Treadmill Etiquette?

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Replies

  • futurestarz
    futurestarz Posts: 510
    what the hell man. if you are so concerned with space when you're on the treadmill then get your own and work out at home.

    i know all the machines and equipment in my gym like the back of my hand now. i know which treadmill is my fave, 2nd fave, 3rd fave etc. same goes with the bikes, stairmasters, etc. you better believe if my fave one is open then i'll take it. i dont care if a family of 5 is one side and an entitled gym goer is on the other side of me.


    Sooo, I said I was just wondering. Not assuming anything. That's why I asked. It was because i dodn't want to be breaking some unspoken rule of the gym when I end up taking a machine directly next to another person. Like I said, I'm very new to this. Thanks for your friendly and helpful response :)
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    People do that at my gym all the time....everyone has "THEIR" treadmill...the one they like and maybe its placed closer to the TV that has "THEIR" news station on in the morning (or whatever the reason).

    It does bug me sometimes, but I've honestly learned not to pay that much attention to them,...its just a quirky part of people's routines...:ohwell:
  • seanlilly
    seanlilly Posts: 10 Member
    The same thing happened to me! Wow I thought it was really wierd when it happened but I'm laughing cause that happened to me as well.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    what the hell man. if you are so concerned with space when you're on the treadmill then get your own and work out at home.

    i know all the machines and equipment in my gym like the back of my hand now. i know which treadmill is my fave, 2nd fave, 3rd fave etc. same goes with the bikes, stairmasters, etc. you better believe if my fave one is open then i'll take it. i dont care if a family of 5 is one side and an entitled gym goer is on the other side of me.

    Unless the person in question is leering or making inappropriate comments etc you have nothing to complain about. He (or she) pays the same fees you do to use the gym......
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    If you really want to mess with someone like that...get there just before them and then get on THEIR treadmill...:noway:

    I once saw a guy stand in the gym for a full minute with his mouth open looking totally lost because someone else was on "his" elliptical (even though there were no less than 8 other identical machines open in the same row). :laugh:
  • LaurySch
    LaurySch Posts: 277 Member
    I don't think it's an unwritten rule, but I think it has to do with personal space. Mine is quite large and I've come to realize that I am uncomfortable without some sort of buffer zone in public places! I know others who have no idea what I'm talking about 'cause they are the opposite of me and will go straight to another person no matter what/where the situation! Maybe it's just a bit of OCD on my part, I'm trying not to be the crop duster or crazy 'old' lady scaring kids off her lawn! :laugh:
  • redcon1228
    redcon1228 Posts: 28
    I could care less about someone taking the machine right next to me. What I don't want is them to TALK to me as they walk leisurely along at 3mph and I'm stuggling up an 8% grade on the hill program, while trying to watch Sportscenter.

    For that reason, whenever I go to the gym, I have my ipod headphones in-- no ipod with me, though. I just tuck the cord end into my pocket and *boom* instant alone time.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    what the hell man. if you are so concerned with space when you're on the treadmill then get your own and work out at home.

    i know all the machines and equipment in my gym like the back of my hand now. i know which treadmill is my fave, 2nd fave, 3rd fave etc. same goes with the bikes, stairmasters, etc. you better believe if my fave one is open then i'll take it. i dont care if a family of 5 is one side and an entitled gym goer is on the other side of me.

    Unless the person in question is leering or making inappropriate comments etc you have nothing to complain about. He (or she) pays the same fees you do to use the gym......

    +1
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    While I really hate it if someone picks a bathroom stall right next to me in a public restroom when there are tons open, I really don't care about treadmills. There are so many factors that play into treadmill choice - some gyms have different models and someone may prefer one model over the other. The TVs at the gym often have different things on and maybe someone wants to be close to a particular TV. Heck, maybe being next to someone is motivating for them?! When using a gym, I go under the assumption that there will be lots of other people using the equipment right there with me.

    Now, someone standing behind me being impatient would make me want to add time to my workout too. Just like an obnoxious tail gater makes me want to slow down... usually I just move over and let them bother someone else though.
  • Veganniee
    Veganniee Posts: 460 Member
    I used to get offended when someone would choose a treadmill next to mine when there's no one using them (there's about 20 in a row) but then I realised there's a row of TVs on the wall and they are probably just choosing a treadmill in front of the channel they want to watch. No one's ever tried to talk to me so I'm presuming they aren't trying to be creepy!
  • MattN1972
    MattN1972 Posts: 117
    What i find annoying is when I'm walking on the treadmill, they start walking on the same one right behind me.


