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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:

edwinbear · 08/02/2019 21:37

They have alarms at my pool that go off if anything is stationary at the bottom for too long. The free divers don’t last long

Friarman · 09/02/2019 03:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

lljkk · 09/02/2019 05:42

there is no life guard or attendant in the pool

What country do you live in, OP?

MissUGirl · 09/02/2019 07:22

What country do you live in, OP?

Pools in the UK aren't required by law to have lifeguards. Mine doesn't. They have notices posted saying there is no lifeguard.

swingofthings · 09/02/2019 07:39

There should be fun time and serious swimming time
Totally agree with that. To me, the gym is that, somewhere to exercise, not to have fun time. As a fervid gym member, I dread going in Jan-March when you get new people joining who think they will tone up/lose weight by doing very little at the gym. You get all the walkers taking up the treadmills, not walking fast or on an incline, just walking for an hour or the swimmers who again just swim for the pleasure but take the lanes at peak times. You end up with two lanes taking 1/3rd of the pool, only a kid or two in the 2/3rd part, 1 very slow leisure swimmer in the slow lane and 6 training swimmers in the fast lane.

It is a matter of consideration, so I know I have no right in my way of thinking, but it is how most fervent gym goers feel. As said, I've learned to pick my times, either early afternoon in the weekends or after 9pm week days.

Ollivander84 · 09/02/2019 07:46

I did rehab in the pool after an op, so walking/squats/lunges etc but I used the small pool and stayed out the swimming lanes! Did get some odd looks doing lunges in water but being able to float pain free was bliss

melj1213 · 09/02/2019 23:21

You get all the walkers taking up the treadmills, not walking fast or on an incline, just walking for an hour

Provided they are using the equipment as it is intended I don't see the problem. You don't know people's individual circumstances so you can't dismiss them just because they arent as advanced as you are. The people in the OP are different as they are not using the facilities correctly.

For example, when I first joined a gym I was very unfit and overweight so took the advice of both my doctor and PT to start slowly and build up - so for the first couple of months I just walked on the treadmill and as the time went on and my stamina built up, that was when I started increasing speed/incline.

Likewise after I broke my ankle, falling on a patch of ice one January, when I came out of plaster and my Beckham boot I was advised by my doctor to again start slowly - just walking at a moderate pace for 10 minutes was exhausting and it took from mid-February to the end of March to get close to my pre-break level.

Playmytune · 10/02/2019 10:42

I often do water walking. I have problems with mobility after a serious car accident several years ago. Our pool is quite small (12m), so I normally swim (quite slowly) for 2 lengths, then water walk for 2 lengths, repeating. I do take rests at the end after each cycle, but I do move (as much as I can) to allow other swimmers room.
I also go to pool with my daughter and grandchildren, 2 and 4, as this is the only place I feel able to physically play with them. The children’s slot is 2 hours in the morning and 2 after school. We go morning as children are pre school. There are no divisions as pool is not big enough for this. Adults also come to swim during these times and are quite annoyed at children getting in their way. We do try to keep children out of their way, but it is often same adults every time we go, so to be honest “tough” if they are not happy! They can either come earlier or later like many others do, but we are restricted to these times.
I often swim under water as it is really good exercise, using different muscles and forcing my legs to do some of the work.

thecatsthecats · 10/02/2019 11:36

Our gym has half emptied since the end of January, it's bliss. All the people with the shiniest newest equipment have buggered off.

It's a gym with a pool, so you'd think it was you know, for exercise, but we get the same kind of people pratting around. I'm not a very fast swimmer, but I am consistent, and I nab the fast lane if it's empty just for some space.

Santaclarita · 10/02/2019 12:04

How are people not understanding that this is a gym pool? It's not meant for 'play time'. It's a gym. I bet these people saying you are being unreasonable are the same people sitting on the exercise bikes texting rather than exercising.

Wintermonster · 10/02/2019 12:08

I misread pool walkers for pool wankers

Wintermonster · 10/02/2019 12:09

I don't go swimming often but when I do I am of the pool wanker variety

bruffin · 10/02/2019 12:23

How are people not understanding that this is a gym pool?

I dont think most people understand what swimming involves, its not just swimming up and down. You need good drills to keep you at your best. I'm gutted my local pool has cancelled my advance swim class. Its really difficult to do drills in normal times

Original poster

Home77 · 10/02/2019 13:04

It is meant just for lane swimming. i noticed the staff came in when a couple were messing around the other day- think they had a free day pass or something. So they seem to be keeping an eye out more.

yes we've a lady pool walks also and has had an accident, there are various people with disabilities and carers, yes that is all fine and obviously Ok if they need a bit more room, but it is the other stuff is annoying. Especially when there is a local leisure pool also, with sessions and lane free areas.

I guess I'm just aware of it more as after years of taking DC to swimming (and grinning and bearing that) to get this membership for some quiet time and having to put up with stuff like this is kind of irritating.

OP posts:

Original poster

Home77 · 10/02/2019 13:05

Maybe people think I mean the local leisure centre perhaps? It's a membership only adults gym, for fitness.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 10/02/2019 20:53

I belong to a private gym, so do the local rugby league team, who do walking drills and exercises in the pool early on Saturday mornings. The pool floor does not deepen.

king15987 · 11/02/2019 08:06

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. However I appreciate that this is only etiquette, not rules. I have just worked out the time when I can expect to have a lane for myself or only share with one other.

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