Things That Bug Me At The Gym #2

Way back when I first started my marathon training I wrote a post about things that bug me at the gym. Since I was in the gym several days a week, I intended to write about a number of observations that really irritate me at the gym...like having 3 or 4 treadmills out of order. I don't think I ever got past that first post, but now that I'm back in the gym more regularly (training for the Peachtree and considering another marathon run), I am constantly reminded about the little things in the gym that really bug me. So here is #2.

Treadmill racers. I am, by no means, a super fast runner. I'm not sure I'd even consider myself a regular fast runner. But I do try to do a couple of fast workouts each week at the gym in order to build leg strength and speed. It is inevitable that whenever I am doing one of these speedwork sessions, some dude will hop on the treadmill next to me, glance over at my display and then immediately set his treadmill at 0.1 or 0.2 MPH fast than mine.

And of course, as I increase my speed throughout the workout I can see him out of the corner of my eye looking over at my display and increasing his speed about 30 seconds later. Really? Am I supposed to be impressed, or intimidated? As the kids say...whatever. Just do your own thing. I'm not racing you on the treadmill.

Things That Bug Me At The Gym - #1

Because I like to do most of my running in the morning, and because we don't have any sidewalks in our neighborhood or the surrounding surface streets, I do my running on the treadmills at LA Fitness.

I've had a membership with LA Fitness for about 10 years...started when they were still Australian Body Works in Atlanta. Of course, my use of the gym has been cyclical for most of that time. But over 10 years, I've observed a lot of different "characters" at the gym. Some are entertaining and some are annoying. And now that I've got this blog outlet I'm going to share some of the things that really bug me at the gym.

Today's installment comes courtesy of the character I like to call the Clydesdale. I see a lot of these at the gym since I spend most of my time on the treadmill. I pointed one out to Joy, in fact, last night. The Clydesdale is that person on the treadmill who runs completely flat-footed, so over the din of the gym's music, the sound of the treadmill and even my iPod earbuds comes this very loud, very annoying THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP as his or her feet pound the treadmill track. It is especially annoying when they try to run really fast. That's all. Don't be a Clydesdale.