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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Personal trainer using the playground as a gym

171 replies

ArtichokeAardvark · 13/05/2019 13:02

I don't think I was bring unreasonable here, but happy to be told otherwise...

Took DS to the playground this morning. As I arrived, I spotted a personal trainer and his client working out in the soft sand area. I looked around and couldn't see a buggy nearby, so it wasn't a new mum trying to get back in shape. He had left a kettle bell lying around right by the entrance to the park where it could easily be tripped over.

I watched crossly for a while, until they got one of those plastic sports skipping ropes out - those things whip through the air and could have really hurt a child if it caught them. I figured enough's enough, so went over and asked them to leave. The trainer got very defensive, said he uses the playground a few times a week and no-one else has ever complained. He likes the soft rubber flooring and using some of the kids play equipment for his sessions. He then said he wasn't endangering any children (he shut up when I pointed out the kettle bell lying around) and that the other mums there at the time didn't mind. Eventually, they left.

Was I right, or being precious? The playground is in the middle of a big common, which even has another area with free outdoor gym equipment. Surely it's inappropriate to have heavy weights lying around where toddlers are running riot? However he's right that the other mums had just been ignoring him.

OP posts:
MattieB19 · 13/05/2019 13:05

I'd probably have done the same, a playground is for children.

Fazackerley · 13/05/2019 13:05

Oh god. I expect you are technically right but if they weren't hurting anyone its not really any of your business.

Readytogogogo · 13/05/2019 13:06

Completely agree with you, it's for the kids, not his personal workspace. He's a CF!

sweeneytoddsrazor · 13/05/2019 13:07

A lot of trainers seem to do outdoor training in parks. All the ones I have seen seem to do it on the open spaces rather than in the childrens bit though. Are there any signs up with age restrictions for the play equipment?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/05/2019 13:07

I would have asked him to move his weights and to be mindful of the kids, but I wouldn't have asked him to leave the playground. It seems to generally be an increasing trend that adults use playgrounds to work out, there's even gym equipment in ours now, and if everyone else was fine with it, I think asking him to be mindful of the little kids would have sufficed.

babysharkah · 13/05/2019 13:07

They need specific insurances and (in my area) permission from the council. My gym wanted to run bootcamps but it was too complicated.

WeeDangerousSpike · 13/05/2019 13:08

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect him to use the area specifically provided and designed for exercise.

Especially as he's presumably using it to earn money.

SentientPotato · 13/05/2019 13:08

I guess you are right but I think it is incredibly petty to have said anything. I can't see how a kettlebell is more of a trip hazard than all the other play equipment, buggies, small children running around. It's not like they were causing any harm but hey ho.

SpiderP · 13/05/2019 13:09

Sorry but I think YABU. If there were loads of kids running about and they were whipping them with their skipping rope, maybe you'd have a point but you've not mentioned them being inconsiderate; it seems you just don't want them there at all. I think it's nice that public spaces are used and it sounds like they're not stopping others from using the playground. I'm sure nobody tripped over the kettlebell.

Original poster
ArtichokeAardvark · 13/05/2019 13:10

There's no age restriction but there is a sign up outside saying no adults unless accompanied by a child.

There is also an area 100metres away that has specific gym equipment that the other trainers use!

OP posts:
sirfredfredgeorge · 13/05/2019 13:10

I'd probably have done the same, a playground is for children

I don't agree with this, a playground is for anyone who wants to use it, however children have priority due to their not being other areas they can use easily and it being sized appropriately for smaller people.

It really does depend how much their use impacted on others - the kettle bell "lying around" was outside the playground anyway, a skipping rope can be perfectly appropriate for a playground. If it was busy and they impacted on others a lot then it wasn't appropriate, if it was near deserted then I can't see much of a problem in it being used.

FrancisCrawford · 13/05/2019 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeacupDrama · 13/05/2019 13:10

lots of playground equipment is listed as only being suitable for under age 14 and about 5' principally to stop adults playing on it as long term their weight can damage things
just because the other mums didn't say anything doesn't mean they didn't mind may be just did not feel brave enough to approach the man
as of course a man's workout in playground is much more important than a mere mum does playing there with her own kids Hmm

Teddybear45 · 13/05/2019 13:11

PTs in my area do use playgrounds too but often after 6-7pm.

FrancisCrawford · 13/05/2019 13:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaraLily90 · 13/05/2019 13:12

I wouldn’t have said anything and I’m guessing he wouldn’t have used that area had the place been full of kids using the playground

sweeneytoddsrazor · 13/05/2019 13:13

But if there is open space and gym equipment surely there is no need for them to be going into the designated kids play area.

ScarletAnemone · 13/05/2019 13:15

there is a sign up outside saying no adults unless accompanied by a child.

There’s your answer then. He shouldn’t be using it.

Smelborp · 13/05/2019 13:17

Totally agree with you OP and you were right to tell him to move.

sirfredfredgeorge · 13/05/2019 13:19

lots of playground equipment is listed as only being suitable for under age 14 and about 5' principally to stop adults playing on it as long term their weight can damage things

The European standard for such open access playgrounds is such that dynamic weights are appropriate for adults, the static equipment that a trainer will be using will be even more appropriate. Only in situations where access is actually controlled (like in day care centres) can lower limits be used.

Millie2018 · 13/05/2019 13:19

A guy uses our local playground to work out. He uses the monkey bars to do stomach crunches. He also works out a lot with his top off. I don’t have a problem with it...

Original poster
ArtichokeAardvark · 13/05/2019 13:21

@sirfredfredgeorge Kettle bell was in the playground. It's a gated enclosed area.

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 13/05/2019 13:21

I'm a miserable old witch and it would have annoyed me and I would have said something.

Playgrounds are for children to play in, not for personal trainers to earn their living. If he wants comfy rubber matting he should buy some.

notacooldad · 13/05/2019 13:21

All the things that "could have happened!"
I would have just moved the kettle bell a foot so away so no one would trip.
I'm sure if the playground was full of toddlers " running riot" they would have got pissed off and moved anyway.
I would watched and picked up a few tips for my gym session!

PamelaX · 13/05/2019 13:22

I think you have a point but are completely ridiculous about it.

plastic sports skipping ropes out - those things whip through the air and could have really hurt a child if it caught them.

Never once have I seen anyone hurt by a skipping rope, maybe teach your child to stay away from people. it will be a lot more painful to be hurt by a swing in full move Grin

A kid can just as well trip on a buggy left there, are they banned from the playground too?

You are making too much of nothing, stop watching people crossly for a while (good lord). You told him to go, end of the story but you sound like one of those busybody parents who will be a joy to be around for the next 20 years Grin