Rant: Gym 'Issues'

[zoebird]

I have to rant about this because i'm starting to loose my mind.

I have a membership to the local Y, where there is a lovely indoor track. I love to walk on this indoor track--then do yoga afterwards near these huge windows on the one side. I just love it.

But, there is one thing that i don't love. Moms, who bring their HUGE strollers with their kiddies up onto this track. The track is only three lanes, and for the most part, the walls are pretty close. I keep a quick pace as i walk, and so i often have to pass on the outside (left). If it's one woman, with one moderately sized stroller, i'm not terribly bothered. BUT, it's usually 2 or 3 women, with very large strollers (why do they need to be so big?), who walk side-by-side. then, when i say "left" they don't move or adjust to let me around. They go "tut" as i go past--and say things like "why do you need to walk so fast?" Well, it is exercise.

Not only are they clogging up the track, they're also damanging it with the tires of the strollers which are, this time of year, covered in ice and other muck from the roads. This is, officially, against Y policies, but no one seems to stop them.

The reason this bothers me is because on-site day care at this Y is excellent. You buy a 'pass' to get your kids into day care, it's a minimal extra cost on top of membership. They have day care for infants, even, (about 1/2 of these moms have infants and the other half have toddlers). If there's a problem, they use the intercom system to call the mothers to the day care. It's bonded, safe, and clean. So, there is a day-care facility right on site where they could leave their babies (and strollers) for the 30 or so minutes that they're on the track. OR, if they insist on not letting their infants go to day care, how about a snuggly or a sling, or a back pack for toddlers? WHY THESE DOGGONE STROLLERS?

i've made a number of complaints to the front desk people about it, but no one seems to be stepping up to change the situation. What is the deal people? why are they being so rude and abusive to this great facility?

it's such a pain! (oh, and i go to the gym at different types throughtout the day, it's pretty much always like this, except at 3-4 pm. but, i'm usually doing something else then. . .bah! :whip:

[beforewisdom]

But, there is one thing that i don't love. Moms, who bring their HUGE strollers with their kiddies up onto this track. The track is only three lanes, and for the most part, the walls are pretty close. I keep a quick pace as i walk, and so i often have to pass on the outside (left). If it's one woman, with one moderately sized stroller, i'm not terribly bothered. BUT, it's usually 2 or 3 women, with very large strollers (why do they need to be so big?), who walk side-by-side.


I had a similar problem at a pool I used to swim in at. There were women who would swim a slow doggie paddle, two abreast, effectively blocking the lane. They could have swam faster, but then they wouldn't have been able to gossip with each other.




i've made a number of complaints to the front desk people about it, but no one seems to be stepping up to change the situation.


Good for you, you did the right thing about complaining whether or not you got immediate results.

[qetta]

I feel your annoyance. At my gym, strollers are allowed on the track. But I have come across the same thing a couple of times, where two or three stroller-pushers will be side by side. Which I agree is rude, but I'm too much of a wuss to say anything.

I'd keep trying to complain to your gym management. Maybe call the actual manager, instead of just trying to get the front desk people to take action.

If that works, let me know, because then I'll try the same thing for people who insist on wearing loads of perfume/cologne while running on the track or using the weight machines!!

[beforewisdom]

moderately sized stroller, i'm not terribly bothered. BUT, it's usually 2 or 3 women, with very large strollers (why do they need to be so big?), who walk side-by-side. then, when i say "left" they don't move or adjust to let me around. They go "tut" as i go past--and say things like "why do you need to walk so fast?"


Try replying back:

- " why do you need to block the track? "

- " its a gym, I am exercising "

[SeaSiren]

I'm not so nice. I would take it to a supervisor next. Then, after several complaints and no resolve. The gym would receive a breech of contract letter from me, because I can't work-out because they will not enforce the rules in which that had upon my sign-up. And I demand a refund due to the inconvenience. FYI, there is always someone higher than the Manager of your regional YMCA, and he/she doesn't want you to write a letter to his/her supervisor.

This generally will take it to a higher level, in which someone will finally do something about it. I must stress that I never raise my voice or resort to any name calling, no matter how beligerant they may become. I am always very matter of fact about it and tend to get results.

Good Luck!

[zoebird]

i work for the Y, and i like working there, so there is no contract to breech really. it's mostly an annoyance.

i do speak up to these women and give them a heads up to move 'on the left' is considered the appropriate thing to say as you're passing. so, i do that.

my only real recourse is through the front desk people. there is no 'director' in charge of the track. if i have pool problems, i can go to this director. if i have class problems, i go to that director. if i have fitness room problems, i go to this director. But, there is no 'track director' and it's covered by 'facilities' whihc are also maintanence men (handymen and janitors). they don't do anything about anything. I know the president of this Y, but she doesn't say anything about it--because it's not as important as the other problems that she has. So, it is what it is.

i figure, by march it won't be a problem. that's when people give up their NYRs.

