Anyone care to join me in a January gym rant?

[HandbagsnGladrags]

I'd forgotten how much I hate January at my gym (and yes, I am aware than I was once a newbie but I'm going to rant anyway as a was never a newbie dick).

Got there this morning with plenty of time to spare to get to my class. There are cars queueing for spaces and people dicking around with indicators on waiting for people to leave their space, blocking the whole road. 4x4's parked across two spaces in case anyone should park too close to their precious tank. Then I finally get inside to find an entire family with kids blocking the entrance barriers because they can't find their membership cards or whatever. GET OUT THE WAY!!!

Get to class. Newbies who have never done it before turn up at the very last minute so that the instructor starts the class late because he has to explain everything to them. If you're new, turn up early to allow for this FFS.

Then on the way out there are two kids playing catch with a ball in the café where people are eating and drinking. It's not a playground FFS!!

Ahh I feel better now. Roll on February when everyone will have fucked off and normal service is resumed.

Because you quoted the post by @auntgina a few minutes earlier verbatim.

Literally word for word. "Bit rude and incorrect".

Someone did this to me earlier on a different thread. No idea what the game plan is but it's really blatant.

My gym isn't walking distance. It would involve a short walk, public transport then a longer 1.5 mile walk.

Nor mine. I’m actually a member of two and, unfortunately, both are ten miles away in different directions. There is nothing closer.

I don't know why we all have to justify why we drive to the gym as a solution to those who can't park properly.

My gym is 16 miles away. As much as I love to walk I won’t be walking that far before or after a 12 hour shift!
Ours has adequate parking so no parking moans from me (although maybe the hours that I go are quieter).

@BloodAndFire oh that wasn't intentional. I didn't actually see your post. Great minds I suppose. I'm a long term MN user.

I was also posting in a rush.

Well quite.

I drive, park within a marked bay and drive at a sensible speed around the car park. I only use the parent and child when I have the kids with me.

I'm terrible though because I drive and don't walk for an hour to get there 🤷🏼‍♀️

It wasn't my post, it was someone else's. But it was literally word for word. I noticed because the same thing happened to me on a different thread earlier today.

I just scrolled down and looked - oh yeah. Well wasn't an intentional duplicate.

No one has to justify anything. It's a discussion. I don't drive and my gym doesn't have a car park so the whole parking thing is irrelevant to me.

Obviously no one will be walking 16 miles but lots of people drive much, much shorter distances to the gym and then walk on the treadmill when they get there, which always seems a bit pointless to me.

Whatevs, as my daughter would say!

Sorry for getting it wrong.

I was on alert for it because of what happened earlier today on another thread. Apologies

I could walk to mine but it's a 40 minute walk so easily adding over an hour to my workout. Time used for something else pissing about on MN

Obviously no one will be walking 16 miles but lots of people drive much, much shorter distances to the gym and then walk on the treadmill when they get there, which always seems a bit pointless to me.

//

Many people may go to the gym on their way home or to another destination?

Also treadmills provide a safe and even surface which a pavement won't always do. Other people may be exercising under the watchful eye of a PT or instructor,

Many, many reasons other than "pointless "

I could walk to mine but at 4.30 in the morning, on a cold, wet,dark January day through dark underpasses, and deserted industrial estates I'd rather not risk it thanks.

Ah coincidence then that we said the same thing!

Mine is also in an industrial estate, with mainly offices nearby, type of area. There are a few shops and new builds popping up, so I can see why they chose that location .

I wonder if some of the newcomers are put off by how busy it appears, and by some of the other newcomers themselves, thinking it's what the gym is always like. Better to try in February or March.

Another place I use for classes only is offering free classes for a few days this month. I'll be avoiding on those days!

This is true.

I've swum every week for years and the same pattern happens every time. Even at obscure hours the pool is overrun, lanes are taken up by chatters when the whole is clearly marked out for lane swimming with directions indicated, and you can't get near a water jet in the hydrospa.

By mid February the faces will have dwindled back down to the regulars. Have no fear!

I prefer Cyclone to Rhythm. I wish I could do Blaze as I like HIIT but it’s not included in my membership, sadly.

I get your frustration but they have just as much right to be there as you. Sure many of them won't stick it out but some will and it could save or change their life.

I’m wondering if somebody somewhere is fuming at my presence at their gym. I’m just taking adavantage of a January special offer.

I drive a 4x4 too.

Thanks @Tiredoftiers - I didn’t know that about the HR monitor, I’ve watched through the window a couple of times to see what it’s all about and it looks brilliantly brutal but I always thought it would be the kind of thing that i’d try once and never go back after embarrassing myself 😂it looks HARDCORE!
I stick to the spinning classes pretty much, I’ve tried the dancey ones but I have no coordination and feel like a bit of a twit, and I did body pump for a long time but just hated all the mirrors and seeing myself punching air - I felt too self conscious! Plus again, I just felt a bit of a twit.
I way prefer cyclone to rhythm but will do either if they are on at my preferred time.

It’s absolutely rammed in my hot yoga studio at the mo due to Class Pass 1 month free trial. TBH I love seeing new faces and so many people practicing in unison. It’ll definitely be quieter in Feb.

I don't have a problem with newbies just wish they wouldn't go at 5am which is probably not a good idea if you don't know what you're doing as there are no staff. I was a newbie once so I get that. But follow the gym rules/etiquette as well and don't forget personal space I don't want your backside in my face when I'm planking when there's loads of spare mats.

Do you park it in one space or two though?

Oh @Yarrawonga you are brave!

don't forget personal space I don't want your backside in my face when I'm planking when there's loads of spare mats.

Ha! Yes.

January special offers do not seem sensible economics, unless it is to sign up for a longer period.

Much as I sympathise with the OP, I bet it's the only way some gyms stay in business. The reverse of pre-Christmas shopping keeping some shops open.