Rant/Public Service Announcement Tuesday

Lets review pool rules, shall we?

1. A lane generally consists of a 4 to 5 foot wide section of the pool from end to end.  Usually lanes are divided by a rope or buoy system and have a tile stripe on the pool floor.
2. Generally one swimmer will swim over that stripe doing laps.
3. When a lane is full, generally it means that two people have divided the lane and are swimming laps on their side of the lane.  Sometimes people will swim circle laps but this is more difficult if people have differing swimming speeds.
4. If you find that each lane has one swimmer, you have the right to ask someone to share a lane.  They have the right to refuse, but most people won't.  If they do refuse... they have more problems in life than you do or they are swimming butterfly and don't want to clock you.
5. Don't jump in a lane without getting the attention of the swimmer occupying the lane.  Definitely do not start swimming in the lane without asking the first swimmer in the lane.
6. Acceptable ways to get a swimmer's attention:
1. Stand at the end of the lane, verbally ask to share the lane.
2. Tap them on the hand if they do not respond to verbal communication (I know I wear ear plugs for holes in my eardrums so I cannot hear very well).
3. Sit on pool side and dangle your feet to the side of center of the lane.  If they are doing flip turns, it's hard to get their attention.
7. If they do not acknowledge you, move on and ask someone else or wait.  Again, don't jump in the lane and start swimming.
8. If they are already swimming in 1/2 of the lane, they already give permission to share the lane.  Go for it.  If they object, I didn't tell you to do that...

Can anyone think of any others?

Also, check out Scott Askins - Falkee Triathlon member - he set a 10k PR to start his race season (it helps that it was his first official 10k)!