Gym Etiquette (Well, all that etiquette talk got me thinking, you know?)

Let me ask you your opinion on etiquette at the gym:

1.)   Is it okay to race in front of someone slower than you during a drill in your cardio class?  You know, like you are running sprints in a line and the person in front of you is terribly slow and you want a good workout, and quite frankly won’t get it unless you race ahead of Sally Slow Pants. 

2.)   Should you or should you not stop to chat with someone who has their earphones in?

3.)   Should you interrupt someone’s workout to spout a quick one-liner at them?

4.)   Should you stare at waddling Ms. Preggers who is approaching the elliptical?

5.)   Is it okay to look at your exercising neighbor in disgust when you smell something fishy?

6.)   Should you leave a step or kickboxing class if you can’t follow the steps?  Does it throw everyone else in the class off?  Is it a distraction?

7.)   Is it okay to leave a fitness class early?  Does this bother fitness instructors? 

Here are my answers:

1.)   I’ll give you the “OK” to race in front of someone slower than you as long as you do it in a safe manner.  You’re paying for the class, you may as well get a good workout.

2.)   No.  A quick wave and smile is all you need.  If you want to chat, exercise with a friend who already knows you want to chat, or wait until their workout is over.

3.)   Only if you’re old and can get away with stuff like that.  Old people can pretty much say whatever they want at the gym and usually get a nice courtesy laugh.  But not if your sole motivation is to get a girl’s phone number. 

4.)   You shouldn’t, but it’s hard to look away.  Don’t take it the wrong way pregnant friends.  It happens to the best of us. 

5.)   Yes. ABSOLUTELY yes.

6.)   Yes.  I’ve had to leave 20 minutes into a class before.  Don’t pretend you know what you’re doing.  You are just throwing everyone else off and you’ll probably get a better workout on the treadmill at that point anyway.  Unless you’re old.  Then, again, you can get away with that kind of thing and continue your uncoordinated charade.

7.)   You know, sometimes people have other things to do, like buy milk before the kids get home or run to the little girls’ room, which I believe warrants an early exit. 

Yeah, I think I’m taking this workout stuff a little to seriously.  But time is money, baby, and I don’t have either.  So when it comes to working out, lets do it and get it done so I can burn calories quickly then get away from that smell and pick up my kid from school.