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2009-07-01 5:10 PM
in reply to: #2256696

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
I had a similar situation but the completely opposite response (on my part) as the OP.  I was doing a workout with drills.  4 lanes at the pool.  When I started, there was a guy in 1 lane doing butterflies.  There was another lane next to him with 1 swimmer freestyling.  I tried to get the second guy's attention to share a lane, but he ignored me and did a flip turn.  I was going to just jump in and wait for him to get to the end again to see me.  Butterfly guy told me I could have his lane, that he had been splitting a lane with aquaboy, but took over the lane for his butterfly drill.  He gave me a lane to myself, which I thought was very nice.  During the course of my hour long drill, 3 separate people shared my lane for a portion of the swim - a young woman (who later moved to a lane with her friend when there was room), and 2 different older gentlemen - one walker and one slow swimmer.  Both of them also moved over to an emptier lane when available. Everyone asked me, I always said yes and stayed on my half of the lane.  I didn't p*ss anyone off, and still did most of my workout in a single lane; or at least it felt that way.

I'm also a 2 minute/100 yd swimmer, and I know that hogging lanes is always rude.  But 2 wrongs don't make a right, and the guy probably should have either (a) let it go, or (b) told himself "F this guy, I only asked as a courtesy.  I'm taking half the lane", and jumped in.  Maybe give you a courtesy "wait" by standing in his half of the lane until you came close enough to realize you were sharing.


2009-07-01 6:31 PM
in reply to: #2256813

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
ChrisM - 2009-07-01 5:14 PM

I go to the girl lane.   Definitely go to the girl lane



Funny.  I always pick the girl lane too.  Lots of guys get egos.  They swim super fast to hang with you (or beat you), then take tons of rest.  And I'm thinking, oh dude, come on....just swim your dang pace, no one cares! 
2009-07-01 6:34 PM
in reply to: #2257049

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2009-07-01 7:11 PM
in reply to: #2256866


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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
LeahDD - 2009-07-01 4:34 PM
tjfry - 2009-07-01 2:21 PM
ChrisM - 2009-07-01 4:14 PM

I go to the girl lane.   Definitely go to the girl lane




X2. Always pick the cute girl lane over the hairy guy lane. No brainer. I am happy to share, but when the pool is full, I ask if they want to split or circle. I don't ask if I can swim in 'their' lane. That's not up for discussion.



girl lane.


In my pool there is no such thing as a lane to yourself.  Yep, it's either circle or split (if only one other person, which never happens).  I see a lot of posts about having to share a lane and I think it must be a great luxury to mostly have a lane to yourself and to only occasionally have to deal with sharing.  I'm jealous. 



My pool is the same way.  I can't imagine the joys of only having to share with one other person.  I have never, ever had a lane to myself.

It's a six lane pool with cones on each lane labeled Rec, Beginner, Medium, Medium, Fast, Fastest.  The only time it gets too frustrating is when someone is clearly in the wrong lane.  We're all there to do a workout, so I don't care if you're fast or slow (and I'm not fast), but if your workout consists of swimming 10 yards, then grasping onto the lane rope before swimming 10 more, go to the rec or beginner lane (which is where I was six months ago)!

Of course the benefit of a crowded pool is that no one ever bothers to ask to share, it's assumed you'll share with at least one other person, and probably two or three.
2009-07-01 7:32 PM
in reply to: #2256696

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
Ikanuba - 2009-07-01 3:34 PM Hi All

Had a situation arise today at the pool and was wondering what is the proper etiquette for this scenario:

1. 3 lane / 25 yard pool at the gym. All 3 lanes have someone in them.
  • Lane 1 (larger lane) - Lady doing slow laps, look like a steady, decent swimmer.
  • Lane 2 (smaller lane) - Lady doing some sort of water rehab, just walking etc.
  • Lane 3 (larger lane) - me doing speed work 100 yards at a time.
2. Guy comes to the pool (turns out he's not a very good swimmer) and asks me while I'm swimming to share my lane. So I stop and tell him I'm working on speed skills and if he wouldn't mind using the other large lane, since he just wants to do slow laps.

