I remember the noodler thread of a long time ago, and I just kinda laughed at the idea of how annoyed some swimmers were with the "noodling". Today, I had a particularly ugly encounter with some noodlers.
I haven't swam since my unfortunate exit, after the 200 IM, at Nationals. Tuesday and Wednesday I had really bad food poisoning that had me laid out the entire time (when I wasn't yakking my guts out!), and on top of it all, I'm one month pregnant with number 4. (Happy about pregnancy, not so much about the other things).
So, my first day back swimming was today at the gym, on this beautiful, sunny 75 degree day. Ahhh. There's a 5 lane 25m pool. Albeit too warm because of the charming noodlers!
I got in, swam an easy 1000, and then the noodler class started. I was in lane 2 as lane 1 is really narrow. I knew that the noodlers get lanes 3-5. I went to push off the wall and a noodler was about 7 meters out right in front of me. Good thing I looked, or she would have had some owies. I stopped and looked at her (she couldn't see the glare in my eyes because I had my goggles on). She just stood there looking at me. A "friend" of hers said, "Do you want to move over?" She asked. I said, "No. I don't." To which she replied, "We get three lanes." I said, "You HAVE three lanes." Apparently, when a lane line isn't in, that counts as one! Long and short of it is I moved over.
It gets better. The "lady" (blue suit) who told me about how many lanes they get started chipping on me as I was swimming/kicking. I held my tongue for awhile and then suggested that she "grow up."
I finished 2,000m which was just right for me, now, and was sitting on the deck, while a guy who was obviously waiting for our ONE lane, got in. I was watching the noodlers noticing that of the 25 of them or so, they were all much older ladies or younger, MUCH heavier "ladies". I'm guessing over 300 pounds, which might account for their ill temper. Blue suit was probably pushing 350. As I was sitting their I saw her turn around, look right at me, and clear as day, say to her friend, "The b!t@h got out!" I couldn't believe my ears, was she kidding me?!
I walked over to her and from the side said, "Do you have a problem with me?" She said, "No. Why?" And I said, "I have a problem being called a b!t#h for no good reason." She didn't answer again, but her friend said, "She didn't say that." I told her that I clearly heard her. She said, "She doesn't even use words like that. She said, 'You got out.' " (Oh, they sound so similar! Plus it doesn't even make sense, she wasn't talking to me! Anyway...)
I said again, "If you have a problem I think you should talk to me." She still didn't answer. Her friend said, "If you have a problem, maybe you should go to the front desk." I said, "I'd rather work it out with you." So, I hadn't thought of going to the front desk, but it sounded good.
The manager came over and I pointed them out and he said he'd give me a call... we'll see.
I couldn't believe the rudeness. I'm sure not all noodlers are that rude, but she was over the top.
Former Member
I think the reason most people are either clueless or rude about swimming is because anyone can jump in a pool and having a suit apparently qualifies you as a swimmer. No lardo would go on a basketball court, golf course, tennis court or baseball field without any knowledge of the game or the rules, yet give some 350 pound granny a noodle and she's the new authority on swimming.
The ironic thing is that most pools go out of their way to post signs and rules whereas other sporting areas generally don't post a thing.
In my brief visit to the pool yesterday (I got to the deck before the storm shut the pool) two things I noted were: The aquarobic class were damn fit looking ladies. Not a large gal among them...shattering the Water Buffalo image. The other thing was the guy swimming FR with an almost butterfly recovery...it wouldn't matter that he refused to move over...he was going to collide with that wide recovery...my buddy said it didn't bother him..he'd whack him a few times back...sadly thunder and lighting nixed my anticipated moments of amusement watching them share the lane...
If you want a lane to yourself, just bring a monofin. Most people take one look at that device, and look for another lane.
:bouncing:
...or a timing clock. A woman did that Wednesday. The pool was full so I offered to split the lane. By the time I swam a lap (granted I'm slow but its a SCY pool). She was in her own lane and I was the only other swimmer!
I bet the person you said "50 fly" thought you were going to swim "50 laps of fly" most noodlers and others don't understand some of our terms.
My worst experience was colliding head on with a woman who got into the lane I was in while I was at the other end, and she started swimming up the middle. :doh:KaPow - I saw stars for quite a while, she just looked stunned and then got out shortly thereafter.
I really try to be gracious and offer to share a lane, sometimes though I think all the stuff, water bottle, fins, pull buoy, kick board, workout paper, stacked up at the end of the lane make people think twice...intimidation through toys certainly not ability.
In our pool we always circle, those are the rules posted and someone may join your lane at any time (no one would ever ask to share a lane) but it largely succeeds. It is just those whose definition of 'fast' differs from reality who sometimes clog up the works.
In our pool we always circle, those are the rules posted and someone may join your lane at any time (no one would ever ask to share a lane) but it largely succeeds. It is just those whose definition of 'fast' differs from reality who sometimes clog up the works.
Fast is relative though. I could come to the pool where three lanes are posted slow, medium and fast. In lane one is the 95 year old woman who swims a mile everyday, very slowly, but good gracious if I am doing that at 95, I will be happy. Lane 2 is a person who swims 50's in about 1:00, faster than the 95 year old, but not speedy. Lane 3 is the speedy swimmer that easily is under 30 for the 50. I am a lot faster than lane 2, but if I get with lane 3, I am in the way because I would get lapped and lapped and lapped. Lane 2 and 1 are going to be afraid to swim with me, lane 3 is going to find be a nuisance.
I would chose 2 or 3 depending on the person and what I know about them, leaning toward 3 because at the pool I swim at, lane 3 people are rare, and when they get out, I would be in the appropriate lane.
In our pool we always circle, those are the rules posted and someone may join your lane at any time (no one would ever ask to share a lane) but it largely succeeds. It is just those whose definition of 'fast' differs from reality who sometimes clog up the works.
So Canadian Peter isn't it nice to live in such a civilized country, except in the winter???
So Canadian Peter isn't it nice to live in such a civilized country, except in the winter???
Yeah, but since your winter lasts 11 months I would rethink the possibilities. I got snowed on the head on a 4th of July in Canada, and the guide said it snows everyday in Canada. I must confess I was on top of some darn mountain in the Lake Louise area. My problem with sharing lanes, which occurs at most practices nowadays, is that I sometimes hit my fingernails or hand on the lane markers and once in awhile will actually hit or get hit by a neighboring swimmer on the arms and sometimes in the legs...but hey, remember way back when you shared lanes with a bunch of fast teenagers with no goggles?
Where I live we get a heckuva lot less snow than the American midwest, maritime climate blesses us here; I always accept that there could be wide variations in what 'fast' is, the ones I was referring to are virtual floaters who twitch their way up and down the lane.
Rich, I almost mowed over another little kid cutting through my lane tonight - twice. Same non-reaction from the lifeguards. This time, though, I think the mom saw how hard I was coming off the wall the second time and had her daughter play way far away from me. Which is a good thing, cause if I got injured the week of the bay swim, there'd be some serious wrath.
:dedhorse::duel::frustrated:
I was ready for a fist fight last night when this A-hole jumped in the lane as I was touching the wall. Thankfully it was the last touch of a 100, but if I'd have flipped there'd have been an injury.
No warning. No asking. No just get in and wait in the corner so I see you and move over.
I said "WTF?" as I spun round and angrily stared out from behind my "mirrored" goggles (that's intimidating for many folks anyhow b/c you can't see the eyes).
He quickly changed lanes to be with his buddy when the next lane had space. I always wonder what the guards are doing when this **** happens. I guess b/c I'm a known swimmer to them they don't worry about watching me so much but I was really pissed off.
