Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Lane swimming (again).

85 replies

lurkerspeaks · 20/05/2012 20:07

Things got a bit unpleasant today at the pool as I was obviously pissing one of the other swimmers off but I'm not entirely sure I was in the wrong.

Medium lane. 3 swimmers. All swimming about the same pace so maintaining nice even distances between us. So far so good.

The problem is that my wretched goggles have started leaking and I need to stop roughly every 8 lengths to empty them of water and de-fog (I've got new ones on order....)

My habit (which I'm fully prepared to be told is wrong) is that when I stop like this I tuck myself over into the far corner of the lane facing the 'up the pool' side of the lane. My rationale is that you can still swim 'down the pool' straight onto the wall to turn and push yourself off at a slightly angle into the 'up the pool' traffic.

However blokey today likes to swim 'down the pool' angling into the wall and then push off 'up the pull' straight. I am so sorry if this is confusing.

He got pretty cross with me at one point as I was standing where he wanted to turn although i was well tucked away into a corner and there was plenty of room across the top of the lane .

I appreciate that my constant stopping was annoying (it was annoying to me too) and I would be interested to know where other folk stand if they are forced to stop for a breather/ goggle fiddle/ MP3 track adjustment?

OP posts:

redexpat · 20/05/2012 20:11

I'm not a swimmer and don't quite understand the ups and downs, but just love that you use the word wretched.

JoyceDivision · 20/05/2012 20:12

I am a medium lane length swimmer and i can confirm, in lane ettiquette, you are fine!

Man sounds like swimming wanker (most lanes have them) who wishes you to notice how uterly important his swimming is and how you cannot be a proper lamnne swimmer because you have had to stop, so making point of being an arse.

General good manners at 'our' lane is that you just stop at the end to let some one swim past you as the lanes aren't wide enough to overtake. As long as there is somewhere to grab your hand and turn then that's fine.

I get where you are coming from. Man sounds like knob.

squeakytoy · 20/05/2012 20:13

You were not being unreasonable, he was being a twat.

Swatchdog · 20/05/2012 20:14

If, as it sounds, there was plenty of space for him to turn and push off then YANBU.

One of the many things that frustrates me when I swim is the gaggle of people who congregate at the end of the lane so you can't push off the wall when you turn. Ignore the bloke, it seems lane swimming turns everyone into crazies these days not me though, it's entirely reasonable to get all stabby with the slow bloke in the fast lane who won't let me past at the turn

QOD · 20/05/2012 20:15

Bloody lane rage ! I went today and it pissed me off that one bloke had the fast lane to himself and just mowed up and down ignoring everyone while 9 people ended up in the slow lane edging round each other. We all paid the same.

Lizzylou · 20/05/2012 20:15

YANBU
Sometimes I come away from the pool feeling very murderous due to similar twassocks at our pool.

vigglewiggle · 20/05/2012 20:15

I would say as long as you pick your spot (to one side) and then stay put, there is no reason why he couldn't navigate his turn.

Imnotbatman · 20/05/2012 20:18

Thats the correct place to stop in my book. Sloppy turning if you angle across the lane to emerge at the up the pool side IMo

Hassled · 20/05/2012 20:19

If you have to pause and fiddle with stuff, it sounds like you picked the perfect spot.

What you need to do next is stalk him a bit. Next time - get into the adjacent lane, make sure you start at the same time, swim your arse off and beat him. I play "race the next-door swimmer" a lot - they don't necessarily realise but it gives me pleasure.

Pannacotta · 20/05/2012 20:19

I do what you do when I have "wretched" goggle issues, which I do quite often!
He sounds like a knob.

alphabite · 20/05/2012 20:20

As a swimmer I can safely say it is ok to sto0 to de fog goggles. Try the down side though. Much easier to come in at an angle than push off from an angle.

eurochick · 20/05/2012 20:22

It sounds like you were in the right to me. It's what I would do.

