First day back after a good vacation. It’s evening, very few people are in the pool, no lane sharing! Anyway, someone who swims regularly at the same time is in the next lane over; we are of similar speed. Most of the time, everyone ignores everyone, but I was pacing and trying to keep ahead. After a lap I was going full speed, killing myself, and he was still going past me. Then he passed me, and I realized… He had fins on.
… I’ll just laugh at myself and signal the lifeguard to snag the AED.
Happened to me just the other day!!! I was getting WHOOPED by a college-age lady—her backstroke was easily faster than my freestyle—and when we stopped, I looked over and her swim cap said something like, “UVA - 2024 NCAA Champions.”
The lesson I learned is: D1 Nat’l Champions Swimmer > Late 40’s dude.
@Bela
Those UVA ladies sure are fast.
I’ve done that before.
Turned out he didn’t have fins on. But he was Liam Tancock (British Record holder on 50bk, Olympian, world champ, Commonwealth champ).
So there is that. 
Merlin said:
I’ve done that before.
Turned out he didn’t have fins on. But he was Liam Tancock (British Record holder on 50bk, Olympian, world champ, Commonwealth champ).
So there is that.
Oh man, that’s even better! 
Imagine trying to race an Olympian without realizing it. Talk about accidentally picking the wrong fight! At least with fins you’d have an excuse…
@Corwin
Worst bit was, they were in doing some easy recovery swims after getting back from a comp 
Merlin said:
@Corwin
Worst bit was, they were in doing some easy recovery swims after getting back from a comp
Yep that’s definitely the worst bit
Merlin said:
I’ve done that before.
Turned out he didn’t have fins on. But he was Liam Tancock (British Record holder on 50bk, Olympian, world champ, Commonwealth champ).
So there is that.
He used to come to BUCS as an invitation British Swimmer. Always made sure to get in the same lane
One of the semi-regulars at my pool wears fins; he starts later than me and will follow me for around 10 laps, take a breath, then get behind me for another 10 etc. matching my pace whether I speed up or slow down.
The first few times it was irritating but now I don’t mind because it keeps me motivated to push and maintain a constant pace.
@Drue
I feel you.
There’s an triathlete old lady, she uses paddles and fins, and whenever we are next to each other, she always waits for me and follows me. But when I’m on buoy only and she’s with fins and paddles, I must maintain a faster pace to keep up with her. It actually keeps me motivated but I really try not to overcommit because even though she’s an old lady, fins+paddles are a huge advantage over buoy.
@Max
I wear fins when I swim. I also swim backstroke most of the time. I assure you she probably isn’t trying to lap you or compete with you. I wait for the other person because I don’t want them to get in my wake or splash them unnecessarily. And since I swim backstroke a lot, I’m trying not to accidentally drift over in my lane or touch people. When I wait for the person to get halfway down the lane, I’m just giving them some space—if I catch up to you, I’m not trying to race you.
@Merritt
Got you but I mean she’s in the other lane not in mine.
Max said:
@Merritt
Got you but I mean she’s in the other lane not in mine.
I’m in the other lane too. I have the luxury of swimming in a lane by myself almost exclusively.
Max said:
@Merritt
Got you but I mean she’s in the other lane not in mine.
I’m in the other lane too. I have the luxury of swimming in a lane by myself almost exclusively.
Yeah me too. But I’m pretty sure she’s not waiting for me to not splash her. She doesn’t splash at all.
Even she waits for me when we have 1 lane between us .
@Max
I really don’t think she is paying as much attention to you as you think she is.
Merritt said:
@Max
I really don’t think she is paying as much attention to you as you think she is.
I really think she does because she is watching me, sometimes even talks to me. She does this to some other people as well.
When I stop for like 1 min she also stops and watches me and waits. Then I start, she starts.
But anyway.
@Max
You must be very important for her to base her entire workout around what you (and other people?) are doing… I stand corrected.
You spend an inordinate amount of time watching this woman. Do you even swim, bro?
@Merritt
Relax buddy 
.
30 years ago, a HUGE guy showed up in the gym in a beat-to-heck NE Patriots t-shirt. I was so distracted, I picked up 45# dumbbells instead of the 25# I was used to and was too embarrassed to put them back. Did my set. Died.
Talked about it at work later and someone said, “Oh, that must have been Somebody Famous (on the defensive line for the Patriots). His mom lives here.”