The pool I use has a current in the outside lanes (Read 829 times)

i have not encountred such a thing with an indoor pool (but then again i have not been swimming for very long) and just joined this club for the pool.  When I am in the outside lanes (it is a small, 4 lane pool) there is a distinct current...one way i feel like I am Michael Phelps, the reverse I feel like I am swimming uphill...so my question...

Should i use those lanes? or try for one of the 2 middle lanes where there is no current? 

 

I am new to swimming (only 2 years) and it takes me about 45-50 sec to do one lap in a 20m pool (40M)  I swim for cross training and don't mind the xtra workout going against the current gives me but I sure do get tired...then theres the swimming with tthe current which takes me no effort (but sure does feel nice).

 

Which lanes do i get the best swim workout in?  does anyone else swim in a pool with a current? 

 

Thanks for any feedback you can offer...

I say if you can warm up in the middle and then move to the outside.    I think the hill analogy is good, and in running hills make you strong.   Sounds like rolling hills to me!  Work on form on the downstream, swim hard on the upstream

I'm a swimmer by default and only pretend to run (triathlete by choice).

 

Teams always structure their faster swimmers on the internal lanes for exactly this reason - there is less water disturbance in the middle of the pool. On the wall lanes you're always going to have water sloshing around (assuming they are solid walls and not the kind that allow water to pass through) that will make it more difficult to swim straight/effectively/with good form/etc.

 

If you're just swimming for a workout then this isn't a problem. Likewise, if you're training for open-water swimming, this is not an entirely bad idea. But if you're concerned about your form, trying to learn better form, trying to swim faster, etc., you should swim towards the middle if you are able.

 

Let me guess - is it an LA Fitness?