The (almost) daily visit to the pool at the YMCA is a crap shoot. Well, not literally – at least as far as I can tell (he said, avoiding the kiddie pool). Mostly it is a question of whether or not you’ll have to share a lane. There are 6 lanes in the pool, and if you time it right, you get your own lane. If you don’t, then you have to share. Two to a lane means you occupy one side or the other. Three or more (ugh) and you swim circles which is great if everyone is the same speed. Which I’m invariably not. Old and slow comes to mind.
Anywho, there is a bit of a strategy when walking down the steps from the 2nd floor locker room. You scan the pool to see what’s available. If there is an open lane, you’re golden. If there isn’t, then you have to figure out who you want to try and share a lane with. My first rule of thumb is to avoid lanes 1 and 6 – the wall is a harsh mistress for those of us doing breast stroke with a 6′ wingspan. So then it comes down the the person. It can be all over the map – old and slow (like me) or young and fast. Some have great form and are smooth (generally a good choice), others are slappers and can’t swim a straight line to save their lives. The downside is that either way I have to modify my stroke which can lead to tweaks of the back which are bad – and my back is the whole reason I’m swimming laps in the first place.
Undeniably first world problems, but the YMCA is a fascinating place. More about the Pope of the Y later…