17 replies to this topic

[A trophy guy]

Ok, as the subtitle says, this is a very meaningless and unimportant-yet funny-brief little exchange that I had with a woman earlier today (at the gym, of all places, cause I never go there).

Well Fridays are days which I just do cardio so I just ride the arm bike on these days. It can get kind of mundane, sitting there pedaling the bike in the same spot for 30-45min, so in addition to my music and earbuds, I often will drap a towel over my head and just go. This sort of puts me in my own little word and prevents me from glancing at the clock ever 2 minutes and being shocked that 10 minutes hasn't passed.

Today I was doing exactly this, and I was going pretty hard about 20 minutes into the workout-towel over my head and all-when I get a tap on my shoulder. I get snapped out of my music-fueled adrenaline world and I take the towel off my head, pause the arm-bike, pull my earbuds out and glance over my shoulder to see a middle aged woman standing there. She points behind her to one of the many empty treadmills and asks me if I'm using it. If I'm using it?! She had to disrupt my workout on a different machine to ask if I was using a treadmill.

Not only that, but she had to lean over my wheelchair when she tapped me on the shoulder to interrupt my arm-bike workout to ask if I was using a treadmill. It may not sound too weird but it really was one of the oddest things to experience. I am always polite to people in situations like this, but I tell ya, I had a hard time not laughing and keeping my composure enough to reply, "Nope, it's all yours."

Edited by A trophy guy, 07 January 2012 - 07:21 AM.

[love&hate]

It would be difficult for me not to unleash sarcasm in situation like this ... to the point of being an ass. A quote comes to mind.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

[kiwiquad]

I'd assume she was thinking it was next on your circuit, & not wanting to interrupt your program.

....;)

[A trophy guy]

kiwiquad, on 07 January 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

I'd assume she was thinking it was next on your circuit, & not wanting to interrupt your program.

....;)

Certainly. I was the silly one here for finding her question odd and humorous. It was a logical question. You are totally right.

[catmint]

I think Kiwiquad has it right.

Actually I think she did the right thing, she didn't just assume the machine was free she asked.

It's a bit like when you go into a waiting area of some kind and it's pretty crowded. You see an empty seat and ask the person sitting next to it if any ones sitting there ....seems silly but it's just being polite imo.

[MissQuasimodo]

Sometimes, no actually most of the time, people are just plain dumb. As loveandhate so beautifully quoted.

[MTB John]

So would you chair fit on the treadmill?

Could be the makings of a great Candid Camers sketch..

[wheelie182]

uch! I HATE it when people disrupt my work out. I often get old men interrupting me at the gym to have a chat. No! Go away old man!

Edited by wheelie182, 07 January 2012 - 04:29 PM.

[dreamerr]

OK I want to see the chair on the treadmill that made me laugh. I am now wondering if it is even possible but seems like it might be. ATG try it for our entertainment pleeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssseeeeeeeee. I want pictures.

Of course the lady did the right thing and was polite. People don't see beyond there own mind thought. She more then likely didn't even notice the chair or if she did it didn't register.

If we don't laugh at all these silly situations what fun would we have? I almost wait for the next one cause they give me a good chuckle and I get to tell people the new funny story.

[StillFingers]

Perhaps, in her rather lame way; attempt at humor...she was trying to pick you up ATG...if not, it's def a FAIL.

I would have smiled/snickered/laughed a bit, said 'no, it's all yours, I don't use treadmills much anymore!' while thinking 'what a moron...' unless she was attractive n interested then I'd be thinkin 'Hmmm, kinda odd way to...I wonder if she'd like to go out?'

Then again perhaps her eyes were fixated on those massive shoulders and guns you have (completely missing your chair) and just wanted to see if a pretty face was under that towel...eye candy so to speak

[Charlie-boi]

I would have simply said... yes

[Trinity]

dreamerr, on 07 January 2012 - 05:44 PM, said:

OK I want to see the chair on the treadmill that made me laugh. I am now wondering if it is even possible but seems like it might be.

I've seen wheelchair rubgy players doing VO₂ max tests on treadmills so def possible!

[brockit79]

Trinity, on 07 January 2012 - 06:08 PM, said:

dreamerr, on 07 January 2012 - 05:44 PM, said:

OK I want to see the chair on the treadmill that made me laugh. I am now wondering if it is even possible but seems like it might be.

I've seen wheelchair rubgy players doing VO₂ max tests on treadmills so def possible!

I have seen this in action too, our own Tanni Grey Thompson no less

[edlee]

Nah,,, I don't really believe there was ANY legitamate reason for her to ask that question,,, whether he was SCI or AB. other than to get a look at his face,, which IS legitamate if she liked the rest of what she saw. It is just the natural politeness of most older people that makes them ask before moving into your "space".

It was unnecessary,, but really very polite of her,,, and certainly amusing on the face of it. I would have gotten a kick out of it too. ATGs response was definitely appropriate and,, surprisingly,, subdued. I like to think that I would have been the same,,, tho I do have my bad days.

Those must have been some WIDE treadmills, Trin. They put me on one in a research study I helped with a few years ago,, but it was more like a Dynomometer used for cars,, in that instead of a belt,, my rear wheels were on two wide rollers. I've always thought it would be a great exercise machine,,, but good luck getting a gym to put one in.
ed

Edited by edlee, 07 January 2012 - 06:43 PM.

[A trophy guy]

Charlie-boi, on 07 January 2012 - 06:06 PM, said:

I would have simply said... yes

LMAO! I'm not that quick-witted.

[Tetracyclone]

Comimg from the minority that id walking quads and paras, many of us can use a treadmill if it has a slow enough speed. Watch Guido do his workout on www.myscirecovery.com.

I wish I could use one but cannot get my toes up reliably enough.... yet.

[A trophy guy]

Irrespective of my disability, this was weird because: 1) I was clearly busy using another cardiovascular machine and was not using this treadmill and 2) the treadmill in question was one of several vacant machines; thus making her need to question me over this particular one even more strange.

[qbounce]

A trophy guy, on 08 January 2012 - 07:59 PM, said:

Irrespective of my disability, this was weird because: 1) I was clearly busy using another cardiovascular machine and was not using this treadmill and 2) the treadmill in question was one of several vacant machines; thus making her need to question me over this particular one even more strange.

Unless it was one of the newer treadmill, versus an older model. I used to prefer the newer one, because it was easier to get at a certain workout program without keying in all the height, weight, distance, type-of workout, crap that they sometimes subject you with.

Apparently she wasn't a MILF, I presume? (btw, some ladies out here find that term endearing. Most likely a SOCAL thang)