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AIBU?

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Original poster

Vindicate me (or not) in my fury (lane swimming)

119 replies

Jazzybean · 18/06/2023 15:54

Went for a swim this lunchtime. Pool is busy in the leisure areas but the lane swimming is separate and tends to be quiet during the day. Just a few people in a double lane. I was trying to get an hour or so done as I’m going a 5km swim next weekend . I did my first km in the fast lane and then moved to the medium lane as there were people doing faster intervals in the fast lane and I was swimming steady (so not sprinting).

Despite there being AMPLE space for three people to swim in the medium lane, one woman seemed to take great offence at me swimming slightly faster in the medium lane (not unreasonably so at all but I did have to overtake - usually very easy in a double lane) and went, what felt like, out of her way to cut me up.

Firstly she stopped kicking about 5 metres before the end of the lane, meaning that she massively slowed down. Then rather than pushing off, walked the double lane width before starting her next length, meaning that it was really hard to overtake at the end of the lane!

Secondly, she kept pushing off (after a rest), just as I got to the end of my lane. Meaning that I was then stuck behind her for a length or had to overtake mid-length.

AIBU to think that the person who is already swimming and just turning, has right of way over the person who was resting at the end of the lane? This is just common sense IMO!

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 18/06/2023 15:59

AIBU to think that the person who is already swimming and just turning, has right of way over the person who was resting at the end of the lane? This is just common sense IMO!

YANBU. Especially if the swimmer is swimming faster than the rester.

Your way round it would be to do an occasional U turn to overtake rather than get stuck behind.

MollysBrolly · 18/06/2023 16:00

So she was swimming her way and you're annoyed because you couldn't swim your way. Could you have not overtaken her or stayed in the fast lane? Sounds like you are complaining because you didn't get your own way.

TeenDivided · 18/06/2023 16:01

My pet hate is people who want to go up and down the same side when there are just 2 of you in the lane, rather than going clockwise/anti as directed.
I hate this because a) it's not the rules, and b) it puts off others from joining the lane

MatildaTheCat · 18/06/2023 16:01

This often happens to me. Sometimes it’s definitely passive aggressive behaviour and sometimes just thoughtlessness. It does give me the rage though.

Hedonism · 18/06/2023 16:02

Yeah, she needed to be waiting at the end to let you past. She was rude (and/or ignorant).

DenmarkStreet · 18/06/2023 16:02

I encounter the most interesting human behaviour in the pool. Not to mention swimming techniques.

Looking at you, Mr splashing like a fountain who gets really competitive when I overtake.

Malificent1 · 18/06/2023 16:02

You should have turned mid length and put some
distance between you.

TeenDivided · 18/06/2023 16:03

Hedonism · 18/06/2023 16:02

Yeah, she needed to be waiting at the end to let you past. She was rude (and/or ignorant).

Exactly. The etiquette is to wait at the end to let the faster swimmer overtake at the turn. Not to obstruct that from happening on purpose or set of just before someone when you've been having a rest.

OwlBabiesAreCute · 18/06/2023 16:03

Lane swimming inspires the same sort of fury as shared driveways.

If the other person's an arse it can be infuriating!

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:04

Nope
If you are faster to the point of overtaking you move up a lane.
Our lifeguards blow their whistle and direct you to move if you overtake.

TeenDivided · 18/06/2023 16:05

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:04

Nope
If you are faster to the point of overtaking you move up a lane.
Our lifeguards blow their whistle and direct you to move if you overtake.

Not if the fast lane is much faster than you.

If you are slower than the fast lane, and faster than the medium lane you have to make a choice.

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:05

Also overtaking just as someone gets to the end is a dick move!

LessonsInPhysics · 18/06/2023 16:06

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:04

Nope
If you are faster to the point of overtaking you move up a lane.
Our lifeguards blow their whistle and direct you to move if you overtake.

Should they not ask the slow swimmers to move down from middle lane? The fast lane can often be really fast, and OP had already done some time in there.

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:06

TeenDivided · 18/06/2023 16:05

Not if the fast lane is much faster than you.

If you are slower than the fast lane, and faster than the medium lane you have to make a choice.

