The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

[Antony Moxey]

Awesome work PBJR2: curry sauce with the chips is the obvious answer.

[McAndy]

Antony Moxey said:

…curry sauce with the chips is the obvious answer.

Good point; well made.

[Highway Star]

PomBstard said:

PB Jnr2 bagged herself a proper NSW State Record today - U13 SB8 SC 50m Breaststroke.

[PomBstard]

Thanks all for the congrats and the chip-accompaniment suggestions - chicken salt is the favoured condiment!

[Highway Star]

Anyone else watching the World Champs? Some awesome swimming from a new generation of young talent. Marchand in the 400IM, Popovici is developing nicely, Ceccon, Macintosh.

Milak’s 200 fly was amazing, most world class fly swimmers would be happy with a 51.8 100, he did another 100 afterwards!

[R Mutt]

Not sure what just happened to me in my local 25m ex council pool.

I came out of a turn and there was a woman in front of me in that half of the lane. As I went round her assuming she was going the wrong way she waved me down and told me she was trying to overtake. I informed her that is not the correct procedure. I wasn't sure if she was referring to this incident or the previous length when I turned and she was standing in my way in the shallow end. That time there was someone else standing at my end of the lane so there's nowhere I could've ended up other than the adjacent end of the lane where she would've had to turn. I thought she was just an entitled tt but then I actually ended up crashing in to another woman who was on my side immediately after my turn. I was slow today as I've been a bit run down but I was overtaking people. I know it's only a 25m pool but surely you've got 23 other metres to overtake, or just turn and go the other way if you're that desperate not to slow down and can't overtake. It's worth noting that neither of these woman attempted to overtake at any other point.

Have I been swimming wrong my whole life and instead should be turning in to the same side I've just come from and then crossing over?

[Antony Moxey]

I tend to aim for the middle of the lane in the last two to three metres of each length, the push off towards the other edge of the lane. I’m usually the one doing the overtaking so what annoys me is when you’ve made up half a length on someone over the course of a length they don’t wait at the end and just push off in front of you. Or like some dullard the other night who was swimming almost diagonally across the lane for the final ten metres of each length.

Swim in straight bloody lines and be aware of people who are considerably faster than you, and if they’re doing one length to every two of yours then maybe the ‘fast’ lane isn’t for you. Grr!

[the-norseman]

Really annoys me in my pool, its a 33m pool has 6 lanes but usually only has 2-3 lanes open. The other lanes being used for lessons.

For some reason the people who should be in the "slow" lane end up in the "medium" lane and you end up with people in the "fast" lane that should really be in the "slow" lane as well. People who do 2 lengths then stand about and chat for 10 minutes while blocking the end of the pool.

[R Mutt]

Antony Moxey said:

I tend to aim for the middle of the lane in the last two to three metres of each length, the push off towards the other edge of the lane. I’m usually the one doing the overtaking so what annoys me is when you’ve made up half a length on someone over the course of a length they don’t wait at the end and just push off in front of you. Or like some dullard the other night who was swimming almost diagonally across the lane for the final ten metres of each length.

Swim in straight bloody lines and be aware of people who are considerably faster than you, and if they’re doing one length to every two of yours then maybe the ‘fast’ lane isn’t for you. Grr!

I wasn't actually overtaken by anyone at any point and obviously wasn't actively obsticting them so they couldn't have been much faster than me. There was also only 1 lane open that wasn't for kids/ free-for-all or lessons. How would you define or even be aware that someone has made up adequate ground on you to warrant giving way, and is that genuine etiquette? I've had whole sessions at someone's toes before. I just suck it up. Should I actually try to make contact with them, or push to be level with them on their turn so they know I'm there? That's pretty much what seemed to be happening here

[R Mutt]

the-norseman said:

Really annoys me in my pool, its a 33m pool has 6 lanes but usually only has 2-3 lanes open. The other lanes being used for lessons.

For some reason the people who should be in the "slow" lane end up in the "medium" lane and you end up with people in the "fast" lane that should really be in the "slow" lane as well. People who do 2 lengths then stand about and chat for 10 minutes while blocking the end of the pool.

