LOCAL LIVING District
13
DC
the misfits
Swim your laps
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
VICKY HALLETT
without etiquette lapses
ppropriately clad in a they don’t want an inexperienced
A
Speedo, swim cap and person freaking out about a
nose plugs, Bob Axelrod stranger with a fetish coming up
told me a story. behind them.
Not too long ago, pals Slowpokes don’t deserve all the
of his planned to practice at the blame, however. Doug Fox,
Wilson Aquatic Center in manager of aquatics for the
Northwest Washington, but when Montgomery County Department
they hopped into the pool, they of Recreation, says it seems
realized they had a problem: a several people missed the sharing
woman trudging along at roughly lesson back in kindergarten.
the speed of a sea slug. As “Some will do butterfly and hit
Axelrod, 61, explains: “So, one of other people in the face or just
them politely comes up to her and miss them,” he says, while others
says, ‘Ma’am, this is the fast lane.’ will flat-out tell others they’re not
Her response was, ‘I’m going as welcome in their lane. Once, a guy
fast as I can.’ ” came to him complaining that
Ba-dum-bum-ching! Except it’s “senior citizen swim” was
no laughing matter to serious preventing him from exercising.
swimmers like Axelrod, who’s on Of course, there’s no such thing —
the Masters team at the National it was just crafty retirees
Capital YMCA (along with my scheming to keep a lane all to
husband) in downtown themselves.
Washington. Just as tourists who Faced with such problems, Fox
clog the left lanes of Metro has developed an etiquette poster
escalators can wreak havoc on a
KATHERINE FREY/THE WASHINGTON POST
that’s scheduled to go up at county
morning commute, so can clueless Brenda Weiss, in the silver cap, shares the center lane with Penny Hannallah, who swims five days a week, pools in the next few weeks. “We
freestylers mess up a workout. during a lunchtime session this month at the Montgomery Aquatic Center in North Bethesda. realized we needed something,”
That’s why today we’re diving into he says.
the world of swimming pool Similar posters are also in the
etiquette.
THE POOL’S RULES
works for the District’s Wilson
The basics of lap-swimming are Aquatic Center, which has been
fairly simple. Two people can split packed since opening last
a lane down the middle and stay summer. With just eight lanes set
out of each other’s way. Once up in the 50-meter pool, constant
another person jumps in, the sharing is a given, so Manager
pattern automatically switches to Cecilia Washington has done her
circle swimming (that means stay best to maintain peace. The speed
to the right in a counterclockwise designation signs at the end of the
pattern). You can pass on the left lanes are massive, and etiquette
after tapping the foot of the rule sheets are plastered
THE W
person ahead of you. everywhere: in the locker rooms,
It’s also critical to understand above the water fountains and
the lay of the land — er, water. around the pool deck.
ASHINGTON POST
Almost all pools have their “It’s just to let everyone know
slowest lanes on each side and get how to keep order,” Washington
progressively faster toward the says. “It’s like putting up stop
middle. Many pools have signs signs. I’m controlling traffic.” The
designating the speed of a lane, giant lettering on the new posters
but figuring out where you belong
THE WASHINGTON POST
will make the message even
is a bit subjective. What is “slow”? harder to miss.
“Medium”? “Fast”? “Very fast?” No
Two swimmers can share a lane, top, by splitting it down the middle. If a third person enters, bottom,
According to 36-year-old Sara
swimmers should move counterclockwise in the lane, staying to the right and passing on the left.
•
one really knows. It’s up to you to Kropf, who lives just a few blocks THURSD
scope out what’s happening from Wilson and swims laps every
around you and determine middle of your lane as clear as says 27-year-old Travis Rothway, a the sea slug and me — often don’t weekend, most people follow
whether you need to switch. possible. coach on the National Capital Y’s understand is that the proper procedure anyway. But to
The walls at the ends of the Not too complicated, right? But Masters team. Although he’s never competitive folks aren’t just doing really understand how to get
A
Y
pool may look like a good place to when people don’t know the rules, had a confrontation quite like laps. They’re trying to stick to along, the adults might want to ,
take a quick break, but they’re or decide not to follow them, it that, Rothway understands why it specific intervals or complete look at the kids’ pool. “Everyone’s
MARCH
also where other folks plant their can make quite a splash. “One happens. “I’ve gotten pressure to drills. Having to pass frequently very well behaved,” she says.
feet to do a flip turn. It’s fine to time, there were two guys on the leave early and not completed my and skip turns interrupts that. “They all go the same speed, I
rest there; just be sure to scoot verge of a fistfight in the pool. workout,” he says. Also, many faster swimmers are guess.”
11,
over to the side and keep the Definitely words were exchanged,” What casual swimmers — like hesitant to do the foot tap because
vicky.hallett@wpost.com
20
10
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76