Show quote history

She said they were doing sprints.
If the pool is busy no sprints and no breaststroke in the fast lane

Hedonism · 18/06/2023 16:07

OwlBabiesAreCute · 18/06/2023 16:03

Lane swimming inspires the same sort of fury as shared driveways.

If the other person's an arse it can be infuriating!

Totally!

To balance it out though - I had a lane to myself the other day and then, after about 20 lengths someone else arrived and chose my lane. They were a perfect lane match, we swam at the same pace and hit the opposite ends at the same time, I barely noticed they were there. It can happen 😁

Changeforachange · 18/06/2023 16:11

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:04

Nope
If you are faster to the point of overtaking you move up a lane.
Our lifeguards blow their whistle and direct you to move if you overtake.

How does that work when you move up lanes and they end up overtaking/ swimming over you?!

Lane swimming is an exercise in (mainly) unspoken cooperation amongst strangers which is why so many struggle.

TiredCatLady · 18/06/2023 16:12

The pool I swim at has signs saying no stopping/resting at the end of lanes. Any more than a few seconds and you’re supposed to get out. I swim continuously and turn at each end but get deathstares from the people resting there as they get a bit of an unavoidable bow wave as I pass or they do exactly as you describe and push off just as I reach the end and prepare to turn then trapping me behind them as it’s not always possible to overtake when the lanes are busy. Worse are the ones that stand up midway down the Lane completely oblivious to interrupting any one else’s swim. I get it - it’s an open session and we have to share the space but ffs read the rules and at least try to have some thought for other people.
I’m a pretty slow and steady kind of swimmer so not exactly hammering it down the Lane. But then again I fully understand the teenage lifeguards not wanting to approach people to reiterate rules/tell them off because they’d probably get an earful.

Tangelo · 18/06/2023 16:14

So she was swimming perfectly happily at her pace in the medium lane, and you moved over from the fast lane and immediately started overtaking her what sounds like a number of times?

Swimmers who should be in a slower lane are irritating. But so too are people who should be in a faster lane and decide to constantly swim up and down the middle of a slower lane, disrupting the flow of everyone else. Being faster does not make them more important.

This may or may not apply to you - only you will know.

She should however have let you go first if you were clearly faster and she was waiting at the wall. Basic etiquette.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/06/2023 16:16

I didn’t follow all of it, but yes she was v unreasonable to rest at the end and then push off just as you had reached the end.

There is a special place in hell for people who do that!

Denimdreams · 18/06/2023 16:17

Changeforachange · 18/06/2023 16:11

How does that work when you move up lanes and they end up overtaking/ swimming over you?!

Lane swimming is an exercise in (mainly) unspoken cooperation amongst strangers which is why so many struggle.

Show quote history

Eh?
Usually if you are overtaking then you are fine in the lane up.
Essentially it's about fitting in but you always get a testosterone filled nob who sprints over everyone else and a big fight ensues.
They get chucked out 😂

LoobyDop · 18/06/2023 16:21

Overtaking in the middle lane is a dick move. If you’re genuinely faster than everyone else, move to the fast lane. But overtakers ime are rarely faster, they’ve just got something to prove. Just pace yourself a bit and give other people enough space.

rwalker · 18/06/2023 16:23

The woman was clearly being a twat slowing down and pushing off when as you reach the end of your length
treat her with the same respect as she did with you none cut her up and overtake her

it’s jut manners to let someone faster go first
One solution when they wait to push off is turn before you reach the end so you end up in front of them
funny how the solution is always fast people slow down never slow people sped up

CaptainClover · 18/06/2023 16:24

Wait until you are 5m from the end, quickly into front crawl, overtake and tumble turn and you're away again before they've even noticed you :)
Or, as someone said, just turn mid-length and keep swimming if you don't need to count lengths.

rwalker · 18/06/2023 16:25

LoobyDop · 18/06/2023 16:21

Overtaking in the middle lane is a dick move. If you’re genuinely faster than everyone else, move to the fast lane. But overtakers ime are rarely faster, they’ve just got something to prove. Just pace yourself a bit and give other people enough space.

Ridiculous you Can overtake in any lane as long as there’s enough space to pass along side and you don’t cut them up

MaryBeardsShoes · 18/06/2023 16:27

Oh. I was just about to take up swimming again and you've reminded me of why I stopped in the first place!!

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