3. ??? He chooses the middle lane, which is smaller, instead of swimming in the first lane which is larger and it turns out, his form is not the best.

4. We meet up in the locker room (apparently the guy only did like 20 minutes of swimming anyways, wtf???) and he starts yelling at me that I was rude and he's going to do the same to me next time, yada yada yada...

I sincerely asked him, that if he wanted to swim slow and the lady in the first lane was swimming slow, what the big deal was? He didn't answer, but just kept yelling at me that I was rude etc.

Was I wrong in asking him to use the other lane?

Thank You
Dennis


I don't think you were that rude as he did ask...but if you had a large lane I don't see why it matters if he's slow...you are on two different sides, not circle swimming I assume.  Also I'm not sure what you have against swimming 20minutes, but when I first started my swim workouts they averaged between 15-25 minutes because I was just learning and building up my endurance. Don't hate against the 20 minute swimmers.
2009-07-01 7:56 PM
in reply to: #2256742

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
mrbbrad - 2009-07-01 4:49 PM
I would be surprised if he didn't ask to share with me instead of the ladies.


I do the opposite.  I start with the good looking ladies and work my way down and use men (good looking or not) as a last resort.

And also if you don't break because you are such an excellent swimmer then how can he have a chance to ask you???

Honestly I feel that when you have a lane, that lane is your lane to do as you please and let in or deny who you want.  But I personally would have let him in.  Hell, why not ask him to kick you and slap you a few times to prepare you for your triathlon swim starts.


2009-07-01 8:03 PM
in reply to: #2256696

Master
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Riverside, IL
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
I'm in the "never had the luxury of a lane to myself" camp.  The outdoor pool that I swim laps at, has a dedicated lap swim on M,W,F mornings from 9-10:15am.  The pool is divided into 1 walking, 2 slow, 3 medium, and 2 fast lanes.  All lanes are circling format.  On any given morning, I can be sharing a lane with as many as 5 or 6 other swimmers of various different levels and/or capabilities.  Yeah, it can get a bit frustrating at times, when I have to keep passing the breaststrokers (also don't appreciate getting kicked by them as they pass on the opposite side!) or having a backstroker plow into me because they can't hold their line.  But, it's the only option I have at the moment, so I just go with the flow and try not to let it ruffle me.   BTW...I'm not a fast swimmer...I live in the medium lanes.   
2009-07-01 8:04 PM
in reply to: #2257049

Elite
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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
gopennstate - 2009-07-01 4:31 PM
ChrisM - 2009-07-01 5:14 PM

I go to the girl lane.   Definitely go to the girl lane



Funny.  I always pick the girl lane too.  Lots of guys get egos.  They swim super fast to hang with you (or beat you), then take tons of rest.  And I'm thinking, oh dude, come on....just swim your dang pace, no one cares! 


Isn't that the way guys do it anyway? All out for 10 minutes then a long recovery? Tongue out

John
2009-07-01 8:05 PM
in reply to: #2256696

Champion
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Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
Ikanuba - 2009-07-01 3:34 PM Hi All

Had a situation arise today at the pool and was wondering what is the proper etiquette for this scenario:

Was I wrong in asking him to use the other lane?

Thank You
Dennis


Yes, I think you should have let him share your lane.  I am guessing he may have yelled at you in the locker room based on the way you responded to him.  Us beginner swimmers are uncomfortable enough without someone like you making us feel worse about our "inadequacies".
2009-07-01 8:07 PM
in reply to: #2257159

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Fairfax
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
ATLsbr - 2009-07-01 7:56 PM
mrbbrad - 2009-07-01 4:49 PM

Honestly I feel that when you have a lane, that lane is your lane to do as you please and let in or deny who you want.  But I personally would have let him in.  Hell, why not ask him to kick you and slap you a few times to prepare you for your triathlon swim starts.


I think you're wrong here.  Why do you have a right to allow or deny who you want?  Do you pay more each month then that other guy to reserve your lane?  No, of course not.  If all the lanes are full, you have to share, end of story.  I get so irritated when I hear this type of attitude, it's like you've earned some sort of entitlement because you got to the lane first.

