Water Walkers!

We've got this one guy who swims for a little over an hour. Problem is he's doing something that looks like treading water with some marginal forward momentum. I'm not exactly speedy and I'm doing 100-150 Yds in the time this guy does 25 Yds. Never gets his hair wet and does this frog kick thing with a treading water/breast stroke stroke but no real pull. Dunno, is there a shallow end you can suggest for your water walkers? If they're walking ON the water, that's a different story altogether, though.

Instead of circle swimming, why not just stay on one side of one of the lanes used by the "water-walkers"?.

I usually end up hugging a lane rope more often than circle swimming in the pool that I go to.  


 

Edited by mandsberry 2009-07-27 11:51 AM

If they walked ON the water, I would not even question them.  the problem is, some of these women are so sweet, they probably could- I don't want to upset them...

Hugging one side of their walking lane is a possibility, but I would think a little bit "on the nose"... like- who does this guy think he is...

The pool I go to just finally put up signs saying you must circle swim I was laughing since no one else there seemed to get this concept when I started. I was just one person up and down the left side and one person up and down the right side. Worked for me actually since most of the people are swimming at 1/4 the pace I keep.

The pool is 3 lanes roped off and 3 lanes open. If one person is in each of the roped off lanes the 4th to show up usually just uses the first open lane next to the 3 roped off lanes. If no one is in there doing noodles or walking someone usually will jump in the next one over as well if a 5th shows up.. As people file in for walking and noodling people in the lanes either double up (since no one was circle swimming) or move over as they open up.

The people water walking don't seem to have any problem with the people using the open lanes. They are usually walking the width of the pool and just time themselves so that they are not in the persons ways. Only time they don't do the width is really when I am in that lane since generally they can't get out of the way fast enough I'm usually in a lane by the time they start though.

Only thing to note would be markers in the open lanes. My pool keeps the deep end back stroke flags down since they use the open half for diving I guess later in the day. So there is only a shallow end flag and half way flag. When I am in the lanes that are roped off I can use the marker on the ropes to know that is where the flag would be and correlating spot on the roof I chose that day. If I am in the open lane I have to sort of judge all by markers and dipping my head back.  So if you are in the open lanes doing backstroke and do flip turns you may need an alternate method of checking your distance.

so yeah I don't see why you can't work something out with the walkers if you have to go in one of the open lanes.

I showed up to my pool once and there was one walker in each lane. Two of them were walking side by side... in their own lanes... talking up and down the lane.

I promptly got on the edge of the pool and told them I would use just one side of the lane... I was going to stay left... so the guy could stay right and talk to his friend on the right side in the other lane.

He decided to move on over and get the lane with her.

Now, I might add... I think they barely fit side by side in one lane... so I can see why they were walking in seperate lanes.

Sometimes, you just have to politely push your way into a lane. Make suggestions... in a nice way... on how everyone can fit in the pool. Some people will listen, others might get p@ssy. Just gotta take a shot and see what happens.

These people are the reason I quit my gym...that and the fact that they scheduled a water fitness class from 6:15-7:15 every day which means the pool was packed from about 5:45-7:30 with these people getting there early to get a spot or staying late because the class went over. This is M-F...Even if I could get into the pool by 7:30 all of these, usually old ladies, would should up and just get into the middle of a lane without asking or announcing they were there and then get upset if someone ran into them. My gym did nothing to regulate the lanes, never would create and actaul "Lap Swim Time" for lap swim only even if it was just a few of the lanes. Got to the point where I could not get a swim in unless I started after 8 and when you already get up at 5 to make it to work on time...well that just did not work for me. If I actually need a pool now because I cant swim outside I just pony up the 4 bucks and go the the local community center/pool which is a huge pool, with set lap swim times for adults only, lifeguards who enforce the rules, and generally friendly staff all around. (not to mention it is a lot cleaner inside and out, only thing I do not like is that it is a chlorine pool vs. Bromine & Saline. Anyway try asking nicely, if that does not work then just swim, they will either move or get run over, they pay to use the pool but so do you!

can't water walkers circle walk??

anybody seen any of the deep water walkers with their foot floats, float belts and wrist floats, geeze they make me giggle every time!

I just do cannonballs right next to them.  It usually makes them leave.

Actually once our outdoor pool opened up the water walkers don't seem to be too bad.  But they aren't outdoors either, nor are they indoors.  They just kind of disappeared. 

