When does being acceptable turn to rude?
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ps what is circle swimming ?0
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She's rude and way out of order. Get in that lane with her.
I don't ask and never will - it's not the other swimmers' pool any more than it is mine so I don't think I need to ask anyone's permission.
If someone has paid for private use of a lane then the lifeguards put a marker board at each end to let everyone know.
What I do is watch for a minute to judge which swim lane has the pace nearest mine then get in - when there's a gap. I find it easier to swim in a busy lane of 5 at the right pace then share with 1 or 2 that I'm too fast or too slow to swim comfortably with.
The continuous swim lanes at the pools I use (public pools) have direction boards to show that lane is either clockwise and anti-clockwise - works great when people don't ignore them!
If neither of the swimming lanes suit then I take my chances in the 'free swimming' half of the pool. Not great for intense sets but I can practice sighting and get the chaotic feel of a mass start.
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My Home Town pool is 6 lanes - so they set up 3 double wide lanes ( Slow, Medium and Fast ) that can accommodate 3 swimmers across per lane. So when a 4th swimmer shows up is when we have to revert to circle swimming.
If I am the 4th I watch the Pattern and Speed of the Lanes to see which one I am most closely matched to ( medium or fast ) then I do the Dangle your feet over the edge of the pool while waiting for the swimmers to get to the end of the pool and acknowledge me.
Like everyone else on here we always seem to have those special people who can't read the writing on the 4 ft High Signs indicating what the lane speeds are or that circle swimming is recommended for more than 2 people.
I once had a person jump into the pool and start swimming without establishing contact with me. I was the only person in the Lane and he never established what pattern I was doing ( Circle or Lane) . I was doing lane swim single sided lateral breathing/arm stroke exercises in the Lane tight to the wall forcing me to do a nice clean high elbow zipper- so I never saw him coming at me since I was always looking at the wall when breathing. The lifeguard was on the far side of the pool and had no chance at getting around the pool to prevent the collision. Like a car crash the larger vehicle ( me ) tends to push the smaller vehicle around. Well I buried the guy - neither of us was hurt - but the life guard pulled him out of the pool and gave him a long talk about pool etiquette and then told him to leave the pool for the day. The life guard smiled and waved at me.
It turns out that this was not his first incident.0 -
My $0.02.
It is always rude to say NO to lane sharing when the pool is crowded. In fact, check the pool rules. It probably mandates sharing and even oval swimming if really crowded.
I only ask if the person happens to be at the end of the pool I'm about to jump into. Other wise I just jump in and wait until they get back to the end again so they know they are sharing. Reduces chances of scaring the other person
It is the height of selfishness to think one can claim an entire lane when people are waiting.
The other night I did ovals with 2 other people that were slower than I am. (hard to believe)
Luckily the women's husband didn't have much stamina so I had plenty of room to pass every 3rd lap. But sharing is what one is supposed to do. (One Y I visited told me that requiring sharing up to 5 swimming oval in a lane when it is busy)
Again, check the rules. You'll probably find that pool rules require lane sharing.0 -
Most at my pool also ask, but if the swimmer is either ignoring you or is just concentrating so hard that they can't see you, most will sit on the edge of the pool in the middle of the lane with their feet in the water so that the swimmer can't avoid you, then ask.
Yesterday was a new one. There was a therapist/PT with a client and they took up a whole lane to do exercises/therapy in one end. This is stuff usually reserved for the warm pool or done in the lane by the steps and ramp. It wasn't crowded but there was one lane (of 5) that had 2 people in it.
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You know what I hate.................You know what I hate
I hate it when you swim laps and there’s an empty lane next to you but a swimmer decides to join in your lane.
I hate it when a slow swimmer gets in the medium lane or worse still the fast lane !
I hate it when a swimmer swims on the wrong side of the lane.
I hate it when a swimmer swims down the centre of the lane.
I hate it when a swimmer pushes off to start their training as you’re just about to turn and they break your rhythm.
I hate it when some kid has done a “polly waffle” in the pool. (think Caddy Shack)
I hate it when people talk all over the end of a lane so you can’t tumble turn without placing a foot on them. (mmmm. I’ll think about that).
I hate breastroke. Sorry breastrokers but it hurts my knees, I’m slow it and it looks funny.
I hate swimmers that do backstroke and swim zig zag style down the pool.
I hate pools that are over chlorinated so it burns the skin.
