I drove to the gym and it was weird

[NorCal Stubble]

Last week I twisted my ankle at work, so I've been taking it easy. Normally I take my son to swimming lessons on the bike, but this week I used the car. It was a weird feeling getting out of the car in the gym's parking lot. I mean what's weirder? Doing a mild workout prior to going to the gym or riding in your motorized sofa? I almost felt self conscious about it then I had a chuckle about how much MMM has affected my life and moved on with it. Anyone else have any moments like this?

[Laura33]

Totally!  I joined a gym two blocks from my house, so obviously when I work from home, I walk.  But when I have to leave for the office immediately after class, I drive.  And BOY does that feel weird and wrong.

[fattest_foot]

Driving to the gym isn't abnormal. It's the people who drive around the parking lot waiting for a close spot at the gym that have something off about them.

[NorCal Stubble]

Driving to the gym isn't abnormal. It's the people who drive around the parking lot waiting for a close spot at the gym that have something off about them.

Haha that's a weird one. The thing is, the town I live in is so small, there's nearly no reason to drive. Yet, the bike racks everywhere I go are notoriously empty.

[SeaEhm]

Driving to the gym isn't abnormal. It's the people who drive around the parking lot waiting for a close spot at the gym that have something off about them.

That is true.  I have recently started to park at one of the farthest spaces just to get in some extra steps wherever I go.

Typically, I would love to walk to the gym even if it means standing on a treadmill and walking while at the gym.  I love the hum of the treadmill and the sounds of the weights.  It's an auditory experience that I enjoy as well.

Some days, I just don't want to be exposed to the sun.   

I love walking around my neighborhood but when I do this, I tend to skip on the stretching.  This leads to pain.

I also

[BTDretire]

The weird one is all the people I see* setting on the machine, swiping at the their phones.
If your not using the machine, get off of it!

* Well I did see, I canceled my $10 a month plan at Planet Fitness.

[vern]

[Linea_Norway]

When I walk past a fitness center with large windows I often think that all those people are producing energy and need to be cooled with airco. If we could only install some energy generators from the machines they are using that could then provide them with cooling.

I also don't really understand people running indoors when circumstances are great for running outdoors. But I do understand it in the winter when the roads are slippery.

[scottish]

I hear you.   A coworker of mine was explaining how he was running every morning this spring.   When I started to discuss routes with him, he said that I didn't understand, he was running on a treadmill in his basement!

[Laura33]

When I walk past a fitness center with large windows I often think that all those people are producing energy and need to be cooled with airco. If we could only install some energy generators from the machines they are using that could then provide them with cooling.

I also don't really understand people running indoors when circumstances are great for running outdoors. But I do understand it in the winter when the roads are slippery.

I've had a few times when I chose the treadmill instead.  Mostly if I wanted to do interval training -- I had a specific program that I did at least once a week, and so controlling the speed and time was really helpful for comparison.  I also found it easier/softer when I had a problem with my heel.  Or too early/too late (I don't particularly like running in the dark).  But my most common reason for wussing out was when it was just too hot -- when it's 95+ during the day and 80 at night and massively humid, fuggedaboutit, I want my AC. :-)

(Of course, now I've quit running and joined a non-air-conditioned Crossfit gym, so there goes that excuse. . . .)

[MrsPete]

Driving to the gym isn't abnormal. It's the people who drive around the parking lot waiting for a close spot at the gym that have something off about them.

Well, I do that if it's getting close to dark; however, I do it because the gym is in a sketchy neighborhood.

[AlanStache]

Does it count if I drive home from work to use the gym in my garage?

Linda_Norway: I just looked up Oslos weather (cuz- google and why not :-)  ) and my area (and much of the US-south) will be getting months with lots of days where it is hotter at 8am than Oslos July max temperature (22c/72f) with just as much humidity, 70-80%.  Not a measuring contest but there are lots of reasons to be running inside.  Also in the winter the city does not really plow and many people dont shovel so running outside is not great till it melts in a few days/week.

On some level I get making fun of those working out in the AC but on the other hand if I bike to/from work I scale back my lifting when I get home as I am just to drained by the heat to do the full session.

[NorCal]

First off, I like your username.

I've got a better one for you.  There's a gym near my house that offers valet parking.  Think that one through.

[fuzzy math]

I hear you.   A coworker of mine was explaining how he was running every morning this spring.   When I started to discuss routes with him, he said that I didn't understand, he was running on a treadmill in his basement!

There is nothing more monotonous than running on a treadmill. Take away the fresh air, change of scenery and commune with nature and replace it with a machine that tells you every single second that's passed. I also find it more jarring on my bad knee, the moving treadmill seems to require a harder landing to compensate for friction / backwards momentum etc.

[Linea_Norway]

I hear you.   A coworker of mine was explaining how he was running every morning this spring.   When I started to discuss routes with him, he said that I didn't understand, he was running on a treadmill in his basement!

There is nothing more monotonous than running on a treadmill. Take away the fresh air, change of scenery and commune with nature and replace it with a machine that tells you every single second that's passed. I also find it more jarring on my bad knee, the moving treadmill seems to require a harder landing to compensate for friction / backwards momentum etc.

I agree on all that. A treadmill is a very different experience. Some time ago I used a treadmill at my office (in the winter). There was a guy on the second treadmill beside me. And of course I was embarrassed to run very slowly, so I tried to held up a good tempo. At the same time I was watching TV, that the guy had turned on. I became very concentrated about the program (Ninja contest with real people) and forgot to run fast enough. I moved backwards on the machine and fell of it at the end. Quite painful, both physically and mentally. I have so much better memories from my last run, where I ran over a nice uneven path through some forest, slowing down whenever I felt like it. Discovering new paths. That is so much better.

[WhiteTrashCash]

Some people think it is weird that I ride my bicycle a mile to the martial arts studio where I work my side hustle teaching classes. "OMG! That's so far! You must be so tired!" Dude, I'm teaching three to four hours of martial arts classes each time I'm there. A one mile bicycle ride is nothing.

[JSMustachian]

The next step is to cancel the gym and workout at home.

I saved so much time and money (membership/gas). Finally canceled my membership I've had for almost 10 years. The weird feeling for me was walking to my back patio and already being at the gym instead of my 20 minute drive! With my workouts done sooner, I am able to get more sleep too since I didn't go to the gym until late because it is so busy.

[Smevans]

I also don't really understand people running indoors when circumstances are great for running outdoors. But I do understand it in the winter when the roads are slippery.

I run on a treadmill about half of the week (Average 30 miles a week so roughly 15 on a treadmill). My gym has the sports package on TV which I don't want to pay for at home. So I enjoy running on the treadmill while watching baseball or basketball.

[hudsoncat]

My DH and I usually ride our bikes to the gym. One day nice, newer lady who checks people in saw us carrying our bike helmets and said, "Safety first and all that, but you don't have to wear a helmet in the spin class!" I forced a laughed because I assumed she was just making a joke. As we were walking past her, DH pointed out to me that I had chain grease on my leg and the same lady said very incredulously, "Wait, you rode your bikes here!?! Do we even have bike racks?!?" Uh, yes and yes? That made me laugh for real as the bike racks are prominently placed next to the main entrance and are usually in use.