[MollyCat]

If that works, let me know, because then I'll try the same thing for people who insist on wearing loads of perfume/cologne while running on the track or using the weight machines!!

Oh, that really bugs me!! I'm super sensitive to scents and that would totally ruin my workout. A lot of work places, like mine, now have a no perfume policy, but it's hard to get in enforced. Good luck if you decide to say something.

[punkmommy]

Zoebird, I feel your pain. It's not just at a gym, they're everywhere. I have no patience for someone who leaves their cart in the middle of a shopping aisle ofr me to hurdle while they're yapping on their cell-phone. Same with people who don't move forward after a green light when they're making a left hand turn, so that you can't get around them... argg! Sorry.. I could go on for a while, but maybe I should go take some Rescue Remedy :lol:

[kat]

Let me get this right, your gym has a track, that you go to and just walk around? So people pay gym membership to just walk around? They drive to the gym, walk around for a bit and drive home? Have they not heard of outdoors?

Why not "borrow" a child for the day, and see if they get out of your way? Run fast, it'd be fun for the kiddie. I really can't see why they'd need to take their children on a track, but I've never come across a track.

[qetta]

Let me get this right, your gym has a track, that you go to and just walk around? So people pay gym membership to just walk around? They drive to the gym, walk around for a bit and drive home? Have they not heard of outdoors?

I don't know where zoebird lives, but where I live (Minnesota), it's much nicer to walk/jog on an indoor track than to attempt to do so outdoors on icy sidewalks in single digit (or worse) weather.

[Quizeen]

I believe zoebird lives in the NE of the US so working out indoors in January (in the city) is a must. For those like myself who live in warmer climes, indoor tracks aren't common. In indoor track would be cool for those who have to exercise at night, too--much safer.


i figure, by march it won't be a problem. that's when people give up their NYRs.

It's funny that you should say this, because every single stinkin' year I have to navigate through the half-hearted newbies until just about March/April before they give up and make room. I don't mean to sound callous, it'd be much better if everyone stuck to their workouts and got healthy.

[kat]

I don't know where zoebird lives, but where I live (Minnesota), it's much nicer to walk/jog on an indoor track than to attempt to do so outdoors on icy sidewalks in single digit (or worse) weather.

I guess so, the whole thing seems rather alien to me. How big are these tracks? Also it's different here, and partly because I don't drive, but aside from the exercise I see walking as a functional thing. I'll walk to the shops (30 mins), walk to the tube (20 mins), to the bus (10 minutes.) Walking a track seems a bit on the boring side, and not the most intensive of a work out. And my tae kwon do helps me feel safer when walking alone after dark.

[zoebird]

well, i do live in the NE US and even though i walk outside, some times, it's nice to walk inside and get moving in that way.

the indoor track is 1/8 of a mile. it has a particular cushion and is different froma treadmill from a joint-health standpoint. Also, i find treadmills exceptionally boring.

If i lived in an area that had a more 'town' feel and everything i needed, i would definately walk more. in fact, i would prefer it. But, where i live (which is quickly becoming urban/suburban sprawl), everything is at least a 20 or 30 minute drive away, so there's no possiblity of walking to things that i need like stores. Right now, it's 2 degrees F outside, and while i'll probably walk outside this afternoon, this morning i'm going to walk inside.

On an indoor track, you can run, do intervals, and the like. It's just a short space. 1/8 of a mile, three lanes wide. Parts of it are open to other areas--such as it looks down on the fitness center, the atrium, the pool, and the gynasium where basketball and volleyball are held. in the middle of the track, there is a room for group fitness classes. there are windows so one can see in, but at two points, it really narrows down to just those three lanes. at the curves, the space widens out--it's easier to get around then, but it's such a short distance that if the women change pace at all, then there's no getting around them in time for the narrowing part. it is frustrating beyond belief.

that, and every time i do yoga, these women who run on the track make a comment as they run by: that looks unnatural! that's scary! how unhealthy! (whereas, they can't even do a forward bend). And one of the women, not knowing my level of experience said "perhaps you should take yoga classes before you start practicing on your own." which is a great idea, but i've been doing this for years, so i think i got the general idea. NOt that there's not something that i can learn in class, as i still go to class, but really. I don't comment on their poor running form, so why should they comment about my yoga--something that neither of them practice (because i asked).

anyhoot.