Sorry, I don't mean to pick on you, it's just that I see this type of posting every once in a while and pains me to no end when people defend that type of behavior.  Everyone has the right to use the pool, regardless of skill level.  Don't get me wrong, when the 350 lb guy is walking up and down the lane and I have to get real skinny when I swim by, it irritates me, but I'd never tell him he couldn't use the lane.

2009-07-01 8:18 PM
in reply to: #2257159

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
ATLsbr - 2009-07-01 7:56 PM
mrbbrad - 2009-07-01 4:49 PM
I would be surprised if he didn't ask to share with me instead of the ladies.


I do the opposite.  I start with the good looking ladies and work my way down and use men (good looking or not) as a last resort.

And also if you don't break because you are such an excellent swimmer then how can he have a chance to ask you???

Honestly I feel that when you have a lane, that lane is your lane to do as you please and let in or deny who you want.  But I personally would have let him in.  Hell, why not ask him to kick you and slap you a few times to prepare you for your triathlon swim starts.


Just to answer this, sit on the edge with your feet in the pool. Had to do this today, when he ignored me and took off again, I got in and waited until he came down again. Then he stopped and he asked circles or split.  Yeah not HIS lane. It's L.A fitness' lane. We both shared it and swam happily ever after.....Sorry I've had sugar.


2009-07-01 9:15 PM
in reply to: #2256696

Master
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Cumming, Georgia
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette

Just my opinion but if the lanes were not marked slow, medium, fast then you should have offered to share the lane.  He was nice enough to ask instead of just jumping in.  I can do speed work and still share a lane with no problems so I'm not sure what the issue was.  Now I agree with others that he was wrong for going off on you in the locker room. 

2009-07-01 10:04 PM
in reply to: #2256696

Member
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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
Sorry to hijack the thread with a question that will show how much of a noob I am, but what is circle swimming? I asked a guy in the lane next to me the other day at them gym pool what the etiquette was for sharing/splitting lanes - I'm glad I did, but circle swimming never came up.

Thanks!
Tim
2009-07-01 10:29 PM
in reply to: #2257369

Extreme Veteran
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Fairfax
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
roadnoob412 - 2009-07-01 10:04 PM Sorry to hijack the thread with a question that will show how much of a noob I am, but what is circle swimming? I asked a guy in the lane next to me the other day at them gym pool what the etiquette was for sharing/splitting lanes - I'm glad I did, but circle swimming never came up.

Thanks!
Tim


Forgive my crude drawing, but this is the gist of it:

asdf

For me, I only circle swim when there will be 3+ in the lane.  With 2, normally you can get by with just splitting the lane.
2009-07-02 5:38 AM
in reply to: #2256696

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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette

Perhaps it has something to do with the childhood and teenage years spent swimming but I've always felt way more comfortable with the circle-style of lane sharing. In fact "splitting" freaks me out unless it is with the guys I usually train with. Weird I know but it just seems all wrong to me.
 
I am fortunate to live in a city with easy access to 3 public pools. I prefer the very busy inner city pool (it is used for water polo and is much deeper and the water "feel" is magical) where lane sharing is a necessity. In fact I've never heard anyone ask if it is ok to share a lane it is expected and at peak times in the pool you can have 4-5 (sometimes even more) people sharing one 25m lane. Usually I choose a lane based on the numbers already in the lane, the speed at which they are moving and my last consideration is the workout I have planned. Most of the people I have come across will allow me to pass if I am swimming faster and more consistently than them and in turn I extend the same courtesy to others who are moving faster in the water. 

2009-07-02 6:45 AM
in reply to: #2256803

Member
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Florida
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
OK... look man... I am not sure HOW slowly this guy was swimming... but... you aren't exactly Michael Phelps. I mean... over 2:00 minutes per 100 in your races (00:09:17 | 437.45001 yards | 02m 07s / 100yards ) ... you aren't breaking any speed records there. Which is fine. We all have our own speed. I appauld anyone who is out there doing it! It just seems a little nuts that you keep mentioning how SLOW he was. No matter what someone is doing in a pool... even if you don't regard it as a workout, it's their workout.


WOW...Thanks KSH for looking up my race time and givin' me a schoolin' on your view of what's right and wrong and my swimming times. I'll keep that in mind. So I guess in your mind when someone wrongs you, it's totally cool to go all loco on them in the locker room. Remind me never to get in your way...