Mine has 2 double width slower lanes, mainly for old ladies where obviously one should be faster but people doing head up breast stroke mistakenly think they're faster than the old ladies, and a varying number of single lanes depending on lessons/ staffing. It seems people of all abilities are arrogant enough to think they should have the single lanes to themselves

[Antony Moxey]

R Mutt said:

Antony Moxey said:

I tend to aim for the middle of the lane in the last two to three metres of each length, the push off towards the other edge of the lane. I’m usually the one doing the overtaking so what annoys me is when you’ve made up half a length on someone over the course of a length they don’t wait at the end and just push off in front of you. Or like some dullard the other night who was swimming almost diagonally across the lane for the final ten metres of each length.

Swim in straight bloody lines and be aware of people who are considerably faster than you, and if they’re doing one length to every two of yours then maybe the ‘fast’ lane isn’t for you. Grr!

I wasn't actually overtaken by anyone at any point and obviously wasn't actively obsticting them so they couldn't have been much faster than me. There was also only 1 lane open that wasn't for kids/ free-for-all or lessons. How would you define or even be aware that someone has made up adequate ground on you to warrant giving way, and is that genuine etiquette? I've had whole sessions at someone's toes before. I just suck it up. Should I actually try to make contact with them, or push to be level with them on their turn so they know I'm there? That's pretty much what seemed to be happening here

Well, when you turn at one end and see they're half a length behind, then turn at the other end and see they're right behind you is maybe a good indication they're faster than you! The last para I wrote above wasn't aimed at you specifically BTW, it was just me moaning generally!

[Jambo85]

Antony Moxey said:

Well, when you turn at one end and see they're half a length behind, then turn at the other end and see they're right behind you is maybe a good indication they're faster than you!

Quite. R Mutt I’m a bit lost in what you have described but I think you should seriously consider if you might be the issue!

Overtaking people safely in a 25m pool requires a considerable speed differential particularly if there are more than two people using the lane, so the lady cutting her length short to turn before you is quite reasonable IMO (though sounds like she didn’t give you enough space!) particularly if you’re unaware that people are gaining on you, and therefore not letting them by.

Apologies if I’m wide of the mark here but my local pool is full of people who won’t let others by and it’s very frustrating.

[ajprice]

Artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez feinted in the pool during a routine and had to be rescued by her coach https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/61906249.amp

[MesoForm]

Antony Moxey said:

I tend to aim for the middle of the lane in the last two to three metres of each length, the push off towards the other edge of the lane. I’m usually the one doing the overtaking so what annoys me is when you’ve made up half a length on someone over the course of a length they don’t wait at the end and just push off in front of you. Or like some dullard the other night who was swimming almost diagonally across the lane for the final ten metres of each length.

Swim in straight bloody lines and be aware of people who are considerably faster than you, and if they’re doing one length to every two of yours then maybe the ‘fast’ lane isn’t for you. Grr!

Often there's only 2 lanes available at my pool and the local triathlon club like to take over one of them - if I can get into the water past their bags, bottles, flippers, snorkels, floats, etc. they tend to swim a bit slower than me but always do tumble turns whereas I don't bother. Means I catch them up swimming only to have to shield myself from a collision when they inevitably turn on the same side of the lane I'm on. That's if the four of them aren't just stood around having a chat at the end of the lane, which seems to be most of their session.
edit - not sure if David_M's post below is aimed at me, but I'm not overtaking when they push towards me, they turn on the side they're swimming then move across so if I'm directly behind I'm in danger of being hit.

Edited by MesoForm on Thursday 23 June 14:50

[David_M]

On the overtaking-in-public-sessions thread above:

You need to either wait behind the person in front of you or be ahead of them at the end (you only need to be a fraction ahead, but you have to be ahead).

If you are in front and you see someone waiting behind you, let them through.

Any other alternative - like the one described above - where the "overtaker" ends up swimming directly at the person who has just turned (blind if tumbling) and pushed off back up the lane is ridiculous.

Does my head in, as this feels very obvious.

[boyse7en]

Jambo85 said:

Antony Moxey said:

Well, when you turn at one end and see they're half a length behind, then turn at the other end and see they're right behind you is maybe a good indication they're faster than you!

Quite. R Mutt I’m a bit lost in what you have described but I think you should seriously consider if you might be the issue!

