The Snarky Lady

Today I decided to ride Lucy to the Y, for my pool and run workout. It was a bit cooler out today, so I put on my heavier gear, including my MJ jacket and my lighter lobster claw gloves. I was warm enough. My toes were white and numb when I was undressing in the locker room, but what else is new??

My pool workout was nice. I really pushed myself. I started with a 400 yrd warm-up, and then did 5 x 50 yrds with the kick-board. I have been using the kick-board a lot lately, and I really think that it is improving my kicking strength, technique, and all around awareness to maintain a strong kick throughout my swim. It is easy to get limp legs. lol

When I was on my 3rd kicking 50, a lady jumped into my lane with me. There is sort of an etiquette to lane sharing. I can't speak for every pool, but at this one, if there are 2 swimmers in the lane, they will split the lane, each taking their own side of it. If a 3rd swimmer joins, then the swimmers must use the lane as if it were lanes of traffic; stay to the right and go in a circle. The lanes are also designated by speed: SLOW, MEDIUM, and FAST. Common sense would seem to dictate that if you are dead slow...stay in the slow lane. lol Anyway, this lady joined my lane and then seemed to ignore the "split the lane" thing, and started down my side. I adjusted my course. When I got to the other end of the pool, I moved my things over to that side of the lane, and prepared to push off from the wall. Well, she switched sides too. *sigh* "She must not understand," I thought, so I waited for her to swim down to me, so I could talk to her. When she stopped I said, "would you like to split the lane?" and she says in this very condescending tone, "Ooooh! That's what you want to do?" Then she pushes off the wall and breast strokes away. Huh...? I was totally polite...

I saw this church on a ride the other day and thought it was kinda cool.

After I finished my kick drills, I did 10 x 50 yrd sprints with 10 second rests, followed by 6 x 100 yrds at 80% exertion, with 20 second rests. Just as I was finishing up my 100s, another swimmer came out onto the deck looking for a lane to join. There were 4 lanes open for lap swimming, and all of them had at least 2 swimmers in them already. This is everyone's nightmare. I looked up at him and said, "how's the math?" "Not good," he answered. He was looking for a lane to join where the combination of swimmers he would be with, may actually be able to successfully swim a circle together. This means they all need to be similarly paced. Good luck with that! The only person in that pool he matched was me. He belonged in my lane, and we both knew it.

As he sat down to get in the pool, I saw him glance at the lane sign. He looked irritated. He looked at my lane partner. I felt bad for him. Then he says, "people don't pay attention to the pace signs!" He was right, and they are there for a reason. Our lane partner was approaching so I decided to take action and I tapped her. She stopped and said, "I'll just go in an empty lane." When we told her that they were all full, she almost snarkily says (while looking right at me), "Well I can go in a circle!" At this point I very politely (I swear to God I was polite! I was really trying!) pointed to the lane sign and said, "Well, this is actually the fast lane, so I'm not..." but she had cut me off. "Well that shouldn't be a problem. You haven't passed me yet!" WTF? I was speechless. (I was lapping her when I was just using the flippin' kick-board! BTW) I looked at the man, and he looked as confused as me. Clearly this was a woman who was not playing with a full deck. There was really nothing left to be said! lol Luckily, just then, a lane opened up and she took it. *phew*

After all of that nonsense, I did another 8 x 50 yrd sprints, 4 x 50 yrd kick drills, and then finished up with a 200 yrd cool-down. It was a great swim. I pushed myself really hard and it felt great. After my swim, it was time to run. I had planned to run 3 miles, but I ended up running 4. I felt great! I even considered going longer, but I decided that I could lengthen my run Wednesday if I want to. I was very careful to eat my chews and drink plenty of water throughout my workout. I hate tanking, and I can do it really easy. I was pretty pooped on my ride home, but I made it!