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.

I have noticed a crew of young women in their 20’s with big fluffy socks and fully sweaters on plodding a treadmill slowly with not a hair out of place, they look great whilst I do not 😂

I agree that I do not understand the purpose of it, but also I do because they are young and gorgeous and don’t need to put in the hard work I do to look like a swamp monster in the gym. I don’t really mind what they are doing, they pay the same as me. I do think they might not be confident to really go for it and are feeling self conscious; if so I am a little sad for them in that respect. They are doing their own version of ‘working out’ and maybe building up their confidence to try new things. Or they just are staying in their comfort zone. I’ve noticed them but they don’t bother me. I was very entertained by a coordinated dumbbell mirror display by 2 young girls recently. They had obviously been practicing synchronised rear delt fly movement and I thought it looked like good fun

Maybe if I had the luxury of my own time and no kids and hectic lifestyle I also would enjoy strolling on a treadmill listening to a pod cast for an hour in the evenings. However I am scrambling for time and every second is precious

Half of the people the OP refers to will not be there by Easter. The only positive is without them the gym would charge more or be closed.

I think some of those as described by the OP are people who want to be out of the house or are kidding themselves about the exercise that they are doing. Probably many drive to and from the gym.

The Norm is a 20 min max when busy - don't you have that rule at the gym? To be fair I find the heavy footed pounders are the worst offenders usually

You have options, though.

Run outside. Actually moving is harder than a treadmill, so your interval workouts will be more efficient.

Join a gym with a time limit on the treadmills.

Join a gym with more treadmills and/or fewer people.

Get a treadmill at home.

As a pp pointed out, Peloton does nice ones, as does NordicTrack. That's what I did. But funnily, more because my nice serene run was ruined by too many people overestimating their fitness levels, cranking those treadmills up way too fast and too steep and then, performatively gasping and grunting and horking away next to me.

Sometimes I do this. Better to be scrolling whilst walking than scrolling at home. If I was running you still wouldn’t be able to get on.

I agree.
The faint hearted will soon drift away and then those of us who really mean business can crack on and do things properly 😁

No, don’t be silly, she can’t run outside .. that’s for the walkers remember 🙄😁

I have a long term injury which means I can't run anymore.
Walking is one of the few things I'm allowed to do. So if I want to walk on the treadmill I will.
I pay the same amount for my gym membership as you do.

@user342978 in the last week I’ve had a random and sudden shouting out of the lyrics to the music he’s listening to causing me to jump out of my skin, and another man doing air drumming as he ran causing my eyes to nearly roll out of my head 😁

If you're going to use any gym then other people being annoying is something you need to learn to live with. I was on a treadmill the other day and this woman came and used the one next to me, she was running so fast that my treadmill was shaking and the motion was making me feel a bit queasy. I have no right to ask her to stop or to move away, just as you have no right to decide how fast someone should be walking in order to be worthy of taking up a treadmill.

And for what it's worth I agree: there are people in my gym who do more posing than they do actual work. The only option I have is to ignore them.

You are being hugely unreasonable.

Every gym member pays their fees same as you and is entitled to use the equipment in the most appropriate way for them. If that’s slower than you can manage, think yourself extremely lucky that you’re able to run. Maybe they’re doing as much as they are able. Would you feel ok having to wait for a treadmill if the person using it ran for an hour rather than walked?

Stop judging and concentrate on your own workout. You’ll be a far happier and calmer person I promise.

Pineapple belongs on pizza!! 🍕 +🍍=😋

Oh and you wouldn't necessarily know I have an injury so I probably just look lazy to you.

it just seems selfish when there's a queue of people waiting for a treadmill.

Ultimate point. Have they paid their gym fee? If so, they are as intitled to their stroll as you are your run.

Either mind your own business or find a new gym. #entitled

And you are inferring that because of their outfit? I wear "fancy" gym gear to the gym. The kind that you might sneer at. I can also take an occasional selfie for my boyfriend while I am there. I am also a powerlifter and yes, a slow treadmill walker because my main workout is in the weights area and treadmill is something I do to calm my nervous system down after a heavy training session. If someone approaches me and asks me politely how long I might be, I am happy to cut my walk short and let them use the equipment. Maybe you could try that instead of seething.

I think a lot of posters are being disingenuous.

it’s fine for people to walk on treadmills if this is the level they are at fitnesswise.

and of course nobody can dictate how other people use the equipment or how far they push themselves.

But there ARE a lot of young, very fit looking people, all clad out in Lycra, who spend a lot of time on machines scrolling on their phones and/or taking selfies.

Oh nooo! It’s the validation and approval of the “gym bros” that most woman go to the gym for I’m sure!!

YABU.
i used to be like you but now after injury i am a walker… you could go at a less busy time or ask the gym to buy more treadmills x

Well, it is moving your body. But if that's all it is, why on earth do you need a treadmill, with all of its rich functionality? If all you are doing is going for a stroll, then why not just ... go for a stroll? Then the people who actually need a mini-computer that facilitates interval training, etc., can access it.

The mantra about any form of exercise, however mild, being of benefit, is great for motivating unfit people and helping them see how easy it is to exercise for free wherever they happen to be. It's precisely a mantra about NOT needing complicated equipment designed for more intense and complex activity.

Why do you need a treadmill for interval training?

If it's any comfort to you, OP, I went for a run outside last night in the dark and rain and slipping all around through mud, so I look down on you running on the treadmill indoors. 😛

I'm guessing it's a commercial gym, and they've paid just the same as you. I'm trying to figure out if there is a circumstance when your complaint might make sense, like if it were an NHS-provided service, but even then I don't think it holds water. Some exercise is better than none, and may enable more exercise still either by acting as a warm-up, or as a gateway for them to get comfortable in the gym before they are brave enough to do more.

Sorry, I think we should support other people to get exercise, even just a little bit.

Maybe suggest to the gym they need more treadmills, if they are the popular bit of kit?

But there ARE a lot of young, very fit looking people, all clad out in Lycra, who spend a lot of time on machines scrolling on their phones and/or taking selfies.

Actually there aren't at mine. But OK, they're at yours. So what?

And if you were alive in the 90s (and you probably were if you're complaining about young people), you have no place to talk judging people on Lycra...

Maybe OP would just jump on behind and run with them 😂

I walk at a gentle pace because the arthritis I developed aged 17 has destroyed my feet and knees by age 40. I walk at the gym because being raped or murdered walking the dark streets at night isn’t my idea of a good time and I spend my lunch times marking and prepping for the afternoon so I can’t get out at lunch. I’m so sorry I’m inconveniencing you. You are literally the reason I have kept away from gyms or fitness for years for fear of being judged.

This is exactly why some people find gyms intimidating and fear judgement. Shameful