To think that normal gym etiquette is to not go at the same pace as the rower next to you?

[TwatCat]

It's just wrong.
The unwritten rule is that you have to be going slightly faster or slightly slower than the person on the rowing machine next to you. Otherwise it looks like you're in the same boat which you clearly aren't.

I've got the added problem of being ginger, and under no circumstances am I allowed to go on the equipment next to the other ginger in the room. This is very rare as I'm usually the only one. But people might think we're brother and sister.

I especially couldn't go on the rower and row at the same pace as the other ginger in the room. Can you imagine that? We'd be sibling boat rowers.

So AIBU?

@Dramaofallama Omg thank you. I needed a laugh today 😂😂😂

How amazingly funny.!

Hi OP.

You’re weird. And I 100%, completely get you. We can be weird together (but at a different pace, and, uh... well, are you going to dye your ginger hair a different colour or am I?)

YANBU, that would be weird.
Ah well, I'm so pathetically unfit I have no chance of rowing as fast as the muscle guys...also I go late evening so hardly anyone else is there, I think the muscular super healthy types like to be home by 7 latest for their protein shake, chicken and broccoli and an early night
so I don't have to put anyone through seeing my fat wobbly white - as in pale - body when I'm attempting to exercise. And so I don't get depressed by someone going 100mph at the machine next to me while I do my 3 minutes and try not to collapse and end up beetroot and dripping

Personally I would be more wary of the over sensitive people rather than the gingers (my beautiful DD is a ginger by the way) - especially if you are doing something where a sneaky fart may escape.

Imagine the look of horror you may encounter.

Also agree that you need to try and go faster than them while only glancing at them out of the corner of your eye and pretending that you don't know they are there while you mow that MoFo down (in your mind only of course haha). If they beat you well you weren't racing anyway were you?

Actually think you’re probably right!

I don’t use the Gym. However I do a lot of lane swimmimg and whilst it is very useful to go at the same speed when sharing a lane, it is not good in adjacent lanes.

Disclaimer: - I am not Ginger but my Grandson is.

I am ginger and I used to use the rower a lot at the gym, but never saw another ginge there at the same time
Word of advice to the OP, never row at the same pace, do interval training and you won't have a problem.

Genuine gym etiquette question.
Would you ever go up to a complete stranger and ask them how much longer they are going to be, usually preceded with - "you have been on there a long time"?
It has happened three times to me, and a couple of times to my wife - cross trainer and exercise bike.

andyoldlabour
I have asked how long they will be? Or how many more sets they have but never questioned how long they have been on the equipment. The worst are the ones who then passively stare at you until you have finished.

I have a few of them at my gym!

Who knew this would need a trigger warning Golden.

I'm so glad most found this funny. Fair play, the responses have cracked me up.

And in reply to the, where do you look when you're resting between weights? question...

I look at my watch, pretending I'm counting down the time til my next set of reps. Or I look at my pulse, I like to stick in a bit of cardio between weights to keep my heart rate elevated. Kind of like my own HIIT workout.

@andyoldlabour - no. I've never seen or heard anyone else do it either. The etiquette is you just wait until there is a space on some equipment and you use that.

Just jump on the rowing machine and shout ready steady go! That should remove any awkwardness. And wear a hat.

*Ready steady go!
*