Gym Protocol
annaskiski
Posts: 1,212 Member
So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
19
Replies
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annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
Yeah, I'd also find it annoying but...
People have favorite machines and sometimes it's something silly like there is no way to change the channel of the TV's positioned near a particular station and unless you want to listen to CNN rage about the orange man for an hour you find another position (we have a lady who turns everything she can to MSNBC and CNN and then hides the remotes)... or maybe they just want to get to know you.
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I would assume it was a favorite of theirs or had a preferred position to something else in the gym (a television, air conditioning vent, etc).
When I'm on exercise equipment in a shared space, I consider myself to have temporary control of that piece of equipment, not that piece and the ones surrounding it.14 -
jseams1234 wrote: »annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
Yeah, I'd also find it annoying but...
People have favorite machines and sometimes it's something silly like there is no way to change the channel of the TV's positioned near a particular station and unless you want to listen to CNN rage about the orange man for an hour you find another position (we have a lady who turns everything she can to MSNBC and CNN and then hides the remotes)... or maybe they just want to get to know you.
WTF??
I'm uncomfortable when someone gets on the treadmill right next to me, but we have a huge array of TV screens on the facing wall set to different channels (controlled by the gym, thank God), so I get the why of it.
A couple of months ago a woman got on the treadmill next to me (there were plenty others open), and after about 5 minutes a guy came over to talk to her, standing in the tiny space between my treadmill and her's. Eventually he went away, then he came back and did the same thing, then they switched off, she went away, came back and stood there talking. There was no one on the treadmill on her other side. When glaring didn't do any good I eventually passive-aggressively flounced off to another machine. They just kept on standing and talking obliviously. My secret hope is that everyone on the machines behind me was silently judging them in their heads.11 -
This is a common thing and from reading the threads here I've learned the many different reasons this may happen.
For me, at one point only two of the six treadmills in a certain area by the windows (which I prefer) had working TVs. They were right next to each other and when I got there someone was already on the other one so, yes, I got on the treadmill right next to them. I felt like explaining why I did that because I was thinking they were probably annoyed but I just kept to myself and did my workout.3 -
this. *Most* people won't take a machine near someone else when other choices without a reason. There is often a wide range in condition, ergonomics (between difft brands/models/years), calibration, etc amongst gym machines/also some people are just creatures of habit and will always prefer the same location.3
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My gym only has 2 treadmills and 2 stationary bikes...so you're pretty much stuck either way.3
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Treat the treadmills like frikken urinals people....
I take the end one. No tv near it and 6 to the right of it. There is one lady who gets one the one next to me and then is punching away at the screen doing who knows what. It's distracting.
This is why I'd rather run outside, in the dark, at 5:30 in the morning. Just hoping the cold and rain stay away a bit longer.
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Tacklewasher wrote: »Treat the treadmills like frikken urinals people....
Urinal rules apply to more than just urinals.
I would take a treadmill in a corner, near a post, or right under the tvs. If someone got on the one right next to me (to either side), I would move to another treadmill.4 -
maybe they are just working up the courage to flirt with you
yes I find that annoying but what can you do, there's no rule, and they have a right to use whichever treadmill they want.1 -
I used to go to a gym with about 20 completely identical treadmills, all in perfect working order, all the same make and model, all with personal TV screens, all looking out a second-floor window onto a street.
Every. single. morning, when I and one or two other people were the only people using them, someone would come to use the one right next to me, no matter which one I was on. The other ones would remain empty for the duration of my workout since I was there before the morning rush.
It was absolutely infuriating and it was also completely baffling since there was absolutely no reason to select one over another. I used a different one every day to prove this to myself.
I quit the gym and bought my own to use in the winter because I'm an antisocial weirdo and it drove me up the wall to constantly have some rando so close to me when it wasn't necessary.9 -
This always reminds me of electron orbital filling...makes no sense to fill a space when there's plenty of open/unfilled orbital (treadmills).
