Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you ever interrupt someone walking on a treadmill?

58 replies

TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 16:10

In a gym with several unused treadmills, someone with headphones on is walking on one of them. Are there any circumstances short of a fire alarm or closing time you would come up on the next treadmill and lean in to their field of view to get their attention?
I had been walking slowly backwards with my hands over the rails, I lifted myself up and put my feet on the sides - there are edges specifically for doing this - turned round and was walking forwards and turning up the speed and incline.
I had to stop the machine losing my stats, take off my headphones and stop my podcast, and engage in a several minute conversation which turned out that she wanted me to use the stop button on the string rather than the side platforms to turn around.
She was sat on the rowing machine from before I arrived till after I left, though I didn't actually see her row.
Surely she could and should have waited till I'd finished if she really wanted to tell me how she'd prefer me to do things. In fairness she was smiley and friendly, but ruined my whole workout. There is more but this is long.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
minipie · 24/08/2026 10:14

Staff member - arguably unnecessary but fair enough

Non staff member- weird and officious, not her business

ThatBliddyWoman · 24/08/2026 10:12

I did this while my friend was on the stepper to say goodbye to him once. I didn't want him to think I was rude if I just buggered off. He had his back to me and the stepper faces the wall so the only way I could get his attention. I don't think he minded, he just said goodbye to me and carried on.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/08/2026 10:08

TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 23:27

@OnlyUsername once I finished stopping everything she showed me the stop-on-a-string because she thought I didn't know about it, and she thought I might fall over. First she showed me on the treadmill she was standing on and then reached over and picked up the one on my treadmill. I understand her concern came from a good place but her timing and the way she did it was far more likely to cause an accident.
I agree it is a lot like someone banging on your roof or window to 'help' you reverse when you don't even know they are there because you are busy doing something that takes concentration.

If you haven't seen somebody standing right beside you when you're reversing, you shouldn't be in a vehicle in the first place.

Astoreilike · 24/08/2026 08:08

How long have you been a member of this gym @TreadmillWoes ?

Nameshavebeenchangedtoprotect · 23/08/2026 23:51

I'm with you on this OP. A staff member once stopped me on a treadmill to ask me some survey questions. I couldn't believe it, I tried to be polite but I was furious to be interrupted. Guessing people who don't think this is odd don't go to the gym.

Original poster
TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 23:27

@OnlyUsername once I finished stopping everything she showed me the stop-on-a-string because she thought I didn't know about it, and she thought I might fall over. First she showed me on the treadmill she was standing on and then reached over and picked up the one on my treadmill. I understand her concern came from a good place but her timing and the way she did it was far more likely to cause an accident.
I agree it is a lot like someone banging on your roof or window to 'help' you reverse when you don't even know they are there because you are busy doing something that takes concentration.

OP posts:
ItsOnlyMee1 · 23/08/2026 23:07

Try doing some proper exercise and you might not get interrupted
Semi tongue in cheek.

OnlyUsername · 23/08/2026 22:53

I'm still a bit confused by the wording. You say she "wanted you" to use the stop button but as she was a total stranger - how did she actually say it? Was it a suggestion such as "You should really stop it for safety" or was she telling you outright what to do? I just can't imagine standing there and not saying anything back! It's like someone tapping on the window while you're backing into a parking space to tell you you're doing it wrong.

Rondayvu · 23/08/2026 22:10

I get you op I have to use the sides fairly often myself for different reasons to you but I do need them. Even if the weirdo was trying to help, stopping someone mid workout with a machine running AND earphones on is more dangerous than pressing the stop button yourself while running ffs. People should be given a gym etiquette lesson when being given an induction.

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 21:24

How long have you been a member at this gym?

Original poster
TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 21:23

For those struggling to imagine it, the treadmills at my gym only go one direction, so I set the speed I want while facing the machine and then used the side platforms and handrails to turn round so my back is to the machine, then whilst holding the handrails I move my feet to the moving belt and start walking.
It is not really possible to adjust things with your back to the controls, but that's ok now I know what speed I can do backwards. When I've had enough of that I turn again by the same method and up the speed and incline to a good forward setting.

OP posts:
Rondayvu · 23/08/2026 20:28

Genuinely in the gym I go to, even if you were doing backflips while wearing nipple tassels nobody, not one person that does not work there EVER would come and speak to you for any purpose. Never. You just do not talk to people or try get their attention when they are working out. Full stop. What a weirdo. Her not you.

