Comments on: A Lack of Running Etiquette http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/ Jumping into vast oceans of nothingness since 2004 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: WordNerd http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1383 WordNerd Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:25:34 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1383 Kiwigirl--I understand wanting to push yourself, but I respectfully disagree that what you do is not a competition. If you make an effort to go faster than these women are, you're trying to beat them. They may respond in kind or be annoyed. I get annoyed because I see treadmill training as independent from racing. Personally, in treadmill training, I like to beat myself. I note down every run and have noticed a gradual increase in my speed over the past few months. That's more satisfying that sneaking peeks at treadmill readouts. I don't need to go faster than the men or the women at the gym; I just need to know that my run went well enough to help me improve. It'll help me pass people on race day, an experience I can't duplicate on the treadmill. Kiwigirl–I understand wanting to push yourself, but I respectfully disagree that what you do is not a competition. If you make an effort to go faster than these women are, you’re trying to beat them. They may respond in kind or be annoyed. I get annoyed because I see treadmill training as independent from racing.

Personally, in treadmill training, I like to beat myself. I note down every run and have noticed a gradual increase in my speed over the past few months. That’s more satisfying that sneaking peeks at treadmill readouts. I don’t need to go faster than the men or the women at the gym; I just need to know that my run went well enough to help me improve. It’ll help me pass people on race day, an experience I can’t duplicate on the treadmill.

]]> By: kiwigirl http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1382 kiwigirl Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:50:26 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1382 I don't understand why boys feel the need to do this, but I definitely do this with other girls. Maybe its bad etiquette, but it really motivates me when I run, to try and always run faster than the person next to me. And I run between 6.0 and 7.0 on average on the treadmill. Hmmm, I've never really thought about how it could be annoying though. I'm not competing with the person - I'm just trying to push myself. K I don’t understand why boys feel the need to do this, but I definitely do this with other girls.

Maybe its bad etiquette, but it really motivates me when I run, to try and always run faster than the person next to me. And I run between 6.0 and 7.0 on average on the treadmill.

Hmmm, I’ve never really thought about how it could be annoying though. I’m not competing with the person – I’m just trying to push myself.

K

]]> By: reuben http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1380 reuben Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:39:52 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1380 i feel you, as the young'uns say. when i am on a treadmill, and there are other free machines , and someone plops his or her keister next to me, i ask if they are aware of treadmill etiquette... if the gym is largely empty, i move away from people for a reason.. its the henry thoreau in me... (ha) as for the competition thing, well, what can i say? men of my gender ( to quote groucho marx) are a mess... no wonder we don't live as long... i feel you, as the young’uns say. when i am on a treadmill, and there are other free machines , and someone plops his or her keister next to me, i ask if they are aware of treadmill etiquette… if the gym is largely empty, i move away from people for a reason.. its the henry thoreau in me…
(ha)
as for the competition thing, well, what can i say? men of my gender ( to quote groucho marx) are a mess… no wonder we don’t live as long…

]]> By: James http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1379 James Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:12:51 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1379 Yeah it is even worse at building gyms that people don't pay a membership, and thus there is no staff to ever clean the equipment or give a menacing glance towards offenders! James <a href="http://www.dcmetrocentric.com" rel="nofollow">DCMetrocentric</a> Yeah it is even worse at building gyms that people don’t pay a membership, and thus there is no staff to ever clean the equipment or give a menacing glance towards offenders!

James DCMetrocentric

]]> By: Kelly Mahoney http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1376 Kelly Mahoney Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:43:42 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1376 I guess some guys need motivation, however petty and insignificant. I hate the gym. I guess some guys need motivation, however petty and insignificant. I hate the gym.

