i swim in the medium to slower lanes at a very competitive masters team workouts in san diego, and am usually asked to slide down to slower lanes when the equal ability swimmers (vs triathletes) show up.
the funny thing is most of these swimmers use a pull bouy or fins for the WHOLE workout. i think it's a ego thing in la-la land.
i would like to swim with people who can push me harder, instead of down in the last slowest lane. should i just chalk it up to normal swimmers protocal? or find another team? :confused:
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Former Member
If you're not keeping up with the other people in the lane, regardless of what equipment you or they are using, then you should move down.
My question is what is "keeping up?" I think different people have different definitions of this. . .
Is it going last and just getting behind and making interval - barely?
Missing interval but not getting lapped?
Getting lapped only once by a lane leader (they are really fast) in a set and still making the interval?
Getting lapped by half the lane (only once in a set) and still making the interval?
Making the interval, not getting lapped, but needing to rest for a 50 once or twice during a set?
Seems silly to try and go through all the scenarios. I see why people have such trouble with this.
I'll take it to another extreme example. You normally swim in the fast lane. But you injured your shoulder (for example), so you need to swim a lot slower. Now, if your shoulder wasn't hurting, you'd be just as fast as everyone else. Do you stay in the fast lane, but swim slower, because all things being equal, that's where you'd be? Of course not.
Interestingly, I've seen top masters swimmers (national and world) still stay in the fast lane injured and just do their own thing. And on the flip side, I've been injured or was getting over an illness and I tried to get in a slower lane and was not allowed to do so by the coach. I'm starting to think there are no rules b/c it all depends. . .
If you're not keeping up with the other people in the lane, regardless of what equipment you or they are using, then you should move down.
My question is what is "keeping up?" I think different people have different definitions of this. . .
Is it going last and just getting behind and making interval - barely?
Missing interval but not getting lapped?
Getting lapped only once by a lane leader (they are really fast) in a set and still making the interval?
Getting lapped by half the lane (only once in a set) and still making the interval?
Making the interval, not getting lapped, but needing to rest for a 50 once or twice during a set?
Seems silly to try and go through all the scenarios. I see why people have such trouble with this.
I'll take it to another extreme example. You normally swim in the fast lane. But you injured your shoulder (for example), so you need to swim a lot slower. Now, if your shoulder wasn't hurting, you'd be just as fast as everyone else. Do you stay in the fast lane, but swim slower, because all things being equal, that's where you'd be? Of course not.
Interestingly, I've seen top masters swimmers (national and world) still stay in the fast lane injured and just do their own thing. And on the flip side, I've been injured or was getting over an illness and I tried to get in a slower lane and was not allowed to do so by the coach. I'm starting to think there are no rules b/c it all depends. . .