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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or is this woman? Swimming pool etiquette

116 replies

clary · 22/02/2016 22:42

I went swimming today and went in the middle lane. There was another woman in the same lane, swimming slower than me (totally fine). Judging by the speed of the fast lane and the slowness of the slow lane, we were both in the right lane!

I gradually catch her up, finally swimming up the lane right behind her. By accident (swimming front crawl) I tap her on the foot. She finishes her length – and must see me there. But off she goes, not stopping for me. Am I supposed to swim at her slower pace? Wait at the deep end for her to get ahead? What I did was overtake her. This happened about five or six times. In the end another swimmer was in the lane too and I had to overtake quickly to avoid a crash.

Am I missing something? Isn’t this woman being a bit selfish? I said nothing to her tho at one point she called something out to me. I prefer not to overtake tbh (because of possible collisions). I always move aside at the end of a length if someone is speeding up behind me. Doesn’t everyone do this? (obviously not this woman…)

OP posts:
NHSisfubar · 22/02/2016 22:47

That's just shared lane swimming... Etiquette is that if someone toe taps you you should let them pass or if there is a faster lane then move up one. Not everyone seems to be aware of this though. Having to overtake with 3 is a bit dangerous. I'd probably have ducked under the rope mid lane at an appropriate point to get ahead (unless you are sticking to a very specific training set/timing). But yes SWBU

FlibbertigibbetArmadillo · 22/02/2016 22:47

YANBU. I would stop and wait for you to start your next length. I hate people swimming along behind me obviously able to go faster, as it makes me feel rushed

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 22/02/2016 22:48

DH is a regular swimmer. He says the protocol is for the slower swimmer to wait at the end of the lane for the faster swimmer to overtake. So she was BU.

magimedi · 22/02/2016 22:51

I swim in an all laned pool - if someone in my lane is a tad faster than me, I always give way to them & when we reach catch up I will wait at the end of the lane to give them a lane's space. It's just good manners.

It's a great work out though, swimming with someone who is just that bit faster than you - really makes me push.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 22/02/2016 22:51

She should've allowed you to pass, a foot tap is swimmers' code for "let me pass please".

Original poster
clary · 22/02/2016 22:56

Haha magimedi, had to swim dead fast to overtake her so that speeded up my time Grin

Maybe I shouldn't complain!

OP posts:
BombadierFritz · 22/02/2016 23:01

A foot tap is swimmers code for 'i am a total dickhead' more like (i appreciate you did it by accident). I'd never move out of the way of someone who did that. Its a bit like those arseholes who flash you when you're driving too slowly for their liking. Just makes me go that bit slower

So possibly she was pissed off? Or just clueless. Its nice to wait at the end of the lane but fine to overtake as well

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 22/02/2016 23:03

Agree SWBU
Used to love lane swimming. If I could just persuade myself that the number of clothing changes were worth the trauma of said changes, I'd be back like a shot.

Scholes34 · 22/02/2016 23:05

This is all about what people think the other woman should have done. OP, you could have just turned round 3/4 of the way down the lane, as she was nearing the end of a length, to effectively overtake her without making a big deal of it.

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 22/02/2016 23:07

I'm a fairly newish swimmer, and have no idea of the proper etiquette. I don't want to annoy anyone, but perhaps I piss people off all the time!

Maybe she just didn't know either. It's unlikely she was deliberately trying to annoy you, surely.

Lurkedforever1 · 22/02/2016 23:11

Imagine what she's like driving down the motorway

TeenyfTroon · 22/02/2016 23:15

Just about to suggest turning early instead of overtaking and I see Scholes already has. I have no idea why some people just don't get it that they should give way.
Are they the same ones who stick in the middle lane on the motorway?

TeenyfTroon · 22/02/2016 23:17

I'll just shut up. Lurked - sorry.

Xmasbaby11 · 22/02/2016 23:17

I've never heard of a toe tap! When I'm the slower swimmer I stop. However, often slower swimmers don't stop for me, and it is really hard when they are properly slow.

kaymondo · 22/02/2016 23:18

Bombardier, foot tapping when used in proper lane swimming is not being a dickhead - it's the accepted way of telling the swimmer ahead that you want them to give way (as sometimes you might be swimming right behind them, but be happy to do so as you're drafting so having a little rest). It was the correct etiquette at the swimming club I went to.

I do appreciate that not everyone will be aware of the etiquette (I wasn't before I started swimming with a club) but it really is just common sense to give way at the end of the lane to the faster swimmer.

Cutecat78 · 22/02/2016 23:19

How the hell do you toe tsp? With you hand?

Oh my days all these years I've been committing many a faux pas in the local baths completely unknowingly Shock

BombadierFritz · 22/02/2016 23:21

You can also swim arms or legs only as this makes you go a bit slower and is good exercise
This is not a big deal. I have had far worse swimming pool rage :) give it time . . . The funniest was the woman who stopped me to tell me the lane was full as her and another man were in it (ie using one side each) and the worst was the pervert feeling me up while swimming past
I am now in a private gym with lots of space

Fatmomma99 · 22/02/2016 23:23

But if I'm swimming a certain length, I don't want to stop.... I want to continuously swim until I'm done. Putting my feet down is cheating!
Having said that, I'm usually faster than others in my lane and i either over-take or turn the corner early (and do an extra length to make it up at the end).

BombadierFritz · 22/02/2016 23:24

I swam with a club for years. I'd be incredibly pissed off if someone did that to me in a public swimming baths. If they did it twice ie not an accident i'd have a massive row with them. How very very very rude and invading someones personal space! I am a fast swimmer so i dont tend to be the slower one but noone has ever done this to me. How appalling

tbtc20 · 22/02/2016 23:24

I've learned all about lane swimming while brushing my teeth!
Not even a swimmer!

BombadierFritz · 22/02/2016 23:26

I thought i'd experienced most types of swimming pool rage :) omg i'd be beyond raging if someone tried toetapping me on purpose Angry

TheJiminyConjecture · 22/02/2016 23:33

Our local leisure centre has etiquette signs up and toe tapping is clearly mentioned. How and when it's appropriate to tap and what to do if you get tapped. All spelt out in massive font so you can't miss it Grin

Cressandra · 22/02/2016 23:35

I would say either you turn early or she pauses at the end. I've never heard of strangers deliberately tapping each other, I'd assume any tappage was accidental (as I understand yours was, OP).

Fatmomma99 · 22/02/2016 23:45

btw (and I'm not even a regular swimmer) I kicked a child last Monday.

Still feel guilty, and it was totally her fault - silly begger ducked under the rope just as I was approaching/going past her. Saw her standing there, never thought she'd choose THAT moment to duck under, and was doing breaststroke, so kicked her hard.

I feel so wrong!

Cutecat78 · 22/02/2016 23:48

What's the etiquette with men swimming underneath you at the bottom of the Poole?

I HATE that .....

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