    Honestly, my opinion is if its an open machine it free for the taking regardless of who is around. I focus on my workout and move on.
  • lhergenr
    lhergenr Posts: 242 Member
    what about when most of the treadmills are taken...like every other one is already taken. Is it bad to go in-between two people. I feel like now that the new year is coming up, that may be a situation i "run" into. haha wasn't even planning on that pun!
    there is absolutely nothing wrong with picking a treadmill that's between two people
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    ETA: The only thing that REALLY bothers me is when there's a bunch of treadmills open, and someone with really bad BO gets next to you. Farting I can forgive. Overwhelming BO makes me feel like I can't breathe. So what do you do? suffer it out? Move to another treadmill (which is SO obvious that you're moving away)? Never figured out the protocol for this one.

    What is the WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME of your moving to another machine? The stinky guy knows that you have smelled his stink and realizes you don't like it? OHGAWDNOOO. Maybe next time he will wash. I move away and give a glare.....sweaty is what we want at the gym, but a fairly recently washed person doesn't STINK just from getting sweaty. Wash away your funk, people!
  • sblake204
    sblake204 Posts: 458 Member
    Honestly, i think there's no right or wrong answer for this topic. It depends on each individual.

    as long as they're not running on the treadmill with you, I don't see the issue. if you don't want to hear other's conversation, then do like most of us do and turn your music in your headphones up or join in...lol

    otherwise, if they're too close for comfort, then you move. I don't think you can make a donation to the gym and have your name plate put on machines you've contributed to.

    sharing means caring :)
  • Yaya1976
    Yaya1976 Posts: 357 Member
    Sorry, it really doesn't bother me at all. I always have my head phones in. I'm usually reading, watching something on netflix or I'm listening to music. I'm so caught up into what I'm doing, that I really don't pay attention to the people around me. Unless it's that crazy blonde chick who gets down and dirty on the elliptical...LOL....She throws my routine all off, because of the crazy moves she does....LOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

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  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Slightly rude if they're all taken but I wouldn't let it phase me. Maybe he wanted someone to race. I love running with people. It gives you extra motivation.


    Treadmills are nothing. At least you don't have to navigate this situation. Should I take the one on the end? Does that look creepy? What if every other one is taken already?

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  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    Just start crop dusting.

    Haha. My husband does that when we go to the movies and some jacka$$ sits next to us when all the other seats are empty. He also does it when we're shopping and someone gets in our proximity zone.
  • marathon_mama
    marathon_mama Posts: 150 Member
    I go to my favorite machine no matter what. Your discomfort is your problem, not mine.
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    I also hate this, but sometimes have to do it myself, because there are some treadmills at the gym, that can't handle my weight when I run over 8MPH, so I can't pick those ones, and I feel like an a-hole everytime, or like a creaper if the treadmills I can use are right next to a pretty girl, because I don't want her to think I'm doing it just to get near her.
  • leolin6
    leolin6 Posts: 57
    I go to a favortie one when I can regardless of the availablity around other people because my legs are use to i. When I go to the others that I don't use my lower legs take a beating
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    I've seen plenty of people (seem to) take the open machine closest to the cardio room entry - whether it's next to someone else or not. It's just seems to be the first open one they come to.

    I've also seen plenty of people (seem to) take the open machine farthest from the cardio room entry - whether it's next to someone else or not. My guess is they figure they'll add the few steps to their workout getting to that machine.

    I don't particularly care, as long as someone doesn't try to get on the bike I'm using while I'm warming up. All that said, I do have particular bike I prefer to use. I'm not sure why, I just like it. :shrug:
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    meh. i don't mind. i'm focused on running.

    for my gym, we have certain TVs set up a certain way. so if you want to watch cooking, there's really only 1 machine to choose, same goes for sports, news, etc. so i understand if someone chooses the one next to me because they want to watch food porn.
  • lmlmrn
    lmlmrn Posts: 788 Member
    I am just happy when I go to the gym and there is an open machine! what I really hate is when someone has just got off a machine and does not bother to wipe it down...that is poor etiquette

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