People walking on treadmills in the gym

[crinklechips]

OK to start with I know I'm being a bit U but I need to have a mini-rant.

I use currently use the gym mainly for running intervals and speedier sessions which are easier to manage indoors.

Every time I go in all the treadmills are taken, and mostly by people walking.

Now I can totally understand that people have different fitness levels, might be using the treadmill to warm up or for recovery and that's absolutely fine.

But there seems to a growing number of people (actually, exclusively younger women in my observation) just using the treadmills for a gentle stroll while messing around on their phones.

I ended up next to a young woman last night who spent the entire half hour I was on the neighbouring treadmill walking at 3kph, no incline, while scrolling instagram. I can barely call that exercise, it's below a normal walking pace. If that's how you want to kill time then I guess it's up to you but it just seems selfish when there's a queue of people waiting for a treadmill.

Winding up knobheads is a great life.

I know people have all different reasons for using the dreadmill for walking but ive seen a "skinny" trend on Instagram that women shouldnt be doing lots of cardio, or lifting weights because it will make you strong bulky not skinny....which might account for some - not all - users. Although if everyone's paying the same, they can use the equipment however they want - assuming it isnt harmful to themselves or others.

You say it’s affecting you because you’re waiting 30 mins…so if they were running for 30 mins instead of walking it, you’d magically not have to wait?? You’re waiting 30 mins regardless. And what people do on it is up to them. YABVU.

Think lots of women and girls don’t feel comfortable walking outside particularly in the winter months.

Yes I guess I've got to see it as a TOTALLY different activity for this demographic!

OP I totally understand and have been guilty myself of having mean thoughts along those lines! But! I have just fractured my knee, so by the time I am allowed to run again, it will be a walk/jog in the treadmill. I’m used to running outside at a decent pace. Time for some humility, you never know when it’s going to be you!

I did a lot of slow walking on treadmills when I was recovering from cancer and chemotherapy. You've no idea what's going on in other people's lives.

Here you go again with this ‘young women’ comment.

So old people can walk on them, can they?

What’s your cut off age just out of interest?

Maybe it’s time to stop assessing certain demographics of treadmill user.

I often think this too.

But I think gyms are the new pubs. My son (a teenage health freak) doesn't drink and goes to the gym most nights. It's a social thing for him like going clubbing was for me at his age! But a lot healthier!

I work from home. I get very few steps in. In summer, I go for a walk most evenings for about an hour or so, it's good for MH and at least gets me moving for a bit. In winter, I can't. By the time I finish work, it's dark, the local area is quite rural and not very well lit, and that's before considering that it's cold and miserable. If I was to have a gym membership, I probably would use at least half an hour to walk on the treadmill. I'm not in the market to get super fit, just to not be completely sedentary.

And where did she - or I - say that we didn’t wait. Or that she - or I - told people what they can or cannot do on the treadmill. Or physically removed anyone from a treadmill.

Neither of us did.

But, like everyone else on AIBU we are allowed to silently be irritated. (Just like you are about me and the OP) and vent on an anonymous forum on the board that is specifically designed for people to vent and possibly be U.

Are you telling me that queuing never ever gets on your nerves?

There aren’t enough treadmills in my gym for this. But unless the gym has a 15 min policy not sure what you can do.

It feels like standing in a cafe with a tray of food waiting for a table - if every table is full with people eating that feels different to people sat there twirling their fork round an empty plate.

OP outlines in the post how she believes it affects her.

Surely it's more equivalent to someone eating something you don't like, really slowly?

They are using the treadmill for its intended purpose. They could walk outside - you could also run outside. But you both have memberships so you can both use the machines at your preferred intensity.

I lift light weights. Am I unreasonable for taking up space in the weights area when there are men there who want to lift 50kg?

Well I physically can’t run, so have no choice but to walk on a treadmill. And I’m youngish too.
But the thing is if I was at your gym you would have absolutely no idea that I can’t run and you would be judging me.

You say you don’t mind people going through recovery (Like me. A year in after having a bone tumour removed going through a very long rehabilitation). But the woman you judged could have been going through her own rehab journey that you have absolutely no idea about and you judged her.

And really, even if someone has no physical reason why they can’t run, their workout choices are just as ok as yours. Running isn’t the only way to use a treadmill. Go at a less busy time if you want more chance of using it.

YABU, A treadmill isn’t just for running, it’s for waking, running and climbing, what a gym user does on the machine is nothing to do with you irregardless of the fitness ability.

She was on the treadmill for 30 minutes, so were you. Why are you more entitled to one for that long because you're running.
There is nothing wrong with walking on the treadmill. Walking is good exercise. Running is bad for your joints. Lots of people can't run.
It's unreasonable and judgy to be looking at what anyone else is doing in the gym and commenting on it unless they specifically ask for your input on their workout.

You have got to be kidding. I only ever walk on the treadmill. I’m not interested in running. Who are you to judge what other people are doing? Maybe 3k/hour is the speed she’s comfortable at. It’s none of your business.

I walk on the treadmill in the gym as part of my warm up. And I don’t give a shit if anyone doesn’t like it. I pay the same as everyone else to be there.

Well, the consultant at the Scottish National Orthopaedic Centre showed me the x-ray, explained that I have patella alta and informed me "We won't even think of replacing your knees for at least another ten years." He seemed rather surprised when I asked for advice about exercise and simply gave me a list of things that I'm not allowed to do.

I asked about a physio and was told that wasn't an option. I've since been told that the knee specialists now only refer people who have had an actual operation, though I find that astonishing.

Fortunately for me, the consultant who saw me at the same place for my shoulder decompression did refer me to a physio and the policy nowadays is to look at the whole person when you're of a certain age.

She started me on exercises for the shoulders and the legs and then referred me to the specialist class at the gym. I've been going for more than two years now and my balance has improved. (My knees and ankles have a bad habit of giving way with no warning.)

That’s your problem though.

You are being unreasonable and over critical OP. They pay their gym membership and use the equipment of their own choice. Plus, you have NO idea of their health issues that might involve them being in a rehabilitation program, hence taking gentle exercise. You do you, and mind your own business!

I am a runner but am injured at the moment so am building back up. This means I am walking on the treadmill. Also my only time to exercise is in the dark (either very early or very late in the day) and I don’t fancy walking the streets at those times in the winter.
Tbh I would find it unusual to see someone doing intervals and speed sessions on a treadmill (the pounding would put me off my ‘gentle stroll’ 😉).