Today, after work, I felt this incredible need to go for a run. It was a frustrating day towards the end. I was tired of the day-to-day frustration that can be my job where I constantly wonder why it is not possible to plan ahead (that’s a whole other blog!). I was feeling impatient and had some pent-up energy/emotions that needed to be dealt with. The drive home only added to that frustration.
So, my daughter and I headed for the gym. The gym we currently belong to is fairly large. There are several of them in town yet every one of them seems to have a full parking lot any time of the day. I like this gym because it’s minutes from my home and has a running track (I hate the treadmill). It’s this running track that is the subject of my writing tonight. Actually, it’s more accurate to say it’s the people who use this running track that has spurred my need to write.
This is a pretty basic track. Two lanes, 6.25 laps equal a mile and it runs around the upper level of the gym. There are instructions on the track use posted at almost every entrance of the track. An arrow and sign points the direction of the flow and it specifically states that walkers and slower runners are to use the inside lane. It is like driving on the highway. Slower traffic stays to the right so faster traffic can pass on the left. Same simple concept.
If you are a runner or fast walker, keeping a steady pace is pretty important to your workout. I am not a fast runner. I get passed often which is why I stay in the inside lane until I have to pass. I respect that there are people running faster than me and I do not want to slow them down or mess up their pace. When I pass someone, I look always over my shoulder first so I do not get into some faster person’s path. I’ve even slowed my pace to let them pass first. Basically, I try to use common courtesy to my fellow runners (and walkers). Pat on the back for me!
Unfortunately, there are so many people who are either completely oblivious to the signs posted on around the track or just do not care that they are hindering the flow of traffic with their actions. Just tonight this is what I encountered: 1. three people walking side by side chatting and taking up both lanes with no room to pass or making any effort to get out of the way of people trying to pass 2. a couple strolling side by side, hugging around on each other and goofing around so that one of them kept randomly walking into the “passing lane” 3. a couple random people walking/strolling in the running/passing lane 4. one guy walking the wrong direction (and not just to get to the nearest track exit!) I should note that all but the last guy was encountered within the first two laps of my run!
Tonight’s group of annoyances were not special. Okay, maybe the three people walking together was only because I almost got elbowed trying to squeeze between the outside guy and the wall. I am at the track running three times a week and just about every time there is someone sauntering along in the fast lane, someone texting or talking on their phone as they walk around the track often swerving into the passing lane like a drunk driver, people walking side by side and refusing to walk single file if there are people trying to pass, the odd few people going the opposite direction on the track (that’s the one that has me puzzled) and the list goes on. On busy nights (a.k.a. EVERY NIGHT) it’s difficult enough to stay on pace with all the people using the track let dodging the human obstacles mentioned above.
Maybe I’m being petty for complaining about this but I figure we are at the gym, we are all there under the guise, at least, of working out so is it too much to ask that we all show each other some common courtesy? Pay attention to the posted signs, know that the powers that be at the gym did not just post them to be power-hungry ogres. They have a purpose. Remember that while you may just want to stroll around the track chatting with your friend there are people, like me, who are trying to run or walk at a steady pace and get a good workout. We are not at the park or on a public street where there is all sorts of room to manuever around you; both lanes combined are probably 4-5 feet across. Please stop being oblivious to other people around you.
Tonight’s run ended up being a good run after the first mile (well except for the guy walking in the fast lane in the wrong direction..what the heck is up with that?) The threesome finished their stroll and the walkers in the fast lane were spaced out enough that they did not hinder my pace. But best of all, the stress created by a bad final hour at work was left somewhere around lap 6.
On My Mind 