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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:
TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 17:38

Thanks @Pistachiocake yes, backwards walking is good for some knee issues, though I also forwards walk as naturally I am better at that. A slow treadmill with handrails is the only place I'd feel safe to do it.
As it happens there are two frequent users who backwards walk as part of every visit and one of them does so for long periods. The other was doing so at the same time as me but at the other end of the gym.
@Duckyfondant but would you (as non staff and a total stranger) do so in this case? I don't wear headphones on the weight machines and strangers often greet me or sometimes offer advice there, but not usually to anyone with headphones on. Mine are the very obvious over ear type.

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 23/08/2026 17:38

Oh and it’s also very common to walk backwards on a treadmill. Not unusual at all - you hold on to the sides

millymollymoomoo · 23/08/2026 17:37

I do exactly same as op- use the sides to turn around so avoid having to stop machine which reset its. Also do the same when doing sprint intervals.

totally common in the gym I attend

rookiemere · 23/08/2026 17:34

I am really confused by this. If you were indeed walking backwards i.e. with your body pointed away from the front of the machine, then that sounds inherently unsafe and I am not surprised someone tried to stop you. But maybe that’s not what you mean ?

malefields · 23/08/2026 17:24

I’m confused, was this a random gym user that just decided to interrupt you or staff?

TreadmillWoes · 23/08/2026 17:17

Clearly I left something very important out of my post. It was some random I have never seen there before in several years of membership. The staff do not sit around on rowing machines not rowing in any gym I have been to, but no doubt it does happen somewhere.
That is not to say the staff never use the gym, but no, not staff.
To answer some questions:
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.
I didn't just remove the headphones without stopping the machine because that would have been dangerous, maybe not for you, but for me. I was suddenly surprised by someone leaning round in my face waving and apparently shouting at me while my head was listening to a podcast and adjusting the controls on the machine and adjusting my pace to the controls. I assumed it was important and urgent since it was such an unexpected and intrusive thing to do.
To those who voted IABU but thought it was a staff member, do you still think IABU?

OP posts:
Backedoffhackedoff · 23/08/2026 17:07

rereturner · 23/08/2026 16:25

I can see why they would have a general rule to stop the treadmill instead of stepping onto the side rails - and it’s probably a condition of their insurance that they do this. In your case it sounded pretty safe but I think the person was just enforcing a blanket rule.

It’s def not a “condition of their insurance”!!

OP I can’t work out for the life of me what you were doing but unless it was a member of staff no one should’ve interrupted you

Duckyfondant · 23/08/2026 17:06

That's probably the one cardio machine I would interrupt on. Most people can talk and walk at the same time

Wadsworthy · 23/08/2026 17:05

Only excuse would be if she were a gym employee and had a safety concern. And if so, that would be a reasonable thing to do.

Ponderingwindow · 23/08/2026 17:04

You weren’t just walking on the treadmill. It seems like you are describing a misuse of equipment that requires intervention by staff.

Pistachiocake · 23/08/2026 17:04

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 16:28

Why are you turning around on the treadmill @TreadmillWoes ?

I realise you are asking OP-apologies if she answers, but I haven't seen a reply yet so thought I'd give an answer based on something a trainer said. Please ignore if you only want the Op's response! People with a certain knee condition find it less painful/the only way they can manage to walk backwards-I'd wondered myself when I saw people doing it, but I suppose it's like everything, if you've not suffered something yourself/know someone who has, you can be blithely unaware.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 23/08/2026 17:01

So you weren't using the equipment properly and a member of staff spoke to you about it?

Spooll · 23/08/2026 16:59

What stats are you recording from a walk on the treadmill?

Why are you walking (backwards?) on a treadmill?

Why does it matter that someone wanted to talk to you?

Why did that mean you had to stop?

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 16:56

arethereanyleftatall · 23/08/2026 16:52

Indeed. I don’t think anyone has given them the echo chamber they sought.

And I have a sneaking suspicion probably something of an odd bod at this gym

JaninefromEastenders · 23/08/2026 16:53

I would interrupt a workout to say something important. It's not sacred.

arethereanyleftatall · 23/08/2026 16:52

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 16:49

I reckon this OP won’t be back

Indeed. I don’t think anyone has given them the echo chamber they sought.

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 16:49

I reckon this OP won’t be back

arethereanyleftatall · 23/08/2026 16:49

Huckleberries · 23/08/2026 16:27

I’m going to guess it was a fellow gym goer because a member of staff wouldn’t do that

I see lots of people doing that lift maneuverer that you talk about, I don’t understand why anyone would say this to you!

A member of staff absolutely would as the op is using the treadmill edges incorrectly

arethereanyleftatall · 23/08/2026 16:48

‘There are edges specifically for doing this’

no, that’s not what the edges are for. They are there as a safety precaution, you’re not supposed to deliberately use them.

Astoreilike · 23/08/2026 16:28

Why are you turning around on the treadmill @TreadmillWoes ?

Huckleberries · 23/08/2026 16:27

I’m going to guess it was a fellow gym goer because a member of staff wouldn’t do that

I see lots of people doing that lift maneuverer that you talk about, I don’t understand why anyone would say this to you!

SoSoLong · 23/08/2026 16:27

Why didn't you just remove your headphones and talked to her, rather than stopping the machine?

rereturner · 23/08/2026 16:25

I can see why they would have a general rule to stop the treadmill instead of stepping onto the side rails - and it’s probably a condition of their insurance that they do this. In your case it sounded pretty safe but I think the person was just enforcing a blanket rule.

MasterBeth · 23/08/2026 16:25

Would I ever interrupt someone walking on a treadmill?

Probably.

Error404FucksNotFound · 23/08/2026 16:23

Is your way hazardous?

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