Swimming with kiddos - not a good idea

Didn't make it to tri swim this morning as I got a head-start on work at about 5:50 this morning, got 1.5 hours in, showered, quickly ate, and got to the office.

So I packed my swim bag to make sure I make it to the pool after my last meeting of the day, and got the workout from Coach Jason (thank you!). And Bryon actually met me up there! (He likes to swim with masters as he doesn't like swimming by himself.)

Swimming at the local Y is always an adventure, especially in the height of the day or after work - lots of kids swimming, splashing and running around, and lots of other 9-5ers trying to get laps in. I actually swimming at this time of day - I get to do a nice transition from work to home by numbing my mind with laps and get a little Vitamin D in at the same time.

What I don't enjoy about it is sitting at the end of my lap lane watching kids swim under the ropes, and today was no exception. Lap after lap, I kept eyeing kids peering under water, waiting for us to pass by and then make their escape from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end. I told one girl - passing under the ropes while on a NOODLE of all things - to not cross over, as she stops in front of Bryon coming in. I've yelled up to a lifeguard before about whether that's allowed or not (which it isn't), but he ignored me. Well this time, they couldn't ignore me.

I've been very worried about the liability I would be under if I were to not notice a kid passing through and happen to push them under during my stroke (or kick them or whatever) - what if they drowned because I whacked them in the head? The parents would yell at me, no doubt (although they should yell at themselves). I should not have to worry about that nor worry about my legal issues while churning out laps.

Well, it happened.

I was coming in to the last quarter of the 400 I was in the middle of (at this point, we were at about 2700m, trying to go 10-15 seconds faster than the last 400 we timed), and next thing I know I run into something, but it wasn't the wall - I wake up from my counting of laps from a scratch across my cheek.

I just got injured from a kid while swimming??

And that was it. I stop my set, turn around to find the nearest lifeguard sitting in her guard chair across the shallow end of the pool and YELLED. I can't remember what I said, but I know I got the attention of at least some of the parents nearby. I'm SHOCKED that they didn't even bother walking up to my lane to shoo the boy out as I was obviously coming in fast and not looking. Amusingly, I think it sounded almost like a shrill because of me being shocked and being nasaly at the same time. She finally blew her whistle, very quietly, and the boy left the lane (but not without swimming through the lane next to mine). Horrible.

Well, if you know me, I wouldn't let something like this slide and I let several people know, including the Director of Membership and Marketing, that this needs to be handled better. I even mentioned I'd donate $500 to buy a net or two to separate the sections of the pool so they can't swim below. (Bryon thinks that would be fine until a kid gets tangled up in it. Ugh - Mr. Negative.)

This has got to stop, or I'll take it to the Dallas Y office and complain more. I am not about to be put in a position whenever I swim laps of the possibility that I can injure a child. Signs should be put up and parents should receive flyers. I'm in PR damnit - let me handle this!

And parents - get your head out of your rear and start discplining and giving your children rules. Grow up!