I haven't made it to masters swimming in a very long while due to my school schedule. It doesn't help that I've been dog-sitting/house-sitting for practically the entire month on January as my mom is jet-setting around the world. Most of my swims therefore end up being solo.
I usually swim at the University of Pittsburgh. Although there are two pools, one has very odd hours because of the swim team. For that reason, I usually end up swimming at the smaller, more crowded one. It's usually busy and I know most times that I will end up sharing a lane.
I'm not sure if the "new year's resolutioner's" crowd is still on the prow or what but my friday afternoon swim was a nightmare. There were many character's at the pool....
1. Big Muscles Boy- I am a sexi guy and I am tough! Let's race ever other 25 meters while you do 400 meter repeats because I'm hot and super fast! Check out my pecs and abs...
2. Wide Breast-Stroker Girl-No! I will not ask to share a lane with you. I will jump straight in without asking and make sure I take up practically the entire lane, pushing you very-very close to the wall and take 10 minute breaks between every 25 meters.
3. 3's a Crowd Girl-No! I will not ask to share a lane with you either...although there are already 2 people.... I also will fail to notice that you are splitting the lane-NOT circle swimming and create a head-on collision with you while you are doing 100-m fast repeats.
4. Snow-bunny Bikini Girl- The pool is my beach in Pittsburgh in the winter time. I will make sure I do one lap every time big muscle boy takes a 5 min break to check me out.
5. See-Through Speedo Man- I'm senile and fail to notice that my speedos: show my a ** crack and are worn out and see-through.
Please NOTE:
I'm not a mean, selfish person and will gladly share a lane with you. But please ask me first... And even if it's super crowded and you want to join a group of 3- I will circle swim. But again please ask! I don't bite! My hot pink swimsuit and cutie pie cap from Marci are really intimidating.
Anyway I hate to be a pessimist but seriously people!
Ugh. I don't understand people who jump in a lane and don't wait for you to get to the end to acknowledge they are in your lane. I mean, even in a 50M pool, it's another 90 seconds they have to wait.
ReplyDeleteoh yeah, sounds like all pools have a few interesting characters. maybe it's a friday thang. someone needs to tell these guys wearing worn out speedos (and also worn out bike shorts) that it's time to retire them...how do you do that tactfully though?
ReplyDeleteI know the characters all too well. Wow, return to swimming not looking quite so inviting anymore.
ReplyDeleteI bet you looked adorable in all your pink... esp the cutie pie cap :)
ReplyDeleteThe 2,3, and 5's are the worst offenders around here...only they are just here around the new year, they are bad pool etiquette lifers.
ReplyDeleteAhhh! I have a couple of your characters at my training facility as well! you are missing a couple of the doctor told me swimming is good characters! I am all for promoting physical fitness, but....can you get your fat ass to the pool at another time of day when people arent training! Happy training!
ReplyDeleteI try and think of it all as good practice for my mental state of mind during the actual swim in a triathlon.
ReplyDeleteit helps... sort of? ;-)
Ha ha you should see my "co-swimmers". But here in the UK circle swimming is the norm. You only ask if you want to share the lane when there is one other in there.
ReplyDeleteOh see-through speedo - haha!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I run into these guys and more all the time.
ReplyDeleteJust started reading your blog and I love it! And you are right about people at the pool. They seem to be at every pool!
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