I swim every Mon, Wed and Fri in my local pool from 0600 - 0700 and have done so for about 18 months, you get used to the same faces and chat and get to know other swimmers. I know who swims a what pace and put myself in the lane for my ability. This has always worked perfectly until this morning when for the first time ever the 50m pool was reduced to 25m with a floating pontoon, apparently there is a swim course being run, fine. The problem was that there were the same amount of people in half as much pool and it was horrible. I imagine the life guards were having a ball watching people getting in a tizz bumping in to each other and stacking up at each end, it was like practicing mass starts in doors. I would say that on average there are about 40+ swimmers each morning with one large granny lane and 5 swim lanes, which is fine in a 50 but was carnage in a 25 as people just weren't used to it. If only I could have videoed it.
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yep, that sounds about
yep, that sounds about right. The 25m pool that I swim in is a zoo around april (the first tri of the local season) as it is pool used for the race. If there are only 4-6/lane it's a light load. It gets annoying but teaches you how to work around people and you can always tell who doesn't know how fast/slow they swim.
There is such a thing as
There is such a thing as "lane etiquette". Sad that no one follows it.
1. Lane designations. In most pools, lanes are designated as slow, medium, or fast. These are relative terms. Choose a lane compatible with your speed, then notify the others in the lane that you are joining them.
2. Swimming pattern. If there are two of you in a lane, you may opt to keep to one side of the lane; the other swimmer will stay on the opposite side. Three or more swimmers in a lane must circle swim. In the United States, Canada, and most of the rest of the world, the custom is to stay to the right, that is to swim counterclockwise.
3. Joining a workout. If there is a workout set in progress, you may join only as part of the set.
4. Speed. Slower swimmers must yield to faster swimmers.
5. Passing. Pass on the left (on right in the United Kingdom and Down Under). Tap the foot of the person in front of you before passing. If you are being overtaken at the turn, stop, and wait until the other swimmer has pushed off.
http://www.usms.org/fitness/content/pooletiquette
I would also add: 6. When
I would also add:
6. When taking a break at the end of the pool, do not block the wall such that other swimmers cannot complete their flip turn and continue. Move to the left corner.
7. Yes, I know you're trying to do a set of 100s on the 1:40. But please, your workout doens't need to be that precise, especially with a crowd. Either push off well ahead of an oncoming swimmer, or wait until they have passed. Nothing worse than seeing a clear wall, hit the flip turn, and push off right into the feet of another swimmer.