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.

Walking and scrolling on the treadmill is literally one of life's greatest pleasures!

To be fair 9/10 times I use the treadmill as a little warm up before a class or workout, but sometimes, when the kids have been feral I get in to the gym and I know all I'm doing is moseying on that treadmill (4.5km 6 incline is my sweet spot) and picking up a smoothie.

Shoot me! 😂

Don't be ridiculous. How insulting!

It's gatekeepers like you that make me worry about the gym. That might be ALL she can handle doing that day. Manage your time better and go when it's less busy.

What?? Are you aware that the people queuing for the treadmill are waiting for the same time regardless of how fast the person is actually going on the treadmill? If someone's using the treadmill for 30 minutes, the people waiting will be waiting for 30 mins whether the person is going 3kph or 300kph 😂😂

I’m a walker on the treadmill. Although I don’t like the treadmill so only go on when I’m with my daughter who is also a walker. I’ve been advised for msk reasons not to run. Whereas my daughter vomits if she runs. I do walk faster than her though!

I also think you need to get rid of this hang up about younger, nicely dressed and preened girls vaguely using the gym.

You don't know them.

You don't know what's going on in their lives.

They may be nervous about using equipment they're not familiar with.
They may not know what to do or how to do it.
They may be struggling with their mental health and looking good and going to the gym is helping them.
Or they may just be catching up with their mates in a safe, warm and dry place.

Never judge a book by it's cover.

It annoys me too. I don’t think i could stop myself from cranking up the incline even if i only intended to walk

I tell you another gripe OP!

people (usually men) spending ages on weights/ machines . They’re sitting still scrolling on theit phone between sets. Surely a minute’s rest is enough

They pay the same membership fee so it's up to them how they use their time at the gym. If people like this didn't go to the gym, it would cost you a lot more.

Going slowly is really hard! I'm a bit naughty and have to remind myself that I'm there for a low intensity session sometimes but I love the buzz and the dopamine a good intense session gives me.

I do walk on a treadmill before and after strength training. I’m not sure what that’s got to do with my post that you’ve quoted though.

YABU
You do not know anything about the people that use the gym and their reasons. I know someone who walks on the treadmill for long periods because she is disabled and cannot run.

No it's not. Learn about strength training. A rest of 2-4 minutes between sets is pretty standard if you're moving heavy weight.

I walk on a treadmill with or without an incline as I am in rehab post spinal surgery (I used to run marathons). At one point I couldn't walk at all. You never know what people are going through

I used to walk at speed on the machine as it helped to strengthen my knees

ahhh, but are you young and dressed up and scrolling on your phone or talking to a friend while you're walking?

If you aren't one or several of those things, then I think you're safe.

As someone who had an injury from running, I wanted to keep up the routine of my gym and needed gentle exercise I could stop as soon as I needed too. If I were to walk outside having to try and get home if I had gone too far was incredibly painful. You dont really know why anyone is doing anything.

It’s obviously a busy time in the gym - if I was you I’d use the time to run your interval session outside during this hour if you don’t need to physically be in the same building - plan a route that gets you back on time and problem solved (stick some lights on if it’s dark it will soon be spring!)

Since OP has made it clear she's only after younger women, I guess if you're past your 20s, she'll assume you have an excuse for not exercising the right way and give you a pass. If you're younger than that, though, she knows that "something else is going on"...

Why don't you go and buy your own and stop moaning. Your not anymore important then the person before you and behind you

@crinklechips Just curious; I walk at 6mph, 4,5 incline watching a show/news on my phone for 30 minutes- would I be irritwting you as well (45 so not that young)?
I get mad when people stay on machines on their phones without using them. If you need a5 minute rest then let someone else use it.

Hero. The T-shirt part cracked me up 😂

The only way the gym could sort this would be to put up signs limiting use of the treadmill to 30 mins or something. I could totally see that someone walking slowly for ages on the treadmills would be bloody annoying though. Particularly at peak times.

I think it depends what you're wearing 😂
If you are well preened in matching gym gear then the OP who goes to the gym 1 hour a week won't like you

What do you mean running isn't great for women??!!! Who are you to decide! I've run for over a decade and it's been fabulous, I'm nearly 60, it is a massive part of my life