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.

you have turned out to be quite a good op!

The problem is the gym. It needs more treadmills if there are always queues. Or fewer members of if cannot provide adequate facilities.

Thank you for answering. Sorry, @Dymaxion - I wasn't ignoring you: just missed your question.

I've had a prolapse just thinking about trying that weight...

Yeah you should have kept your mouth shut and kept that one to yourself!
I started the gym to help with weightloss only ever using a treadmill to begin with doing couch to 5k then as I progressed through the programme I started to get servere knee pain. Now I walk on an incline as brisk as I can. How can you call someone for leaving the house and showing up and walking on a treadmill.
Rather then them sitting in bed s rolling Instagram? Movement is excercise movement burns calories. Some people may feel safer walking alone on a treadmill in a public gym then in theor local area. Some may preference the warmth and not getting rained on.
It may be a small part of someone's gym routine.
I think what you need my love is a home gym!

Go run somewhere else. My sister uses the treadmill to walk as her eyesight is so poor and walking on british pavements is a disaster zone for her.

She pays and has as much right as you to use the treadmill as she sees fit.2 stone down and counting from 6 months of doing that annoying thing - walking on a treadmill.

YOu sound so sanctimonious

Our gym refurbished in Dec., installed new equipment and more treadmills...and then went on a recruiting drive on the back of it.

The gym is now absolutely packed out in the evenings. I'm fortunate in that I'm retired, so I'm now only going in the evening if I'm booked into a class.

I go to the gym and walk on the treadmill on my phone, because it’s the only hour a week I get to myself without the kids. Might not be physically getting anything out of it my mentally I’m de stressing. Sorry if were to slow for your speedy needs. 🤷‍♀️

But if they just want to walk and not use the treadmill as it is intended to be used, why don't they just walk around a park?

I think the only time anyone ever annoys me at the gym is the woman who sometimes ends up on the treadmill next to me, she slaps the handrail with each step. And she powerwalks so it’s like slap-slap-slap-slap-slap-slap. It drives me up the wall!

@crinklechips Yeah, I'd be dismissing the demographic you describe - young women in fancy lycra having the gentlest of strolls while fiddling on their phones oblivious to the queue - as empty-headed narcissist nitwits. As the decades go by, I grow ever more comfortable with my finely-honed discernment 😉.

Parks are not climate controlled, the paths are often knackered and full of bumps and holes, there’s no dog shit on a treadmill, there’s no mud, rain or wind, and there’s no risk of random dogs running at you and jumping up on you. There’s also no secluded areas on a treadmill in a gym, little to no danger of getting attacked if you need to go to the gym at night when it’s dark out.

If a treadmill is only meant to be run on, why don’t those people run in a park?

I’m recovering from a stroke and walking is about all I can manage right now. Sorry to have inconvenienced you!!!

Maybe tut louder so they can hear you and make way for your so important workout.

How is it intended to be used?

As a work out, which is why they speed up and tilt. Have you ever been on one?

It’s intended to be used as exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to mean a workout. It’s intended to be used however people see fit to use it as long as it’s safely.

OIC.
Snarky. 🥱

I think they are meant for all paces and inclines, actually. If you were only meant to use them in a specific manner your gym would post a sign, right? 🤯

I’m just picturing gym staff marching up to people walking on flat treadmills and forcing them to increase the speed and incline so they have to either run uphill or leave the gym.

Have you considered:
(a) asking the gym to install more treadmills <as they're obviously the most popular piece of equipment they have> or putting them onto some kind of timer system? or putting up a sign asking people to only use them for eg 15 minutes at a time?
OR (b) buying your own treadmill, and using it at home?

So when I go to the gym pool and swim slowly I’m being unreasonable?!

How unbelievably judgy of you!!
people can surely use the equipment as they need to. I have a disability and would definitely need to walk on the treadmill. Others might have injuries or fancy a low impact day.
I also swim - in the medium lanes, but I never look at those in the slow lanes and think they shouldn’t be there! Not everybody is the same. Lucky you to have your health and no disabilities but no need to discriminate against others. Jog on!

I said, Run! 🏃‍♀️

Maybe stop 'looking at people moving at a gentle stroll thinking "what are you actually getting out of this?"' and focus on your own workout!?

They've paid their membership, so how they then use the facilities is really none of your business.

And, to answer your last point, surely ANY amount of movement is better for you than sitting on your arse, which is what a lot of people do?

I haven't been to a commercial gym for 7 years. I can only imagine the horror show they have become based on social media posts.

Instagrammers, scrunchy bum shorts, steroid abusers, time-wasters, fitness princesses (that's you) and the stench of sweaty bodies (not new).

Maybe she wants to exercise in a safe place.
And scroll on her phone somewhere where her phone wont get stolen and she wont get attacked