Though I think our pool has finally cracked down on the non-lap swimmers in the lap lanes.  Even the teenage life guards who won't stand up to a 5 year old girl have started to grow a backbone.

Is there any benefit to Aqua Jogging other than it's better than being on the couch eating cheetos?  Would plain walking be better?

Try it yourself.  Walking in the water is not easy.  Boring, yes, but a good workout and low impact on the joints.  Especially for older or injured people.  Occassionally I see relatively fit people water-jogging.  Most of them were doing rehab of some sort. 
I bought a set of those floaties for my mom and happy to see her using them regularly. 

Those floaties things help keep the person floating so that the jogger can concerntrate on the walking/jogging motions instead of wasting energy floating.  it is difficult to "float" upright anways. 
You might see some people holding bumbbell-looking stuffs.  Use it like a dumbbell in the water, pretty difficult to push.  I told me mom to use them, as it's like weight training. 

Edited by D.K. 2009-07-28 7:44 AM

At my pool before it closed they had a sign that said "Walkers/Joggers - Swim lanes are for swimmers ONLY".  That solved that problem.

To comment on the actual activity ... I pool ran for almost 3 weeks this past month.  I needed some time off as I was having a lot of trouble with my shins.  It's harder than it looks (although I was actually running) and you do need some sort of flotation to keep you from treading water instead of running.  When I went back to regular running I had lost no fitness at all and felt great.  So I guess it does work.  (This being said - I don't think this is the problem being discussed.  It's the people who are using it as their "social time".... or a very, very relaxed workout...)

Do a search on it, I've read about a number of people doing part to most of their marathon training aquajogging and a couple noted runners doing their entire training for some where they only were on the road for the actual race and in the pool for everything else. There are a few here on this board who have had stress fractures, shin splints and such and couldn't run one step on the road who have used it to keep going on their training as well. Yes, there is a benefit. I'm not sure aquajogging is what the OP is talking about though, more the ones who are just strolling along without a care in the world.

I just want to be clear... I have no problem withthe water jogging, and all of their flotation devices etc.  This exercise is bar-none the best for older folks with bad joints, heavy folks trying to take stress of their joints, and rehab patients.  I APPLAUDE THEIR EFFORTS.  However, it just seems like you could pack more of them in one lane and not lose any "productivity".  When I can break a 2:00/100 I ll put up more of a stink.  For now, im content to have a lane to swim in....

A LANE TO SWIM IN - is that too much to ask Mable?  Do you think possibly, that you and Millie could walk with Ester and Rose in the next lane?  By the way, thanks for making cookies and leaving them at the front desk for everyone....

Ungh!

Yeah, I don't think any of us have an issue with water walkers... more power to them! I think the issue is that most of them like to be in a lane by themselves. Whereas if they would circle walk, they could easily share a lane, allowing for another people to swim in an open lane.

Luckily our indoor pool has a lazy river with dedicated times for the water walkers!!

What time are the open  floating /cocktail hours?

I would agree that I have no actual problem with the water walkers. In fact when I was able to get in a swim at my pool I often shared a lane with a 30 something guy who was doing water walking/aqua jogging for rehab on a knee injury. he would occasionally be doing water sprints as part of his workout and he was as fast or faster than my 1000 meter pace so that was not an issue. Again like others it is those using it as social hour, not respecting lane usage (jumping into the middle of a lane without announcing anything) and those who would get upset by me swimming in a lane with them. As an aside, I later ran into the guy mentioned above on a local trail out for an actual run and he said his doctor had never had anyone recover as fast as him thanks to his water walking to rebuild strength, it definately has benefits! Also the aqua aerobics classes are great for elderly, disabled, larger folks to get in a good organized workout that is focused.

Then I'd want to use the lazy river as a treadmill or swim around it without stopping.  I'd still be annoyed by them.

I could see the aqua-jogging/walking having it's benefits.  I just didn't know if there was a point.  I thought a lot of it was just the typical Monday guilt.  As in someone went out and stuffed their face with cheese cake over the weekend and feel that walking around in water for a hour will get rid of what they ate.  But I do understand the older people doing it, I just wonder if they ever take steps above that, such as a stationary bike.

I will admit that I looked down upon it because when I started swimming it was in the winter and all the aqua joggers/walkers would just take up the lanes like crazy.  Yet, the leisure pool right next to it was abandoned but only 20yards across and major chlorine amounts.