Walking in the pool! (Oh and the chatters!)

Apart from people who perhaps are recovering from an illness/surgery why on earth go to the pool to 'walk'? I know its good exercise to walk in the water but surely in a small pool (it does sound like its quite small) they can see how their walking/chattering is slowing others down. Can you not speak to the management and ask that they be allowed to 'walk' at designated times thus allowing those that actually want to swim the freedom to do so.
At the pool I use we have lane swimming slow and fast lanes and the other half of the pool is for free swimming or walking or just playing about if you want its quite a large area though.

I have been advised to walk in a swimming pool as part of my physio for MS. I can't walk very far at the moment and the idea of walking in the pool is to help me walk further outdoors. I also have floats to do certain exercises. In years gone by, local hospitals had physiotherapy pools, but they've long been shut down as part of cost cutting measures - at least in the health authorities my area and just beyond.

Normal exercise classes in the pool are well beyond my capabilities. I would not choose a session where people are swimming laps or circuits though. I used to swim during these sessions and it would drive me mad. Chatterers you just have to put up with.

And the best of luck....especially if you're trying to avoid being knocked over by the wake from lane swimmers

The last time I did the early bird sessions, the pool was divided into fast, medium and slow. Only the really slow swimmers went in the slow bit. It was a good way to cope with the people most others wanted to avoid!

Last time I did 'lengths' I was lapped by a very old lady, in a petal swimming cap, in the next lane.

Oh, the shame

Did that stop you going then?

I bought myself a new swimdress last week and now that I have finished the longest period in my womb's history, I can go to the disabled baths locally which is very warm water and not very big but doesn't have children jumping in or lots of people so is just right for me to take my time and do whatever excercise I can manage. So much better than going to the new facilites where children are having lessons and keen swimmers are doing laps. I wouldn't keep warm enough in one like that now. As long as there is a hot chocolate for when I get out, I'll be as happy as Larry.

Never been that keen on swimming Wilma - it's the hassle once you get out of the water. Trying to get dry, changed, afterwards.

I'm always amazed at how people can swim and chat at the same time. I can do one or the other but not both! I go to an aqua fit class that involves, among other very energetic things, aqua 'jogging' - faster than walking but slower than swimming (when you've done it forwards, then you have to do it backwards!). There are ladies who will natter throughout the entire class. They don't seem to draw breath. I agree with Anya about the hassle after you get out of the water, especially when the showers are taken up with small children whose mothers are oblivious to the fact that others may want to use them too.

Just out of curiosity do ladies of a certain age still use swimming caps. I remember the ones we had when i was a school, they were really hard to get on and off, and thinking about how unattractive they are and the way they flatten your hair just wondered if they are still used.

oh dear think I need to go to specsavers thought that read poo!! ?

Yep! Me too jenty!

Go for it Rubylady. Wish I wasn't such a wuss about getting wet water. The hot chocolate sounds good.

No swimming hats and choose the times you use the pool I go between 9/10 in the morning, no children and most of the serious swimmers are already done and on their way to work/school sometimes my daughter and I have the pool to ourselves. The showers are empty and it's no different to drying and dressing after a shower at home.
Sorry but I think sometimes we put obstacles in the way when actually we just can't be asked. [grin wink]

Anya, I'm the same for the after swim bit, I have a body which doesn't seem to dry and as for getting my bra on, it just always reminds me of the rolled up vest up my back which I just could not reach to unroll down my damp body after school swim sessions. I cannot twist my bra around my body so have to drop the boobies in and fasten. We only have 2 changing rooms so I often put knickers and bra on in the shower cubicle.

Jenty and Jingle...off to specsavers with you.

As for swim caps, I saw a very old lady in the pool, when she took off her swim cap she was actually about 40! (Specsavers for me as well)

I'm 60 but I am often lapped by older people.

I was talking to a chap who was pleased with himself as he had just managed his first ever length, I made all the encouraging noises, but was gob smacked when he said he had served in the Royal Navy!

I think management at my pool may have to do something about the walkers and talkers as memberships may not be renewed. I can just imagine the walkers and talkers saying in another thread, those bloody swimmers can in the way don't they!! ITS A SWIMMING POOL lol