]]> By: WordNerd http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1375 WordNerd Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:21:36 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1375 AM--I have to say that IP made that comment on Sunday night, too, but a couple of things lead me to think not. One is that they become focused on my treadmill display. If I lift my towel, they immediately look over *and* increase their speed when I do. Another is that there really isn't a bad spot to watch TV when it comes to the treadmills. They're the equipment that take up the middle space of the gym and they're pretty well-angled. Then again, I don't watch TV while I'm there--Lou Dobbs is always on and I'd rather run a marathon unprepared than watch that ass (I bet he sneaks peeks at treadmills, too). But it is a possibility, true. :) And I have to agree with the smelly part of your comment, sometimes that can totally ruin a run. AM–I have to say that IP made that comment on Sunday night, too, but a couple of things lead me to think not. One is that they become focused on my treadmill display. If I lift my towel, they immediately look over *and* increase their speed when I do. Another is that there really isn’t a bad spot to watch TV when it comes to the treadmills. They’re the equipment that take up the middle space of the gym and they’re pretty well-angled. Then again, I don’t watch TV while I’m there–Lou Dobbs is always on and I’d rather run a marathon unprepared than watch that ass (I bet he sneaks peeks at treadmills, too).

But it is a possibility, true. :) And I have to agree with the smelly part of your comment, sometimes that can totally ruin a run.

]]> By: AM http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1374 AM Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:42:15 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1374 The one thing is, maybe you've got the good spot for watching TV in the gym and the guys want to get as good a view. I mean, probably not, but at least they don't smell bad right? That is my #1 gym pet peeve - smelly people next to you. Ick... The one thing is, maybe you’ve got the good spot for watching TV in the gym and the guys want to get as good a view. I mean, probably not, but at least they don’t smell bad right? That is my #1 gym pet peeve – smelly people next to you. Ick…

]]> By: The Critic http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1373 The Critic Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:53:59 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1373 Nice post. I too am a runner (and formerly from Michigan) and notice the same thing when I'm on the treadmills at the gym. You're right -- it only seems to happen above 6.2 mph. (When I was recovering from a knee injury, no one tried to race me when I kept it at 5.8 mph.) Occasionally, when I can tell that the guy next to me isn't in very good shape and is just trying to prove his manhood, I will crank up the speed to 7.1 and bust out a fast, last mile. At least then, I know that he will be tired for the rest of his run. :) Nice post. I too am a runner (and formerly from Michigan) and notice the same thing when I’m on the treadmills at the gym. You’re right — it only seems to happen above 6.2 mph. (When I was recovering from a knee injury, no one tried to race me when I kept it at 5.8 mph.) Occasionally, when I can tell that the guy next to me isn’t in very good shape and is just trying to prove his manhood, I will crank up the speed to 7.1 and bust out a fast, last mile. At least then, I know that he will be tired for the rest of his run. :)

]]> By: Zandria http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1372 Zandria Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:09:53 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1372 It's very annoying how some people think they have to beat/challenge someone else at the gym. We all have our personal fitness goals; it's not like we're going there to compete against someone else. There is no prize involved. It’s very annoying how some people think they have to beat/challenge someone else at the gym. We all have our personal fitness goals; it’s not like we’re going there to compete against someone else. There is no prize involved.

]]> By: charlotteharris http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 charlotteharris Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:36:03 +0000 http://www.sonnet87.com/2007/11/19/a-lack-of-running-etiquette/#comment-1371 I totally agree with the unspoken leave-an-empty-treadmill-in-between rule, unless they start to really fill up. I can relate to some of your stories - I don't run quite as much as you do, but the same weird things happen in the lanes at the pool too. I have even had complete strangers practically swim over the top of me in their competetive frenzy instead of waiting until the end of the lap to pass... It's not a race, people! ;-) I totally agree with the unspoken leave-an-empty-treadmill-in-between rule, unless they start to really fill up. I can relate to some of your stories – I don’t run quite as much as you do, but the same weird things happen in the lanes at the pool too. I have even had complete strangers practically swim over the top of me in their competetive frenzy instead of waiting until the end of the lap to pass… It’s not a race, people! ;-)

]]>