, I've found that 1. I don't have to ever wait very long 2. that people really appreciate it and are sure to finish up or invite me over if it makes sense for me to share the lane. Plus, I like to watch different swimming sytles. But okay, I realize that "La La land" is rare.
I think that there are some really great replies here.
Yea, paddles and butterfly are not necessarily a great combo for the shoulders. I would avoid that.
I second the others' responses here, particularly Muppet's. What I've done before (in addition to the fly trick) is stop when I see someone hovering over the lane and explain what we're ALL doing and that they are welcome to join in our set; however we are doing the set on x intervals and if that works, she's welcome to join on in! As long as you three stick together on your set, I think that a faster swimmer would quickly become annoyed at not being able to fit in (passing 3 swimmers every few laps is no fun for all parties) and look for another lane situation.
On the flip side, when I've been the faster swimmer or even just the swimmer who comes late to a packed lap swim, I'll actually wait (gasp!) until there's a lane that makes sense for me to join. I build that extra time into my workout and by waiting, I've found that 1. I don't have to ever wait very long 2. that people really appreciate it and are sure to finish up or invite me over if it makes sense for me to share the lane. Plus, I like to watch different swimming sytles. But okay, I realize that "La La land" is rare.