Unspoken gym rule is to leave at least one open space between yourself and another person in such a spacious environment; understandable if someone wants to be somewhat close as a source of motivation, but personal space!4 -
If I get on an elliptical to warm up before some time in the weight room, I try to follow urinal rules. But I'm not bothered if someone joins in next to me.
Now if they take MY spin bike in spin class, there's gonna be trouble 2 -
That’s when it’s time to start eating a big bowl of chili, some cabbage and a couple hard boiled eggs for dinner the night before the gym. See how dedicated they really are to taking that treadmill next to you.I used to go to a gym with about 20 completely identical treadmills, all in perfect working order, all the same make and model, all with personal TV screens, all looking out a second-floor window onto a street.
Every. single. morning, when I and one or two other people were the only people using them, someone would come to use the one right next to me, no matter which one I was on. The other ones would remain empty for the duration of my workout since I was there before the morning rush.
It was absolutely infuriating and it was also completely baffling since there was absolutely no reason to select one over another. I used a different one every day to prove this to myself.
I quit the gym and bought my own to use in the winter because I'm an antisocial weirdo and it drove me up the wall to constantly have some rando so close to me when it wasn't necessary.
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I used to go to a gym with about 20 completely identical treadmills, all in perfect working order, all the same make and model, all with personal TV screens, all looking out a second-floor window onto a street.
Every. single. morning, when I and one or two other people were the only people using them, someone would come to use the one right next to me, no matter which one I was on. The other ones would remain empty for the duration of my workout since I was there before the morning rush.
It was absolutely infuriating and it was also completely baffling since there was absolutely no reason to select one over another. I used a different one every day to prove this to myself.
I quit the gym and bought my own to use in the winter because I'm an antisocial weirdo and it drove me up the wall to constantly have some rando so close to me when it wasn't necessary.
Within situations as you're explaining, it's plausible that they desire to compete with someone!1 -
Keto_Vampire wrote: »This always reminds me of electron orbital filling...makes no sense to fill a space when there's plenty of open/unfilled orbital (treadmills).
Nerd.... (I'm a science guy...)2 -
I call gym-foul. Then again, I'm biased and have been known to privately refer to strangers as NPCs (non-playable characters). That's a big reason why I've invested in my home equipment; it's never crowded, I don't have anyone taking my space, and I don't have to leave my house.5
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I call gym-foul. Then again, I'm biased and have been known to privately refer to strangers as NPCs (non-playable characters). That's a big reason why I've invested in my home equipment; it's never crowded, I don't have anyone taking my space, and I don't have to leave my house.
brilliant
treadmills. favorites? depends on tv placement, fan placement, type of treadmill.
i had to sometimes go next to a person because there were only three woodways. and if i were doing a long run, i didn't want to run on a "normal" treadmill. woodways had more cushion and better belt.0 -
annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
#1. What are you doing on a treadmill that you cannot do outside.
#2. I would not care for the proximity at all. Its like peeing at the urinal. I am comfortable with myself lol
You visited California lately?
eta: As far as why I use a treadmill as well as running outside in favorable conditions. I can easily do controlled speed and hill intervals on the treadmill where I can complete the entire sequence without overdoing the first few and not being able to continue because I wasn't able to pace myself. I also find it useful for upping the speed on some steady-state shorter runs, which translates to more speed on longer runs outside for me.10 -
annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
#1. What are you doing on a treadmill that you cannot do outside.
#2. I would not care for the proximity at all. Its like peeing at the urinal. I am comfortable with myself lol
Its cold and windy outside where I live right now. I will be doing some strength training after work, and may run afterwards. Are you seriously suggesting that I should run outside instead of using the treadmill conveniently located 20 feet away in a temperature controlled environment?7 -
oops, double post, didn't think my edit made it into my previous post
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annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
#1. What are you doing on a treadmill that you cannot do outside.
