Okay, be honest...

[Kitsune06]

Would I look like a dork to gym/pool regulars if I wear goggles while doing laps? It seems like a dumb question, but DGF is convinced I'll look like a total n00b, and it would make me lose all 'hot' points gained by wearing my magically muscle-enhancing compression shirt while weight training...

I do have a good reason to want to, though. I think I'd be less concerned about water in my face and/or losing a contact in the pool if I wore goggles, and seeing as I don't have any replacement lenses (yet) it feels like a good idea...

so... gym goers, swimmers, etc.. please, lemme know...

[KnottedYet]

f*ck 'em. Wear your goggles.

[Kitsune06]

Thanks, Knot.

[Grog]

I have very seldom seen a lap swimmer without goggles at my university pool.

We have a nice poster of the 4X100M world record holder Brian Jones (a local) with goggles, too. A few Canadian national team (not the best in the world in general, but you know...) also swim there (in the lane next to mine....!!) and also wear goggles.

They don't look like n00bs...

I really don't understand why one would absolutely want to expose her eyes to the chlorine vapors by NOT wearing goggles.

[DirtDiva]

I've never seen anyone swimming proper laps not wearing goggles!

[Bikingmomof3]

Kit-
I have never seen a lap swimmer not wear goggles. So to answer your question, definitely wear your goggles.

[Dogmama]

I'd think that chlorine + contact lenses are a very bad match. Soft contacts absorb stuff. Chlorine is not something I would want my eyeball in contact with.

I'm with Knotted Yet.

[Lise]

Are you kidding? Wear goggles. I can't swim in my Y's pool without goggles, there's so much chlorine in there. If I don't wear goggles when swimming *anywhere*, I can't see to swim in anything approximating a straight line. I only forego goggles when goofing off at the lake with pals.

[KSH]

Would I look like a dork to gym/pool regulars if I wear goggles while doing laps? It seems like a dumb question, but DGF is convinced I'll look like a total n00b, and it would make me lose all 'hot' points gained by wearing my magically muscle-enhancing compression shirt while weight training...

I do have a good reason to want to, though. I think I'd be less concerned about water in my face and/or losing a contact in the pool if I wore goggles, and seeing as I don't have any replacement lenses (yet) it feels like a good idea...

so... gym goers, swimmers, etc.. please, lemme know...

Well, honestly... when I go to swim laps... I wear my dorky Speedo practice suit, my swim cap... and goggles.

I'm a swimmer... there to do a serious workout... and a swim cap and goggles are an intricate part of completing that workout.

A swim cap keeps my hair from falling into my mouth when I turn my head to breathe... it also makes me more streamline as I move through the water.

Goggles keep my eyes from burning from getting chlorine in them. They make it comfortable to swim laps for 30-45 minutes.

You are there to workout... and you are doing a serious workout. You aren't there to hang out and tread water. Put on some goggles... and try out a swim cap if you have long hair.

[Kitsune06]

Thanks, ladies. I'm gonna go today and wear my goggles!

[Bluetree]

Kit, absolutely wear the goggles! I'd forgotton to throw my goggles into my swimbag once (I was refreshing the anti-fog coating on it) and I actually went home from the gym to retrieve them rather than face 60 minutes of chlorine in my eyes.
For a great upper body workout, try using paddles or webs on the hands, too. My coach recommends them periodically - but only if your form is good to begin with.
Another great swim-helper is the SportCount lap counter. You wear it on your finger and click it so you don't forget how far you've swam. I'd like to get the swim-mp3 player, too, so I'm saving my pennies.

http://www.sportcount.com/

Have a good swim!

[margo49]

Would I look like a dork to gym/pool regulars if I wear goggles while doing laps? It seems like a dumb question, ,
so... please, lemme know...

Kits, you would *never* look like a dork to anyone.
(Assuming anyone would be looking at you)

[Trekhawk]

Would I look like a dork to gym/pool regulars if I wear goggles while doing laps? It seems like a dumb question, but DGF is convinced I'll look like a total n00b, and it would make me lose all 'hot' points gained by wearing my magically muscle-enhancing compression shirt while weight training...

I do have a good reason to want to, though. I think I'd be less concerned about water in my face and/or losing a contact in the pool if I wore goggles, and seeing as I don't have any replacement lenses (yet) it feels like a good idea...

so... gym goers, swimmers, etc.. please, lemme know...

LOL - what pool has your DGF been going to if she thinks you will look like a dork to where goggles. Everyone swimming laps at the pool I use (or any pool I have ever used) wears goggles (or googgly eyes as my kids call them) and most wear swim caps. It just makes sense to me. Tell your DGF bumping into other swimmers because you cant see where you are going is uncool.

Trek-I hate people that dont stay on their side of the lane-hawk

[chickwhorips]

For a great upper body workout, try using paddles or webs on the hands, too. My coach recommends them periodically - but only if your form is good to begin with.

careful if your not a good swimmer they can do more harm than good.

Another great swim-helper is the SportCount lap counter. You wear it on your finger and click it so you don't forget how far you've swam. I'd like to get the swim-mp3 player, too, so I'm saving my pennies.

http://www.sportcount.com/

i need that lap counter! well once i get to a pool again. i always loose count. i've been eying that mp3 player for years.

wear your goggles. you have enough problems with your contacts as it is. even if it would make you look dorkie (which it won't, you could never look that way). i wear goggles and a swim cap when im in the pool.

i wish i had a pool. the major just laughed at me when i told him the town needed one. i have so many arguments for him and i would do the leg work on finding grants to.... i can only dream.

[Kitsune06]

Well... my hair's short enough to get away w'o the cap. Wore the goggles, was glad I did. Everyone else there had them.

While on 'what's kosher and what isn't'...
is there any method that's generally accepted for changing in the locker room? I'm accustomed to the Sauna and hot springs/hippy way of 'changing'. Take it off and go. I just don't want to offend peoples' delicate sensibilities, or come off oddly for just whipping my clothes off. I can kind of 'get' it that one dresses/undresses as quickly as they can practically, but is there anything else to it? People either seem terrified of changing in general, or they 'look' a little more than I'm used to.