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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Adults playing in the gym swimming pool

67 replies

Home77 · 07/02/2019 20:08

Is this some kind of 'thing'. I embarrassed myself by panicking (as I thought one had drowned) turns out they were doing some breathing thing. (underwater holding on to the bottom of the ladder). There are also ones who have full flippers, mask and gloves things, they are annoying as they take up a whole lane made for two. Today there was even one turning slow somersaults up and down the lane! - the one I was in and agin it took up the whole thing and was most disconcerting while swimming lengths as didn't know if they were going to 'pop up'!

This is an adult only gym pool and there is a sign saying about generally it being for well, swimming lengths, is in not reasonable to expect people to, well do that and not all this weird stuff?

OP posts:

Springwalk · 08/02/2019 09:49

So what if some swimmers are having the audacity to actually have fun?! 🤨 They are entitled to enjoy themselves and are not breaking any rules or hurting anyone. You are describing them as a distraction. Heaven forbid anyone should compromise your silent laps.
YABVU it is a free world and a public swimming pool. It is not your space, it is a shared space. A sense of humour will solve this not another petition.

TheOrigBrave · 08/02/2019 09:50

Springwalk I think there's a sign saying it's for lane swimming.

MatildaTheCat · 08/02/2019 09:50

Complain to management rather than the lifeguard. It needs to be against the rules in order for the lifeguard to intervene.

I agree with you and a PP who says that the etiquette of swimming is awful. If you were in the gym and someone came and pushed you off a treadmill you’d complain. If someone wrecks your swim with their thoughtless behaviour you are very much alone.

bruffin · 08/02/2019 09:52

Today there was even one turning slow somersaults up and down the lane! -
We used to that in our advance swim class, it was fun

EnoughSnowAlready · 08/02/2019 09:53

The pool is designated by management as being specifically for length swimming so it isn't the OP's rule. It isn't unreasonable to expect to be able to swim lengths in a pool which is specifically for that purpose.

BIgBagofJelly · 08/02/2019 09:57

YANBU. Lanes are for swimming in. Go to a big leisure centre pool to muck around in.

Springwalk · 08/02/2019 10:04

No, op said there is a general rule about swimming. I am assuming it does not explicitly say only lane swimming, or she would not need (another) petition, she could simply point it out to a member of staff and let them deal with it.

I am sure the flagrant fun loving swimmers are not deliberately spoiling op’s laps, they are just enjoying the water.

TchoupiEtDoudou · 08/02/2019 10:04

YANBU

I swim in a 50m pool with various lanes available. You are not allowed to go down and hold your breath/try to swim lengths underwater though. The lifeguards tell you off and there's signs against it (presumably so they don't get it wrong like OP and think someone is drowning)

Inconsiderate swimmers are my pet peeve though.

I swim in the fast lane. It is for fast swimmers. If you're going to do slow breastroke/crawl/backstroke or just kick, go in a different lane! If you're doing sprints then stopping and chatting at the wall for 10 minutes then move down the rope (as the signs ask you to) so I can turn on the wall! Last weekend I ended up kicking a bloke in the stomach because I was tumbleturning and he moved across just at the same time.

TheOrigBrave · 08/02/2019 10:15

Spring OP states in a subsequent post:

"there are signs saying to swim lanes and if more than 2 to swim clockwise"

Itssosunny · 08/02/2019 10:15

What's that with people walking like sea horses in the pool? It wouldn't be a problem if they walking along and not across the lanes.

Original poster

Home77 · 08/02/2019 11:45

They walk through a lane meant for two people, so it stops others being able to swim.

OP posts:

Grace212 · 08/02/2019 11:53

OP who cares if it's a thing

it doesn't fit with the rules for members so tell the managers it's bugging people who joined in order to swim lengths.

Grace212 · 08/02/2019 11:55

Matilda "If someone wrecks your swim with their thoughtless behaviour you are very much alone."

yes, it's another reason I'm not a member of any club anymore. The last time I was swimming, the fast lane was packed, so a guy dong fast laps went into the slow lane and told people off if he bumped into them. Then he came up to me and said "actually can you keep an eye out because I can see you and I are on track for a collision as well".

he got told to move lanes but I'm just so sick of this behaviour, I cba any more.

Original poster

Home77 · 08/02/2019 11:58

I might give them a ring - there is no life guard or attendant in the pool so they just might not be aware. It's kind of surprising people don;t seem to care how their stuff bothers others. There's others who stand up in the (small) sauna or steam room too and do odd exercises, flapping around and bumping into people! I suppose maybe it is confidence but it can go into just being annoying in a place with is used by others and meant to be relaxing. Oh God I sound like a grumpy old bat haha. It's just so nice to have a calm space away from the children

OP posts:

Grace212 · 08/02/2019 12:02

no, you don't sound a grumpy type at all - it is amazing how people treat every public space as if it's their own home now.

bumping into others in the steam room - ugh.

definitely complain.

edwinbear · 08/02/2019 12:30

Are these training fins (so short ones, designed for swim training) and paddles though? When I am training I use both paddles and training fins as part of my session to improve my leg kick and strengthen my back and shoulders. Likewise I tumble turn at the ends because it's faster.

Clearly somersaults is not acceptable lane etiquette however, nor are scuba length fins!

HoustonBess · 08/02/2019 12:32

@swingofthings My pet hate as someone who does 100 lengths of front crawl are those who use a lane for very leisurely slow swim, head never in the water who could therefore easily swim in the non lane area.

This is me. I hate people splashing as I usually wear my glasses swimming and my eyes are very sensitive to chlorine. The non lane area is usually full of lots of splashy people

Original poster

Home77 · 08/02/2019 12:36

It's flippers, mask and webbed hand things! the whole thing..it;s quite splashy also.

Anyone know what the holding breath thing is about, is it a kind of fitness test? It's quite spooky. they just go under the water and sort of hang out there for ages.

OP posts:

Original poster

Home77 · 08/02/2019 12:38

DH goes to the local leisure centre and it sounds relatively quiet in comparison, maybe should move there. Except it has got the new unisex changing rooms and people seem confused by them and it's causing problems, been in the paper. Argh.

OP posts:

swingofthings · 08/02/2019 13:17

@HoustonBess, it's the other way at my club, lanes busier, at least when I go after work.

ForalltheSaints · 08/02/2019 19:59

There should be fun time and serious swimming time.

Butteredghost · 08/02/2019 20:07

Just get in a different lane. Getting annoyed is like getting annoyed that someone is just stretching on the gym mat - that's not real exercise! Or not lifting heavy enough weights.

MissUGirl · 08/02/2019 20:22

I agree. This has become a thing recently at my pool and the staff are doing bugger all about it. Maybe I'll go out into the gym and start "playing" on the weights machines or doing silly moves on the running treadmills and see how they like it.

GraceMarks · 08/02/2019 21:01

I left a very expensive gym that I had joined mainly for its beautiful swimming facilities for exactly this reason. I was paying silly money to be able to get a decent swim and most of the time, it was full of people congregating around the shallow end for a natter. Either that or ducking in and out of the lanes and mucking about with the ropes. You can call me stuck up, but it felt more like a Butlins than a pricey sports pool. I just couldn't understand why anyone would pay those sorts of membership fees if all they wanted to do was sit in the water for 90 minutes and talk to their mates.

EvaHarknessRose · 08/02/2019 21:29

There were two guys doing a boxing workout in the sauna at my pool tonight. Took me aback, looked like a fight or something for a minute.

I wonder if the underwater people are free divers

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