I am lucky with my pool. I am a 74-year-old woman who trains intensively to compete in masters meets. There are a number of regular walkers at my pool and they always allow me my space, i.e., a lane, and are very supportive of my swimming. There are even a couple of male walkers who will tell a new swimmer 'You can’t have that lane, it’s —‘s and she’ll be in soon.’ I have never asked them to do that!
No, YMCA I go has signs telling which are the slow lanes, usually occupied by older people. They also have many hydrogymnastics classes to keep the older ones busy (and happy). I mean if your pool doesn’t have a policy in place then you can’t do much. And there’s no ‘waiting for a lane’, I can just join a lane and start swimming.
Some may be doing very gentle knee and leg lifts underwater. My father was told to do this by his physio as he is a trip and fall hazard, and I have been advised to do this after I have knee and hip replacements before I go back to swimming and aqua aerobics.
Lifelong competitive/fitness swimmer here.
I used to wonder this myself. My wife recently broke her leg and as part of her recovery, ‘water walking’ was a major part of her homework from PT post-surgery. During this, she got to know a lot of the older folks who have inhabited that lane for years. They all had similar medical recommendations for their physical health.
That said, our pool contains ‘water walking’ to lane one so swimmers can lap swim in the rest of the pool.
I guess it’s a socialization thing. Once you retire, it can be difficult to meet people, and a pool is a good way to socialize while doing mild exercise that takes the pressure off painful joints.
Saying that, the wall lice should still follow the rules, and it’s important that staff enforce them. Allowing swimmers in the lane, circle swimming, adhering to lane speed guidance, letting faster swimmers touch the wall - they can all help wall lice and swimmers share a lane.
Exercise varies at different life stages, and many older adults experience joint issues. You may think they are doing nothing, but for them, staying on their feet is the whole goal. As a result, many prefer to exercise in a pool. One option is to find a gym with a hot tub, where they can socialize instead of using the main pool. Another option is to visit the gym at different times, as older adults typically go very early in the morning, especially on weekends.
This behavior is nothing new. I am in my 50s, and the old people were doing this when I was a teenager. I don’t get it.
I have this issue at my gyms. There’s a large retirement community in my city, and lots of elderly people do this. Sometimes I go to the neighboring city, but that is a larger family community where they often close a lane for swim lessons for kids, and many kids take the lessons. Also, many parents take several kids for recreational swimming where they roughhouse and go between all lanes. As a result, I stopped going to those gyms.
I wish I were wealthy enough to afford the $600 for the semi-annual aquatic center pass.
I encounter this from time to time at my Y. Fortunately, the lifeguards are very attentive and will gently remind the ‘waders’ what a leisure lane is for and direct them there. Speak to the staff and gently remind them about doing their job.
Rather than bother her, I cut off my usual 1km swim at around 750m.
Seems like a really tiny amount of polite communication would alleviate your concerns.
If that doesn’t work, talk to the staff.
Are there not lifeguards to reinforce rules?
Pax said:
Are there not lifeguards to reinforce rules?
There aren’t lifeguards at any of my pools. YMMV.
I have that in my LA, but they usually move to the side if I ask to use the lane. Have you asked and then they don’t accommodate you, or do you just grudgingly stare at them?
I had a lady tell me (not even ask) to move lanes because she needed the wall, then she just walked back and forth. We have 2 other pools, and I don’t see why she needs the lap pool to walk around in. She only uses half the distance too. I was annoyed that she interrupted my workout, but I moved and ignored it. I see her do this pretty regularly. Our pool can get busy, so it’s annoying. The deeper part of the kiddy pool would be perfect for this, but I don’t want to bring it up; I’d rather just avoid her lol.
The words in this post I don’t understand are: ‘wait for a lane to open up.’ As a lifelong swimmer, I’ve always treated the lanes as shared space; more like a multi-lane road. Pick a lane, signal your intention, then just start swimming.
That feels better than the old guys that come into the pool area, sit next to the lane and just watch you.
You should join a pool that has designated lap swimming times. If those are established, the administrators of your pool have assertiveness issues. If the current staff’s hand-wringing wimpiness continues, and they won’t enforce the rules, it is doubtful anything you say to the workers will have any effect; you might need to find a new pool.
Maybe address the manager or governing body (city?) to address the problem. Pools are for swimming first! (Sounds almost simplistic).
This irritates me so much - of course they’re welcome to bob and chat - just NOT in the fast lane. Pool staff never challenge them.
“Wall lice” - this cracks me up!!! You’ve met my wife and sister-in-law? My wife does the walk-in-deep-water with a float while I swim. She stays in the walker lane with the steps and doesn’t want to share a lane with me as I might splash her when I swim by…
Don’t stop.