Well, since then I've moved to the city (Durban) and become a gym bunny (Virgin Active). Well, actually not quite a gym bunny, I don't wear matching outfits or make up, but I'm in the gym at least 4 times a week. I like the variety that gym offers, from yoga to spinning, and since October, Durban has had more rainy days than not, so I didn't really have a choice. I do like running and cycling outdoors, but I don't like the wind and rain, not quite that hard core.
Since joining the gym, I've noticed that certain activities cause a little bit of knee pain... hope I'm not going to regret the running by the time I turn 60!!
Anyway, since I'm relatively new to this whole gym thing, I was wondering: What exactly are the rules when it comes to leaving your towel on a free machine, to "reserve" the machine?
I had an incident this morning... - It was 7h17, I had planned to be out of the gym by 7h15, but I just wanted to do 10min on the cross trainer before leaving, I told myself I could have a very quick shower and make it to work just on time.
When I got to the cross trainers they were all full, except for one with a towel on it. I stood and looked around for a few seconds, then I walked up to the machine and asked the people on both sides whether they knew who was using it. Both of them just shook their heads and carried on with their workout. I looked around for a few more seconds, looked at the time again and decided to get on.
As I started, a "lady" walks up and says: That's my machine!
Me: It was empty when I got here
Lady: I went to fill my water bottle and I put my towel on it. It's my machine.
Me: It was standing empty when I got here.
Lady: I was just talking to my friend, I put my towel on it, I was coming back to it.
Me: It's peak time, it was standing empty. If you talk to your friend for a little bit longer, I'm sure another one will become available.
Lady: (getting louder) It's my machine, I put my towel on it. Get off.
Me: I'm sure that in a little while there will be another one available.
She now starts screaming at me: You're being ridiculous. Get off now!
And she starts trying to hold onto the handles of the cross trainer to stop me from working out.
She continues shouting: You're being ridiculous, this is my machine. Get off now!
I told her that she was being ridiculous and just carried on working out. She then said she was going to call the manager, to which I replied: Please do!!
Now I do understand that there are unspoken rules and common courtesy and all that, which means we don't steal machines. But, should machines be reserved and left standing empty during peak hours when we're all trying to squeeze in a workout before we have to get to work? And if you can stand and have a chat with a friend, then you are obviously not in a hurry to get anywhere, so it shouldn't be a problem to wait a few minutes longer.
In any case, another machine did become available within a minute. The lady (I'm referring to her sex and not her personal characteristics) then grabbed her towel from the machine I was on, called me a bitch and got on with her workout.
All in all, I think trying to squeeze in a workout before rushing off to work in the morning, is a little bit too stressful for my liking.
