Swim etiquette? (Page 2)

Time trial in a public pool is about as smart as the guys on bikes who try to Strava the local jogging paths.

Yup. I've been in similar conditions and moved lanes or changed my workout. Not gonna get a good TT sharing a lane with a meanderer.

Nate, I applaud you for realizing you didnt handle this to well.  We all take things to seriously sometimes, me included.

Made me think of this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgnS9bmP_qw

This is exactly why I don't get too structured in my swim workouts, it is difficult to judge what the pool conditions will be.  In the summer the outdoor pool down the street from me has friendlier hours and there are only a few regulars there so I have yet to hit any "issues".  But during the winter I am relegated to my gym's indoor pool and the myriad of poor swimmers who frequent the pool.  Had a guy get in my lane today and start walking down the center of the lane.  Was on kickboard so no biggie and when I got down to the same end he got out of the pool.  I can't figure people like that out but happens often enough that I just can't get to bent out of shape about it.

Good on ya for coming back to this thread with your second post.  Look at it as a 'teachable moment'  ....

We all  have off days....

You know that you can easily search for those segments and flag them as dangerous.

Agree.

I swim in the a.m. most days when there is only one lap lane available. I share with water walkers (even though the whole pool is doing water aerobics), a guy with a snorkel, a lady giving swim lessons etc. A smile and how are you today can go a very long way. Also a little warning like - hey I'm going to start a really hard set so please excuse me in advance. I don't always see what is in the lane when I'm racing the clock but I promise not to take up much room!

I understand your frustration but I feel like a lot can be accomplished in these circumstances with just a little communication.

I've had my moments too though. There is a lady at my pool who always gets the water volleyball net out 5 min early. So everyone has to duck under the net because she just leaves it hanging the water stretched all across the pool until water aerobics is over and volleyball can start. No warning or heads up just look out - here comes the net. Now I've been swimming here for 5 years so I know the routine and usually duck under in time but one day a couple of weeks ago I was swimming a 400 TT and this was 3rd in a series. Here comes the net, I didn't see it in time, got all tangled and I'm sure the frustration on my face was obvious. My fault for not paying attention but I REALLY did not want to start that 400 again!!!

The best thing I think you can say after a crash is  "Are you okay?"  Any thing else you have to say should follow that.  Someone could actually be hurt.  It might even give you the 5 seconds you need to collect your thoughts.

If I bash hands with someone- I don't stop my set, but the next time we're both taking breathers I do say sorry about hitting you.  Usually people are very nice. 

Yeah you overreacted just a bit.

I have only had this happen to me once a few weeks ago.  This teenage girl was trying to swim but had little understanding of the mechanics of the freestyle.  After a collision because she strayed way over to the wrong side I stopped my workout to see if I could help her.  I guess the dad in me (and former swim instructor) overrode the annoyance.

I gave her a few pointers and a few times when I stopped I would offer encouragement.  I think she went way out of her way to NOT get in my way again.  I am sure it would not work all the time but in this instance a kind word did wonders for the situation.

Brian - I am with you 100%.  I swim at an 8 lane YMCA and usually I am the youngest one there (I'm 43).  I'm not the fastest swimmer in the world, but most of the people around me are older people doing all kinds of strokes slowly.  I think because we are all there around the same time, we "know" each other and what to look out for.  If someone is in my lane, I am aware of them until they pass and then the same coming back.  Even being so careful, we occasionally bump and move on. 

I would have guessed from some of your other posts and from this one that you were a kid. I read your blog and see that you are in the 35-39 age group and a teacher. You really need to get some perspective. You are an age-group triathlete. You do understand that to 99% of the world that means nothing? Dropping f-bombs at a woman in a public place, wow you are a real piece of work.

Instead of "venting" on here why don't you replay what happened to your class and see what your students think of your behavior?

Way over top reaction. i could not imaging cursing at someone because the interupted my workout.

That being said I think it is in poor etiquette to attempt back stroke when you can't swim straight and you are sharing the lane with a stranger.

Wow.  So, what you're saying is the person who joined her lane should've, not so politely, told her to move to another lane so you could have it to yourself.  Glad you don't share my gym. 

Then you would've yelled at a beginner swimmer and accused them of being mentally challenged and descended from dogs?  Would you use that same behavior towards a muscular 6'4", 220 pound man? or is this just internet chest pounding?

That would just invite more people

x2, this was my first thought.  Here you are just doing a LEISURE activity, and you don't care that someone could be hurt regardless of who was at fault for the collision?

I'm glad the OP recognized his over-reaction after the fact.

Patience people.  It's arrogant to think you're big important workout is more meaningful than someone else's form of exercise or leisure activity.  They don't care any more about your big race than you do about their aqua jogging, crookedly attempting to learn a stroke or water aerobics.

The right thing to do in this situation is to kindly explain why it's important for each person to stay on his or her side of the lane and maybe extend some assistance.  For all you know this is her first time sharing a lane and she's a total newbie to swimming.  It's one thing if someone knows and understands the rules and is being blatantly disrespectful; it's quite a another if someone is just new and learning about the dynamics of the pool swim.

Agree! And like another poster said, sometimes you just have to be flexible with your workouts. If I am alone in my lane I'll add in some butterfly and mess around but if the pool is crowded, I stick to mostly freestyle and (straight) backstroke.

But at least you know you overreacted. It's super frustrating to be interrupted during a TT. You don't want to start over because you're already fatigued. It was a suck situation all around.

x 1billion.

Verbal assault is so cool! 

LOL, before anyone goes off on Doug, he's actually a really nice guy in person 

You have a hard time accepting responsibility for over-reacting, don't you?

In this scenario, you're part of the problem. And you're puffing up your chest over the interwebs. Feel better?

Seriously ... your attitude gives the sport a bad rep. I wish you'd stop doing that. 

Pretty much this. 

Though I'd add breaststroke, as well, as even those old lady heels hurt like the dickens when they get you.