In December and January? Keeping my fingers and toes.13 -
I have a home treadmill but in regards to why I use it? Snow, ice, heavy rain, and recently, a worrying painful tingling in my hands that sets in when they get cold. It started happening as soon as the morning temperatures dipped below 60 degrees.5
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annaskiski wrote: »So..
You are at the gym, there are 50 empty treadmills.
You jump on the one about halfway through. Another person walks over and gets on the one next to you, ignoring the 48 other empty choices.
Annoying? Or am I too much of an introvert?
That happened to me the other night and I wondered why. Turns out some sports event was on TV that the guy next to me wanted to watch and could only do so on the machines by me.0 -
yeah it's annoying, it's more annoying when you constantly see them looking at your control panel to check your speed so they can try to one-up you or try to start a conversation too.1
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That’s when it’s time to start eating a big bowl of chili, some cabbage and a couple hard boiled eggs for dinner the night before the gym. See how dedicated they really are to taking that treadmill next to you.I used to go to a gym with about 20 completely identical treadmills, all in perfect working order, all the same make and model, all with personal TV screens, all looking out a second-floor window onto a street.
Every. single. morning, when I and one or two other people were the only people using them, someone would come to use the one right next to me, no matter which one I was on. The other ones would remain empty for the duration of my workout since I was there before the morning rush.
It was absolutely infuriating and it was also completely baffling since there was absolutely no reason to select one over another. I used a different one every day to prove this to myself.
I quit the gym and bought my own to use in the winter because I'm an antisocial weirdo and it drove me up the wall to constantly have some rando so close to me when it wasn't necessary.
Bwahahaha!
When I first got serious about lifting I used to work out with these three pro bodybuilders who would crop dust people in the heavy weight room if they were taking up space. Funny stuff to see someone in the heavy room trying to attract a mate and have it really go wrong.
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Get your own treadmill in your own space, away from my space. Luckily, all the treadmills at my club have TVs and we have over 50 treadmills, in addition to a lot of other cardio equipment. Every so often I'll see something weird happening, but our members seem to have a decent gym etiquette.0
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I was overweight (I am still ow) and I was brisk walking on treadmill when there were many left empty. Two really fit girls (they were friends) came and took treadmill on either side of mine. And they were running while I in middle just walking.... I don’t know if that was on purpose but very uncomfortable for me!!6
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I was overweight (I am still ow) and I was brisk walking on treadmill when there were many left empty. Two really fit girls (they were friends) came and took treadmill on either side of mine. And they were running while I in middle just walking.... I don’t know if that was on purpose but very uncomfortable for me!!
That’s so weird. One time a couple moms brought their tween sons up to run on the treadmills and put one on either side of me. It was really awkward especially since the moms would be chatting with each other during this. I even asked one of them if they wanted me to switch with their son so they could be next to each other and she said no.
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I don't understand the problem.I was overweight (I am still ow) and I was brisk walking on treadmill when there were many left empty. Two really fit girls (they were friends) came and took treadmill on either side of mine. And they were running while I in middle just walking.... I don’t know if that was on purpose but very uncomfortable for me!!
The only person against whom you're competing is yourself. I have heard, here, the comparison is the thief of joy. It really makes no difference what anyone else is doing in the gym. The only person with whom you should be concerned is you.ImSoSquishy wrote: »yeah it's annoying, it's more annoying when you constantly see them looking at your control panel to check your speed so they can try to one-up you or try to start a conversation too.
Plug in your ears, and mind your workout. It's not like they are getting onto your dreadmill to share. So what if they are trying to "one up" you? How does that effect your workout? If they try to start a conversation and you are just to antisocial to comply, that's what ear buds are for. Just nod an acknowledgment and continue on your own.
O,P. why is it annoying? Isn't there enough room on your treadmill for you? Do other people really effect your sense of being that much? What they are doing should have no effect on what you do. Go to the gym, get YOUR work in, go home and enjoy life. I don't understand the problem. Now if they had tried to commandeer YOUR treadmill, that would be something annoying.10
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