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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why aren’t people going swimming - am I missing something?

178 replies

MyNameIsNotMummy · 09/08/2020 21:32

So another boiling day today and my local pool (only one for miles around in a large town) was virtually empty! I was quite happy as it meant DS and I could have a lane to ourselves but I was surprised more people don’t want to go swimming in this weather. It was the same on Thursday and last week on another boiling day.

CV is inactive in chlorinated water and I just make sure to take anti bac wipes to use on lockers, door handles and the bench in the changing rooms, with lots of hand sanitizer of course.

Am I missing something about swimming in the current climate?

OP posts:
ShinyMe · 09/08/2020 22:59

Re the lane swimming - my pool has 3 wide lanes that are separated by speed (I'm slow, 30 or fewer lengths in 30 minutes. Medium is 30-60 in 30 minutes and fast is 60+ lengths!) The lanes are wide, and they ask us to swim clockwise in the lane and keep apart as much as possible. You can rest at the ends, but need to face away from the pool. They're limiting it to 10 people per lane for each hour. It felt just about right to me, apart from the one man who should probably have been in the medium lane as he kept overtaking.

Re the changing, ours asks us to arrive in costume. I just leave my clothes on a bench near the pool, and then afterwards, towel off and put my clothes back on over my costume and drive home for a proper shower. It was fine, not too uncomfortable at all, and much nicer than trying to wriggle out of a wet costume and into clothes when you're not fully dry anyway and the floor is wet.

ozymandiusking · 09/08/2020 23:06

Our pool is open, but you can't shower afterwards and the hair dryers are not allowed.Only three lanes are open.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 09/08/2020 23:07

Our local pools are shut. We are going away (UK) this week and have found a lido nearby. Have booked tickets and so excited! I've really missed swimming these last few months.

anothermansmother · 09/08/2020 23:09

Ours are closed to under 18s...including those with a gym membership. I was really looking forward to us all going back swimming, but we're going to have to wait a bit longer.

Katjolo · 09/08/2020 23:11

I would assume most people are outside enjoying the rare sunshine.

compulsivesnacker · 09/08/2020 23:15

Where on earth are you that it’s open with no restrictions? The three nearest to us are lane only, have to be booked in advance one person per lane. Only use changing rooms on exit. Lane booking times are staggered so that the changing room is empty when you get out. No kids. Adult only. No leisure pool open.

corythatwas · 09/08/2020 23:16

Not keen on indoors pools at the best of times, can't stand smell of chlorine & don't like acoustics, but at this time of year I want the outdoors anyway. Going to local river later in the week, not expecting any crowds.

Mintjulia · 09/08/2020 23:16

You’re lucky. Our pool hasn’t opened yet. We have indoor and outdoor pools and they are both still shut Sad

Enjoy the water Smile

Svalberg · 09/08/2020 23:24

Went swimming, outside, every weekday last week. Busiest day was Friday when there were at the most 6 in the widest lane, it's generally been 3 or 4 max. No booking needed (David Lloyd) and I showered at home afterwards. It was lovely.

AmyandPhilipfan · 09/08/2020 23:28

Our local one is shut, which is annoying because it’s within easy walking distance for my two older kids to go by themselves. And they get to use it free. So in normal circumstances they would have been there at least 3 times a week over the summer. But the way things are there’s no news on when it’s going to open.

Our nearest that is open is a bit of a trek to get to, costs about a fiver per person and they’re only letting you in for 45 minutes. My kids often stay in the local one for about 3 hours so 45 minutes for the journey and price doesn’t seem worth it.

middleager · 09/08/2020 23:33

Lucky you. My kids can't go in ours as no under 16s.

We have just rerurned from holiday snd booked a hotel with outdoor pool. We all swam daily. Bliss!

Original poster
MyNameIsNotMummy · 09/08/2020 23:33

Wiow. I’m wondering why so many pools are still shut buts ours is open as normal! Really strict rules at a lot of pools as well.

Wondering if I should be worried now Confused. Although it’s a council run leisure centre (via a Sports Trust).