I put the question out to this group because I wanted some feed back, not a bunch of people pointing the finger. I'm so glad I finally found a forum WHERE NO-ONE EVER MAKES A MISTAKE. Now I know where I can ask another question and can't wait to get judged!....What a great team! (For all the people who gave me positive feedback I appreciate it....Thank You!)

and for the record I WAS POLITE WHEN I SAID ' WOULD YOU MIND USING THE OTHER LANE' ! If he really wanted to swim in my lane of course I would have shared it or if he just got in the lane of course I would have shared it.

I think my question here was not to bring light to him swimming slow it was should I have shared my lane when there was a another lane, JUST AS LARGE AS MINE, with a person doing calm laps. It's just common sense that when I walk into the pool and see someone doing TT swim etc, and there is an equal sized lane with someone swimming more at my speed, I use the calmer lane imo.

As I stated in my previous post
Next time I will share the lane.
So I don't need any more comments about how rude I was....Obviously I asked because I didn't know what the proper etiqutte was.

Damn! what an uptight bunch. I wonder how everyone keeps their halo's Innocent from getting wet when their sharing their lanes and doing circles...

Again - Thanks to the people who were able to just answer my question with out all the finger pointing and judging.


2009-07-02 6:52 AM
in reply to: #2256696

Subject: ...
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2009-07-02 7:02 AM
in reply to: #2256696

Master
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Houston, TX
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
Anyway.. When it comes to sharing lanes one should always;

1. Share the lane when someone wants to.
2. Ask to split or circle, not Want to split the lane?
3. Pick the girl lane.
4. If you're a guy you should shave up so you get more women in your lane.
2009-07-02 7:05 AM
in reply to: #2257577

Member
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Florida
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette

4. You then choose to rant at people who said such things.

My guess is you were hoping we would say that you were right to do what you did and that they would do the same. They didn't.

btw, your swim times in a race are fair game when you start acting elitist about your 'speed work'... act elitist and you will soon find out someone on this board is MUCH faster than you (I mean the royal you as in all of us)


Ranting - Really? Seriously? Ranting? Hmmm? I believe ranting indicates more than 1 rant and I believe I only responded to 1 user who decided to look up my swim times and incorporate that into her scold.

I don't have a problem with people saying it was wrong, just don't need all the other comments and I did apologize to the guy as he was yelling at me in the locker room.

Now i'm an elitist because I suggested a guy use another lane? Wow...I don't think I mentioned once that I thought I was good or better than anyone. If anything I need a ton of improvement in all 3 disciplines. As this is my first year of triathlons I don't really think I came off as I was very good at all. I think the question again was should I have shared the lane. But thank you again for diverting from the main question and really reading into it.

So I take it you've never come off rude or made a mistake since you seem to be able to really point that finger and make assumptions... Elitist ....dude you crack me up.
2009-07-02 7:08 AM
in reply to: #2256696

Subject: ...
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2009-07-02 7:58 AM
in reply to: #2256743

Sneaky Slow
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Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
So here's a post from the OP on page 1... after 8 or 9 people told him he was in the wrong...

Ikanuba - 2009-07-01 4:50 PM Thanks for the info....

I haven't done much swimming at this pool (only 3 lanes)  so I've never come across a situation like this. I tried to put myself in his shoes and I wouldn't have gotten offended either, to be honest I probably wouldn't have tried to use the lane i was in in the first place since I was only going to be swimming slow and ,for 20 minutes.

Live and learn!

Thanks Dudes...



Ok, great.  Sounds good.

But then, after that, about another 10-15 people (not counting the silliness in the middle) piled on, with one poster calling him out on his times.  What was the point of that?  He got the message.

Why?  Why the need to pile on?  His question was asked, it was answered, and he was cool with the responses.

It seems he got the message on page 1, and was cool with it.  And now here we are, on page 4.

There are many times when someone new to the site overreacts to comments/criticism from others here... but sorry, this isn't one of those cases IM not-so HO.