I hate it when a fast swimmer gets in a medium or slow lane to show off.
I hate it when referees hold you on the blocks and wait for the big fat guy to wobble so they can DQ.
I hate it when a swimmer stops halfway for a rest.
I hate it when the ugly old guy keeps his speedos one season too long and they become see through.
I hate it when the changerooms have no hot water.
I hate it when you’re swimming a real good time for 800m and some guy is laying on the bottom of the pool with bluish skin and you have only done 400m.
I hate it when you get that guilty feeling at 600m that you should check on him.
I hate it when you have completed your 800m and its not your best time as the guy took your mind off the swim.
I hate it when I cant swim.
In all seriousness I just really like swimming
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Next time: don't ask; get in the lane when her back is turned, and she is at the opposite end; wait for her to make it back to your end; without saying a word, take off on one side of the lane. She will be forced to split, and if she flips out at you, ignore her and keep swimming. She's in the wrong, and she knows or ought to know it based on her many interactions with lifeguards telling her that she must split the lane. Asking to split a lane with somebody is the polite thing to do. Agreeing to split the lane is also the polite thing to do. You've made several attempts to be polite, and she hasn't reciprocated. If she doesn't want to play nice, you don't have to either.0
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Next time: don't ask; get in the lane when her back is turned, and she is at the opposite end; wait for her to make it back to your end; without saying a word, take off on one side of the lane. She will be forced to split, and if she flips out at you, ignore her and keep swimming. She's in the wrong, and she knows or ought to know it based on her many interactions with lifeguards telling her that she must split the lane. Asking to split a lane with somebody is the polite thing to do. Agreeing to split the lane is also the polite thing to do. You've made several attempts to be polite, and she hasn't reciprocated. If she doesn't want to play nice, you don't have to either.
Exactly.
That is what I do. The only time I ask is if they happen to be at the end of the pool at the same time I get there.
When I'm swimming alone in the lane I only use half the lane and make it obvious that lane splitting is fine with me. So used to it that even if I'm the only one in the pool I don't swim in the middle.0 -
I swim at the gym I belong to. Like many others, depending on when you go, you usually get to know the same swimmers and (in some cases) their routines. I'm a "the more the merrier" kind of person.
I'm training for a long distance swim, so for me it's not so much about speed at this point, but trying to build my endurance. I'll work on speed a bit later (PM me if I'm going about things the wrong way...always looking for new insights into training). So I personally never mind sharing a lane with someone. In fact, I find that when I do share a lane, it motivates me to push myself even further.
It took me a bit to learn the rhythm of my pool. When two people are sharing a lane, one swims on one side (the wall) and the other swims on the other (closer to the lane marker). A few weeks ago, I'm swimming and notice a commotion in the lane next to me. It was loud enough to make several swimmers stop mid-stroke and those in the nearby hot tub take notice.
Two women entered the pool and started swimming/walking/doing water aerobics in one lane. This lane was previously occupied by one woman who moved to the lane-marker side when she saw the two women get in on the edge-side.
The two women, unaware of our pool's etiquette, went up the edge-side and then turned and went down the lane-marker side, causing the first swimmer to run into them. The commotion was the first swimmer using some choice language, yelling at the women and exclaiming, "you're not even swimming!"
I'm sure you could make an argument that the women weren't really swimming and had gotten in the woman's way. You can also make the argument that the first woman needs to calm down.
I mentioned this point because I am with all of you - it's ridiculous for the person OP is talking about to say "no" when asked to share a lane. Life isn't that serious. THINGS aren't that serious. And no one is the Queen of the Pool...especially if it isn't your pool.0 -
I definitely understand the woman swimming getting upset with the other 2 who were walking/exercising for the collision, but sometimes people (swimmers or not) don't necessarily know the etiquette & just need it explained to them. Repeated offenses definitely require a stronger response, but explaining it the first time instead of yelling & cursing is probably much more effective in making the actual point.....0
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I definitely understand the woman swimming getting upset with the other 2 who were walking/exercising for the collision, but sometimes people (swimmers or not) don't necessarily know the etiquette & just need it explained to them. Repeated offenses definitely require a stronger response, but explaining it the first time instead of yelling & cursing is probably much more effective in making the actual point.....
Absolutely! It can be frustrating to be "in the zone" and be interrupted by running into someone. And sometimes newbies don't always know the rules of a particular pool.0
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