JaninefromEastenders · 23/08/2026 19:47

ElsiePiddockSkipsinherSleep · 23/08/2026 17:48

No, I would not interrupt someone on the treadmill.

There was actually an elderly woman walking really slowly backwards on a treadmill at my gym yesterday. Lots of people were doing a wry double-take. I just assumed it was some sort of recommended physio.

Yes, walking backwards is really good for building strength in your legs and improving balance. She was probably doing it on the treadmill in order to hold on safely, and walking slowly because it's quite difficult to do fast.

OnlyUsername · 23/08/2026 19:12

No gym user should butt into your business unless you shout for help or you're about to decapitate yourself with weights and they run over to help. I wouldn't have the cheek to lean in and start bossing around another gym user.

Wadsworthy · 23/08/2026 19:07

I frequently see others 'deliberately' using the side platforms to pause for various reasons including in the middle of a fast run to do things like drink or use their phone, catch their breath, or adjust the machine. It seems completely normal and there are no indications not to.

For anyone questioning this, doing this - jumping to the sides of a moving treadmill - is absolutely normal. It was one of the first things my PT taught me to do when we were working on my running. And it's saved me from falling & injuring myself on a treadmill a couple of times, when I've tripped on a shoelace or something.

The other gym user was:
insane
dangerous
totally out of order
ignorant

poolshoes · 23/08/2026 18:30

Were you facing the back of the treadmill or facing forwards but walking backwards. I’m confused!

poolshoes · 23/08/2026 18:26

Am I staff or a random?

I would tell you if you had a blood stain on your pants etc

Forelon · 23/08/2026 18:25

I once saw a man backwards walking incrediblllyyy slowly through an exit at a festival. It must have taken him hours to get in 😂 so there is a real life application.

Original poster
TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 18:19

@JLou08 Have you initiated conversations with complete strangers who were wearing headphones whilst walking on a treadmill? Would you think that normal?

So you would be nervous if someone was walking backwards on a treadmill near you but think if they do then they should be able to have a conversation whilst listening to a podcast on sound cancelling headphones and adjusting the treadmill controls and walking at the same time. That does actually seem a bit contrary.
Just for perspective, the first several times you walk backwards on a treadmill it is difficult and takes concentration, and as you do it more it gets easier, maybe it even gets easy, I don't know yet. In that respect it is very similar to most things we do. It is not always obvious where in that trajectory someone is, especially if it's something so strange to you that you would be nervous around someone doing it.

OP posts:
JLou08 · 23/08/2026 18:02

That doesn't sound safe, I'd be nervous if someone near me was doing that.
If you're able to turn around by standing on the platform and walk backwards on a treadmill surely you could've managed a conversation whilst still in motion to avoid losing your stats?
I've had chats with people whilst I've been on the treadmill. I didn't find it a challenge and I wouldn't be doing the acrobatics you were doing on there.

ElsiePiddockSkipsinherSleep · 23/08/2026 17:48

No, I would not interrupt someone on the treadmill.

There was actually an elderly woman walking really slowly backwards on a treadmill at my gym yesterday. Lots of people were doing a wry double-take. I just assumed it was some sort of recommended physio.

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/08/2026 17:47

It’s extremely easy to use the sides of the treadmill. If someone had a nasty accident that’s just a nasty accident. It doesn’t make it a risky thing to do. Most people use them after intervals whilst they slow the treadmilll down

Original poster
TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 17:46

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/08/2026 17:42

I've seen somebody mess that up spectacularly and get some nasty facial injuries as a result.

You use the sides if there's an urgent reason to stop, not to start rotating like a demented jewellery box fairy.

Hahaha, yes I wasn't twirling on one tiptoe with my arms above my head! If I could do that on a moving treadmill I would probably have have been untroubled by what actually happened.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/08/2026 17:42

I've seen somebody mess that up spectacularly and get some nasty facial injuries as a result.

You use the sides if there's an urgent reason to stop, not to start rotating like a demented jewellery box fairy.

Huckleberries · 23/08/2026 17:42

A lot of people will do a backward walk for reasons of injury

But it’s actually quite good for you to do generally as it uses different muscles and I think it helps with agility too- So now you know!

You should’ve posted in the exercise section OP AIBU is just a bun fight and I think the dedicated gym goers hang out in the other section