Edited by newleaf 2009-07-02 8:00 AM


2009-07-02 8:06 AM
in reply to: #2257573

Elite
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Raleigh
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette

WOW...Thanks KSH for looking up my race time and givin' me a schoolin' on your view of what's right and wrong and my swimming times. I'll keep that in mind. So I guess in your mind when someone wrongs you, it's totally cool to go all loco on them in the locker room. Remind me never to get in your way...

I put the question out to this group because I wanted some feed back, not a bunch of people pointing the finger. I'm so glad I finally found a forum WHERE NO-ONE EVER MAKES A MISTAKE. Now I know where I can ask another question and can't wait to get judged!....What a great team! (For all the people who gave me positive feedback I appreciate it....Thank You!)

As I stated in my previous post
Next time I will share the lane.
So I don't need any more comments about how rude I was....Obviously I asked because I didn't know what the proper etiqutte was.

Damn! what an uptight bunch. I wonder how everyone keeps their halo's Innocent from getting wet when their sharing their lanes and doing circles...

Chill out guy... it is all in how you ask the question... For someone who is new to triathlons (your own admition) go back and read your first post... You pretty much attacked the guy and said his 20 minute swim was not worth your time. Your whole thread was pretty flamming...

If you want just a general opinion and do not want anyone attack you here is what you could have said.

Hey I am new here on this board and I have a question. I was swimming at my local pool and a guy asked if he could share my lane and I asked him to use one of the other ones. Was I out of line? I do not know very much about pool etiquette and I was in the zone trying to do some speed work.

What should I have done?

 

 

 

that would have got you a much different response than the one you got... It is all about how you ask the question and understand that anything on the computer looks harsher than it really is.... KSH would never attack you, she was just making a point because you came off as this super swimmer to fast to let some guy swim in your lane... I think you owe her a apology...

2009-07-02 8:19 AM
in reply to: #2257702

Champion
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Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
newleaf - 2009-07-02 7:58 AM

So here's a post from the OP on page 1... after 8 or 9 people told him he was in the wrong...

Ikanuba - 2009-07-01 4:50 PM Thanks for the info....

I haven't done much swimming at this pool (only 3 lanes)  so I've never come across a situation like this. I tried to put myself in his shoes and I wouldn't have gotten offended either, to be honest I probably wouldn't have tried to use the lane i was in in the first place since I was only going to be swimming slow and ,for 20 minutes.

Live and learn!

Thanks Dudes...



Ok, great.  Sounds good.

But then, after that, about another 10-15 people (not counting the silliness in the middle) piled on, with one poster calling him out on his times.  What was the point of that?  He got the message.

Why?  Why the need to pile on?  His question was asked, it was answered, and he was cool with the responses.

It seems he got the message on page 1, and was cool with it.  And now here we are, on page 4.

There are many times when someone new to the site overreacts to comments/criticism from others here... but sorry, this isn't one of those cases IM not-so HO.


X2.
2009-07-02 8:38 AM
in reply to: #2256696

Veteran
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Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
Geeeez- there are some sensitive people on this forum........
2009-07-02 8:45 AM
in reply to: #2257180

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Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: Pool Etiquette
strostertag - 2009-07-01 9:07 PM
ATLsbr - 2009-07-01 7:56 PM
mrbbrad - 2009-07-01 4:49 PM

Honestly I feel that when you have a lane, that lane is your lane to do as you please and let in or deny who you want.  But I personally would have let him in.  Hell, why not ask him to kick you and slap you a few times to prepare you for your triathlon swim starts.


I think you're wrong here.  Why do you have a right to allow or deny who you want?  Do you pay more each month then that other guy to reserve your lane?  No, of course not.  If all the lanes are full, you have to share, end of story.  I get so irritated when I hear this type of attitude, it's like you've earned some sort of entitlement because you got to the lane first.

Sorry, I don't mean to pick on you, it's just that I see this type of posting every once in a while and pains me to no end when people defend that type of behavior.  Everyone has the right to use the pool, regardless of skill level.  Don't get me wrong, when the 350 lb guy is walking up and down the lane and I have to get real skinny when I swim by, it irritates me, but I'd never tell him he couldn't use the lane.



I just caught this above...a quote of a quote but not something I wrote
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