Half our pool is lane swimming but there’s no booking, the other half is free swimming. They have lowered the capacity but obviously not needed at the moment. Toddler pool is open as normal as well. I was surprised they weren’t doing online booking actually, it’s just turn up. They’ve put in a one way system but you can have a shower and get changed no problem. I just make sure we go onto a dry changing room so no ones been in there for a while, don’t touch walls, wipe bench and use wipe to open door and locker.

We’re just outside the M25.

OP posts:
Choochoose · 09/08/2020 23:35

Ours is pretty booked up, it's only lane swimming at the moment, but they're seeing how their procedures are working and they said they'll consider doing a wider variety of sessions. You book online or on the phone, no changing room access on the way in, but the lockers are available to pop your stuff in, and then after your swim you can use the changing rooms, but no showers as they want people in and out asap. So not ideal for everyone, but it seems to be working if you're really keen to go swimming. I really don't get the appeal of wild swimming, I have tried 3 local places and all of them were pretty grim. I just don't like the thought of it I guess.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/08/2020 23:35

Allergic to chlorine. Apparently they’ve doubled up on it. So double no.

lilylion · 09/08/2020 23:38

Our lido has closed the changing rooms so you either have to ‘beach change’ or travel home in wet things. No thanks

Original poster
MyNameIsNotMummy · 09/08/2020 23:39

Anti bac wipes kill viruses as well so it says on the pack and Covid is a corona virus like flu is BoomBoom.

OP posts:
HollyHocks13 · 09/08/2020 23:42

An indoor pool is the last place I'd want to be on a sunny day!
We go down to the beach most days when it's warm and yesterday took the kids to a river beach up on the moors. The water is crystal clear and certainly not "full of nasties"! Much cleaner than a pool...

Dylaninthemovies1 · 09/08/2020 23:52

I’d love to go swimming: but I’m scotland they aren’t open yet

MidnightCitrus · 09/08/2020 23:53

[quote TheFormerPorpentinaScamander]@MidnightCitrus maybe the PP you quoted doesn't have a partner. Or maybe they are at work all day.[/quote]
thegreenlight

Only one parent is allowed to go with children to ours and as I have a 2 and 6 year old I won’t be going until that changes

why doesnt your partner take one, and you take the other?

The pp said (quoted above) Only one parent is allowed ... I won’t be going until that changes

Happymum12345 · 09/08/2020 23:59

Luck you having a pool open near you! What can’t wait to go swimming again!

TomBradysLeftKneecap · 09/08/2020 23:59

I'm not UK based and my child is a lifeguard in the town outdoor summer pool. It's had no more than 30 people at a time all summer. A lot of people are just still being really cautious. The lifeguards love it as they're getting paid to just hang out with each other.

areallthenamesusedup · 10/08/2020 00:00

PLEASE DELETE THIS POST!!!!!!!!

Do not tell people the pools are empty.

I know.

I am loving it.

IncrediblySadToo · 10/08/2020 00:04

@Abitouting

I'm assuming OP is asking why people aren't going swimming generally.. rather than specifically today?

So I'm not sure why there's lots of posters talking about not going whilst it's hot... not going due to period. Irrelevant surely? Maybe I'm wrong and sorry if I sound grumpy!

And to reply to your thread OP I didn't realise they were opening yet but haven't been checking tbh. I'll definitely have a look at our local though.

So I'm not sure why there's lots of posters talking about not going whilst it's hot... not going due to period. Irrelevant surely? Maybe I'm wrong and sorry if I sound grumpy!

Well, the OP asked why people aren't going swimming, so they're telling her! Strange thing to say. If that's why people aren't going swimming, it's not irrelevant is it!

I don't go to indoor pools on hot days because I can barely cope on cool days. The humidity make me feel ill.

I wouldn't go when I have my period now, because unlike when I was younger and a tampon would sort that out, now it would look like a scene from JAWS.

But those issues aside, being indoors anywhere with strangers is about as appealing as shoving bamboo down my nails.

Thanks, but no.

480Widdio · 10/08/2020 00:05

David Lloyd near me is open,I go swimming every evening.The first week it reopened it was really deserted.

Have noticed the past few evenings it is getting busier.Lovely outdoor pool as well and food.I love it.

Comefromaway · 10/08/2020 00:14

Local pools here are lane swimming only and no changing facilities.