Overtaking people safely in a 25m pool requires a considerable speed differential particularly if there are more than two people using the lane, so the lady cutting her length short to turn before you is quite reasonable IMO (though sounds like she didn’t give you enough space!) particularly if you’re unaware that people are gaining on you, and therefore not letting them by.

Apologies if I’m wide of the mark here but my local pool is full of people who won’t let others by and it’s very frustrating.

This ^
If im a few seconds per 25m quicker than the guy in front it is almost impossible to "overtake" completely during the length. if there is a third person in the lane it is definitely impossible.
When you turn, check the distance back to the person behind. If they are creeping up on you at each turn then it is pretty easy to work out when they are right on your tail and then just keep straight on your lane at the next turn, so they can pass.
Holding up faster swimmers is bad form.

[Jambo85]

David_M said:

On the overtaking-in-public-sessions thread above:

You need to either wait behind the person in front of you or be ahead of them at the end (you only need to be a fraction ahead, but you have to be ahead).

If you are in front and you see someone waiting behind you, let them through.

Any other alternative - like the one described above - where the "overtaker" ends up swimming directly at the person who has just turned (blind if tumbling) and pushed off back up the lane is ridiculous.

Does my head in, as this feels very obvious.

Goodness, if that’s what is being described then I misunderstood and apologise for my earlier post. Dangerous.

[David_M]

MesoForm said:

edit - not sure if David_M's post below is aimed at me, but I'm not overtaking when they push towards me, they turn on the side they're swimming then move across so if I'm directly behind I'm in danger of being hit.

Hi - no, that's what I'm saying everyone needs to avoid!

These things (written assuming clockwise lane pattern):
- aim to turn in the middle of the lane; because
- then the person keeping behind you can be slightly on your left and you can push off to the right = no collision
- if that person is planning to overtake, when they turn they are now on your right and can;
- be the person in front of you, on your right, to the wall on the other end

Also:
- don't rest in the middle of the lane, because that's where everyone wants to turn (see above)
- people standing in the middle of the end of the lane are almost always training for a triathlon (and I say that as someone who did tris for many years)

[Slowboathome]

Hope it's OK to ask for advice in this thread........?

I'm trying to improve my front crawl. Been working on it for years, watched the Swim Smooth and Total Immersion videos. I had a lesson this morning where the instructor basically said I'm doing 90% of things right.

Thing is, I seem to struggle with breathing, and I'm pretty sure it's not a technique issue - I'm doing the breathing out constantly under water, not lifting my head to breathe, am nice and level in the water. I had a go using flippers and a wide float and it was a cinch - the float gave me much more buoyancy, but as soon as I tried again without it I'm struggling again.

I'm I just one of those people who has a body that lacks buoyancy? Is there something else going on?

I'm reasonably fit btw - can run 10 miles pretty comfortably and can swim at least 1/2 mile alternating breast stroke crawl, but I can't do more than 2 lengths of crawl before I'm out of breath.

I'd love to hear from someone who has experienced this problem and overcome it.

[triggerhappy21]

Slowboathome said:

Hope it's OK to ask for advice in this thread........?

I'm trying to improve my front crawl. Been working on it for years, watched the Swim Smooth and Total Immersion videos. I had a lesson this morning where the instructor basically said I'm doing 90% of things right.

Thing is, I seem to struggle with breathing, and I'm pretty sure it's not a technique issue - I'm doing the breathing out constantly under water, not lifting my head to breathe, am nice and level in the water. I had a go using flippers and a wide float and it was a cinch - the float gave me much more buoyancy, but as soon as I tried again without it I'm struggling again.

I'm I just one of those people who has a body that lacks buoyancy? Is there something else going on?

I'm reasonably fit btw - can run 10 miles pretty comfortably and can swim at least 1/2 mile alternating breast stroke crawl, but I can't do more than 2 lengths of crawl before I'm out of breath.

I'd love to hear from someone who has experienced this problem and overcome it.

Might not be relevant but the above bold stood out to me. I've read somewhere a long time ago that for some breathing out constantly works for some people, for others it works better to breath out sharply or in stages.

I know that I really struggle with a constant exhale, and find myself gasping for breath pretty quickly. Instead i do two sharp exhales, the last just before the inhale.

FYI I'm a fairly competent swimmer, doing about 3.2km in an hour 2 or 3 times a week.