I don't consider myself a "regular" at the gym. And I certainly don't have any education or experience that makes me qualified to judge people on their exercise habits. But I've been going to the gym more frequently, which has been causing me to create a mental list of annoying gym habits. And since I'm having a rough day and am feeling snarky, I've decided that I'm going to share my list with you. Lucky you!
1) Walking on treadmills, especially when it's crazy busy. Have some respect, people. When all the treadmills are full, assume that there are people waiting to get on. So when you get done with your run, cool off with a few laps on the indoor track. And if all you are doing is walking, then I'm pretty sure you can handle doing that on the track as well. If you are using the treadmill because you like the fancy (and likely inaccurate) heart rate/calories burned readouts, invest in a heart rate monitor and get results that are actually correct. Oh, and if you are using the treadmill to walk at an incline? See the next point.
2) Walking unmanageably fast on treadmills at ridiculous inclines, and subsequently needing to use the support bars to keep from falling off the treadmill. I understand that you want to duplicate the exercise that you get while climbing a hill, and I understand that South Dakota doesn't have a lot of hills and mountains to exercise on. But last time I checked, hills don't have support bars that allow you to displace your body weight. And all that body weight displacement that is going on? Trust me, you aren't getting the workout you think you are.
3) Exercising with hair down. Seriously. If it's long enough to slap against your neck while you run, tie it back. I played soccer in college against a girl who always wore her shoulder-length hair down, and every time we played her team I wanted to grab her by the hair and yank her down. I just can't stand the way it flies all over the place during physical exercise--or the gross way it clumps together when it gets sweaty.
4) Prancers. I realize the heel shouldn't slap the floor or anything like that, but seriously, more of your foot than just the ball of it should be coming in contact with the floor. It's no wonder you can only manage two laps at a time.
5) Meatheads. I know these kind of people are unavoidable, especially at a gym, but they still bother me. Especially when they are the type who do crazy upper-body lifting but have twigs for legs. Oh, and your complaint that the gym is closed on Christmas Day--seriously? Take a break. Spend time with your family. You're ridiculous.
Hopefully you don't think less of me, because I'm glad I got that off my chest.
1. Why is the indoor track only for walkers. A runner could just as easily use it as a walker. Instead of waiting for a treadmill that is currently used by someone walking, and thinking, "why don't you use the track lazy ass", why don't you go run on the track? Just a thought. If it's an option for them, it's an option for you.
ReplyDelete2. Sort of agree. If they're hanging on the handles, that's not useful. If they're just using them for balance, it's probably ok. However it is hard to tell the difference sometimes
3. Gross
4. There's a new movement out there to run less on the heel and more on the midfoot and ball of the foot. Apparently better for the body. It is really really hard to do because we haven't been wired to do it and if you're just getting into running that way, your muscles aren't using it and will fatigue faster. Hence the only two laps at a time.
5. I do not like the twiggy legs. Not attractive, but these people have just as much right to be at the gym as you. Just remember, they might be thinking, "I really don't like those people who go run on a treadmill for 30-60 minutes and think they're all in shape." or, "I really don't like those people who are using puny weights. What do they think they're accomplishing."
Not to tell you off or anything because I seriously have a hard time with certain things too. People walking really slowly on treadmills bothers me but I always have to remind myself that A. These people have a right to be there. They pay the same membership fees I do. and B. I probably don't know the whole story
Can we talk about locker room habits? Those are the ones that really set me off...I see way to many old/saggy/perky/fat lady/big nippled/small nippled boobs/lady bits/butt in my locker room. Let's have some modesty people.
Our indoor track is only a 200 meter track, so it's a lot more stressful on the knees of a runner versus a walker.
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