This is really annoying to me, but why does it seem the first option for most rec swimmers is to split the lane when there are 2 swimmers. I always say we should swim circle if I am in the lane and someone else is coming in, but if I am coming in the person usually wants to split the lane. It is so unnatural to be swimming on the left side of the lane.
Granted, once you have swum literally thousands of miles in a circle, that will seem easier.
I wouldn't cede that point so quickly. Teams have to circle swim due to the number of bodies, but at least they practice together daily so they are divided by speed and a limited number of passes occur. At rec pools, we aren't divided that way, and even if we have a routine, the mix of summers varies almost daily.
I circle swam for years on a club team, but much prefer to split in a rec pool where there is no guage on speed. Even the more savvy Y's that have posted speeds for lanes present confusing situations. At a Y in Chicago, I was the fastest in the pool, but at a pool in Arlington VA, I was doing good to keep up with the moderate folks so choosing a lane is guesswork. Fortunately, at my home Y, splitting is only occasionally needed so when it happens, I choose the courteous route and never swim fly or use paddles, and I stagger kick sets to minimize waves.
Granted, once you have swum literally thousands of miles in a circle, that will seem easier.
I wouldn't cede that point so quickly. Teams have to circle swim due to the number of bodies, but at least they practice together daily so they are divided by speed and a limited number of passes occur. At rec pools, we aren't divided that way, and even if we have a routine, the mix of summers varies almost daily.
I circle swam for years on a club team, but much prefer to split in a rec pool where there is no guage on speed. Even the more savvy Y's that have posted speeds for lanes present confusing situations. At a Y in Chicago, I was the fastest in the pool, but at a pool in Arlington VA, I was doing good to keep up with the moderate folks so choosing a lane is guesswork. Fortunately, at my home Y, splitting is only occasionally needed so when it happens, I choose the courteous route and never swim fly or use paddles, and I stagger kick sets to minimize waves.
