I can't believe this happened to poor poor me.:violin:
Recently, I was I'm getting into the outdoor pool in my new residence. The pool has one lap lane. Just as I'm setting up, I hear someone say "oh, you live here?" (not too happily). I turn around and see an older woman standing there with more attitude than all my equipment (and I carry a lot). Long story short, she makes it very clear that this is "her time" and "her lane" and people who live there respect that. I was so shocked I gave in to this bully and let her have the lane and swam on the outside but it wasn't very pleasant. At every opportunity she tried to grill me about where I lived, why I wasn't there all summer, :blah::blah:. The primary reason I selected this development was because of the pool, and lap lane. It's already annoying that it opens later than I'm used to and she made it very clear that she would be there every day upon opening. I hate swimming later in the day - it's too hot and breaks up my whole day. I'm ready to move out already! I guess we will have to alternate use of the lap lane because I am not changing my schedule and I don't think I should have to. :dunno:
Former Member
SO Sorry you had to deal with that.
Bully back. Smile and dive right in. That's what I'd have done.
Former Member
Can you have guests? Invite your masters team over.
Former Member
Make sure you do the majority of your workout Butterfly (Very splashy Butterfly) while you're swimming with her....she'll get the idea real quick:bolt:
Former Member
The lane is narrow with ladders along the wall. She does this poor rendition of backstroke - you know the type - all over the lane.
Shoot invite me down. NJ is only a short drive. I'll show her the meaning of wayward backstroke, then spashy fly timed to coordinate with my arriving 1 seconds behind her at the wall.
Stand your ground; don't be rude, just be fair. Acknowledge it's a tight lane but circling with caution around the turns will work. Just wait a full length between swimmers. Or ask the manager to widen the lane a bit more (then you can invite Geek up).
Can you explain again why “it wasn't very pleasant” to swim on the other side of the lane rope?
This coveted narrow lane with ladders along the wall, doesn’t sound like such a great deal to me. Personally I’d rather NOT be swimming in a wall lane.
But back to the question at hand, if you really want the wall lane and you get in it before this little old lady, if she starts to bully you, then respectfully reminder her that you were there first and she can either wait until you are done or choose another lane. If she has a problem with this, then suggest she get the pool manager (not a life guard) and the 3 of you can have a nice friendly chat.
There is no need to be abusive to abusive people and there is no reason that you should be expected to buckle to bullying tactics.
Former Member
hi, Dennis, this is a community where we all pay the same association fee monthly. There are no rights to the lane, just the usual courtesy, although there is a "rule" that you can't use the lane for more than 1/2 hour!
If there is a rule that says it's 1/2 hour per swimmer for the lane, this means that someone in management (who instituted that rule) knows (a vague) something about swimming. Talk to him/her/them and show them the US USMS Masters or whatever posts contain Lane Etiquette rules.
Quite apart from the fact that that "lady" is breaking that 1/2 hour rule, show them the wisdom of having "swimmers" share lanes (even if only the one) responsibly. They can, if they wish, limit the number of "swimmers" who share the lane (depending on the dimensions of the lane) and would, thus, not even need the 1/2 hour rule.
And have them POST whatever decision is agreed upon.
Good Luck.....
N.B. If it were me, I'd jump (or dive in) after telling her that I don't see any sign that lanes are "personal" or "reserved" or "one lane per person" and that since she IS OBVIOUSLY a swimmer (she appreciates lane swimming) she obviously knows how to circle-swim as per FINA. (Don't smile too widely if she asks you, "And who is this Josefina?")
Former Member
Cannonballs in front of her would work pretty effectively too!!!!:lmao::lmao:
Former Member
If it's a smallish pool, I've found that pulling breaststroke can set up some good waves. No kick, use a bouy, paddles help - nice, rhythymic slow strokes and you can find the ideal oscillation point for your particular water volume.
DV
Former Member
You could take a lot of this advice and you could very quickly become the pool Bullie....
George is right, of course. The number of swimmers with attitude around here persuaded me to join a club so they'd be forced to share a lane with me.
Former Member
Well, I for one hate swimming in the lane with a ladder protruding. I envitably hit it with my arm if I am sharing the lane with someone. And butterfly is out of the question on such lane.
I firmly believe in first-come, first-serve unless there is a "sign-up" sheet for the pool lane(s), which I doubt. I seriously doubt that lane has her "name" on it; she just wants it and tries to command it. If I'm there first, I take the lane. If someone wants to try to share, I'll try to also. But if it is a narrow lane and many lap pools are, I'd tell her to come back in an hour and that I'd be happy to get out at that time. And remind her that life is full of sharing and compromises and YOU are making yours by only staying for one hour.
Donna