BobblyGussets · 20/05/2012 20:27

OP, YANBU.

Piffpaffpoff · 20/05/2012 20:28

Sounds fine to me. I too get irrationally enraged by the people who come, swim 2 lengths, and then hang about at the end of the lane so you can't turn. I have been known to ask the lifeguards to turf them out the lane if they are not swimming

legspinner · 20/05/2012 21:01

Your lane etiquette is absolutely fine! A good place to stop is at one side of either end, and not in the middle of the ends as the middle is where most people push off to turn. It sounds as if you left him loads of room.

I would do what Hassled suggest - move lanes and beat him

Hijack (sorry) why is it usually men who won't let a female swimmer past them? Grrrr!

lottiegb · 20/05/2012 22:05

Ooh, I haven't been swimming properly for a while, you're making me nostalgic!

You're fine. So long as they can touch and turn. It does drive me nuts when people stand in pairs at the end and chat so you can't touch, or swim in pairs so you can't easily pass.

Go on, overtake him if you can!

giraffesCantGoPotholing · 20/05/2012 22:09

yanbu I have brittle asthma and like to swim in slow lane - I want to swim in a lane and not have to dodge people/fight for my space, but sometimes I do need to stop and have some ventolin/clear my lungs. So do it at the corner, tucked in. No one ever had a problem. Your man was being a fussy twat.

giraffesCantGoPotholing · 20/05/2012 22:10

Which reminds me, I need to go and shave my legs so I can go swimming before work tomorrow!

Sarcalogos · 20/05/2012 22:12

Yanbu

TalcAndTurnips · 20/05/2012 22:13

Just position yourself swimming a few metres ahead of the offending gent and let go of the yellow flow

MissM · 20/05/2012 22:15

Definitely a knob. I often switch lanes if one is emptier than another, regardless of whether it's fast or slow. If the fast lane is empty, I'll go in it to get away from tossers like this guy.

MuddyDogs · 20/05/2012 22:23

I've been lane swimming a total of 8 times and have unwittingly annoyed someone every single time. It's par for the course, methinks. Our swimming pool seems to attract all the thoroughly unpleasant "chip on shoulder" senior citizens in our town who don't like you messin' with their daily swim. Grow a thicker skin and keep on swimming; doesn't sound like you were doing anything wrong .

LornMowa · 20/05/2012 22:30

If schools could ever get round to giving all children a chance to learn to swim they could also impart this swim lane etiquette.

I love swimming but find that the thoughtlessness of some people gives me such high blood pressure it probably does me more harm than good!

It sounds to me that you did the right thing OP.

pixwix · 20/05/2012 22:31

Talc - Pmsl! :o

I would say that is the correct place to stop - it would be worse to stop where you come in to land, (downpool) cos other people do too, in order to turn/stop and if you are doing backstroke etc, you would clash...

Can I just say? (a bit unrelated really) When I was pregnant with ds2, I carried on with several sports, like Tae Kwon Do - albeit at a much lower level, absolutely no contact involved (just walking through the motions and chatting to me mates at the end!)

I also swam, cos it was the only time my body felt 'normal'? with the weight being supported - in fact - it felt so good, I did it 3 times a week - pootling up and down the pool etc.

After 8 months, I was actually quite proficient - so I would pitch up, 8 months pregnant, with this huge bump, to lane swimming. I would hover above the fast lane, adjusting my goggles, whilst all the young fit men looked askance at me (who does that whale belong to?! get her out of the fast lane - I'm here with my muscles!)

Then I'd get in, adjust goggles, and lap them all! Then heave myself out at the end, and waddle off to the changing rooms. TBH I felt meself again!

FunnysInLaJardin · 20/05/2012 22:35

I hate alpha male swimmers. They do the crawl very splashingly and will often swim 'over' you if you are too slow for them. I hate their spotty hairy backs. I always swim with my head out of the water and give them narrowed eyed looks when they splash me when going past. Tossers

Flip

1 2 3 4