[4boysmom]

Leave Me Alone!!! Here's the deal... There's a guy who works at the gym whose wife works for Cheryl's cookies. Frequently he brings in 'day old' cookies. He likes to give them to the 'regulars'. That's nice and all except...<br><br>
This guy usually catches me in the pool. My coach has me down for structured workouts. So it's not like I can just stop and chat. This guy will crouch down at my lane, expecting me to stop. In the middle of a turn I'll say something like "in the middle" or "can't stop now", etc.<br><br>
I do feel bad about blowing this guy off. After one workout I talked with him, showing him the workout I was doing (I type 'em up and put it in a ziplock), and where I was when he was trying to talk with me. He seemed shocked and said "Oh, you were doing a real workout?"<br><br>
Well, he did it again this morning. I mean, it's nice that he's giving out cookies and all. But, I'm there to work out. I don't wanna be messed with! How do I get it through to him that I don't want to be bothered while I'm working out?

 

[melistic]

don't come up for air?<br>
make really big slash at his end of pool?<br>
sick creepy stalker guy on him?

 

[TriBob]

Big splash usually works well.

 

[RunningForT3]

Yeah, try a Shamu turn <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Snooze]

Ahhh... Passive aggresiveness at it's best. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[Tri_coach06]

I totally ignore people at pool side. I rarely have more than a few seconds rest, and I need those seconds to, um rest.<br><br>
CS

 

[em73]

bring a plate and a sign that says "leave cookies here - thanks in advance"?

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

You <i>could</i> try the brutal honesty approach. Just tell him you really appreciate the cookies and they're great but... It messes with your training to stop in the middle and... Could he maybe come by for a chat <i>after</i> you swam?

 

[4boysmom]

LRR--uh, I already did that? Showed him the workout, explained that I was in the middle and couldn't stop? Is it really rude to not interupt my workout to not talk, since I AM at the gym?

 

[ForceD]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">4BM – I take it you’re doing open turns…that’s how you know he’s there? Still, it’s nervy of the guy to try to engage you in conversation in the midst of a set/drill. Clearly asking him to not do it didn’t work. Does your facility have a suggestion box? Maybe you can leave an anonymous note asking that he not engage members in conversation in the midst of their workouts. Or, you could make a note saying DO NOT DISTURB WHILE SWIMMING and leave it in a zip-lock on the deck next to your workout.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Dan</span></span>

 

[Heather H]

I vote for this one!

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

He's a guy. You gotta lay it out really plain for us. Show us you're in the middle of a workout and we think "Cool! You got a workout!" You gotta say "please don't interrupt me in the middle of my workouts." And you might have to say it a couple of time before we get it. It's that damn Y chromosome.

 

[MBannon]

For some people, the gym is a social outlet. Especially the pool for whatever reason. These folks assume you're there to socialize, too, so showing them your workout schedule once is, to them, just an anomaly. As in, next time you'll surely be more amenable to a conversation.<br><br>
I'm with LRR, at least partially. Brutal honesty is the only way. If you're not comfortable explaining it, though, just use your watch. Next time he starts talking, act interested but then point to your watch and say "Gotta swim, catch me at the end of my workout" and take off. Three or four days of that and he'll realize you don't come to the gym to chat (with an occasional "real" workout thrown in), but to workout with an occasional quick chat thrown in.

 

[itri]

<br>
I agree with the couple of times thing (unfortunately). Maybe during one open turn say "sorry, like I said, when Im in the pool Im timing my self, cant stop, talk to you later"...... <img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif">

 

[melistic]

That is perfect!!! HAHAHAHAHAH

 

[Cashmason]

Methinks he just wants to chat up the hawt chick in pigtails.<br><br>
Plate/ cookie sign and sign that says " This workout allows me 10 seconds of rest after every ten laps"

 

[juliemboyle]

You already explained it...next time, I would just keep doing your swim, pretend you didn't see him. If he makes eye contact smile, wave and keep swimming.........yes, I have figure out how to avoid this...same thing happens to me as I run into TONS of people I know when I am at the gym...but guess what? When I'm at the gym, I'm there to workout!

 

[4boysmom]

Thanks guys! Guess I'll have to be a bit more blunt about it...