People who grip the front/sides of the treadmill while they run on it

They're on a treadmill. They're not outdoors.

Also, if you have a kid and run with a jogger you get used to running like that. Maybe this is the case for those people. Maybe they should just low down though and they wouldn't have to hold on.

It's not bizarre at all. What do you think those handles are there for? Decoration?

Ah, didn't think about that. Good point. Although a lot of the culprits were teenage males who I'd imagine are unlikely to be experienced in stroller-jogging.

It's not bizarre at all. What do you think those handles are there for? Decoration?

They're a safety mechanism.

And they are an integral part of the heart monitoring system.

Actually what I see more often is the MILF who cranks up the incline to the max and then holds on to the sides to keep from being jetisoned off the back. Seems like that would defeat the purpose of the incline if you counteract the resistance by holding on with your hands rather than working with your legs.

The treadmill can be a hugely effective piece of exercise equipment – when used properly. The problem is, many gym-goers make one very big mistake when using it: They hold on to the machine for support while walking or running.

Unfortunately, holding onto the machine has some negative consequences:

1.Fewer calories burned. Holding onto the machine makes the exercise easier and less intense. That means fewer calories burned. The treadmill may display one number for total calories burned – but the treadmill doesn’t know that you’re holding on. It’s estimated that holding onto the treadmill results in 20% to 25% fewer calories burned.

2.Doesn’t translate to the real world. If you’re walking or running while holding onto the treadmill, it gives you a false sense of progress. In the real world, you can’t walk or run around while holding onto a machine. You’ll have a false sense of accomplishment and athletic ability.

3.Negates the incline. Adding an incline to your walk or run increases the intensity. But when holding onto the treadmill, walkers and runners lean back. This makes the body perpendicular to the machine; the net effect is that there’s no incline at all! Holding onto the machine cancels out the incline – and all the benefits!

4.More likely to result in injury. People think that holding onto the treadmill makes the machine safer. In fact, the opposite is true. By holding on, and aligning your body in an unnatural way, you increase the risk for longer-term injuries and pain – especially in the shoulders, knees, lower back and hips.

5.Worsens balance. Running or walking on a treadmill helps improve your body’s balance – but all of that is thrown out the window when you hold on. When you hold on, you teach your body to rely on an external machine for balance. That’s not a good thing.

None of what you wrote seems to be a big deal.

I supposed ordinary gym goers who are just "working out" can do whatever they want.

However, if your goal is to run competitively, you should make your running on a treadmill as close to real running as possible, which means not holding onto the bars, which you can't do while racing.

SARB wrote:

I supposed ordinary gym goers who are just "working out" can do whatever they want.

However, if your goal is to run competitively, you should make your running on a treadmill as close to real running as possible, which means not holding onto the bars, which you can't do while racing.

psh maybe not the way you race

sometimes i like to jump up onto the handlebars and start doing dips in the middle of a fast treadmill run. everyone immediately recognizes that i am better than them. plus the chicks dig it.

Not your mother wrote:

None of what you wrote seems to be a big deal.

Nothing on this entire site seems like much of a big deal. So what the hell is your point?

Not your mother wrote:

None of what you wrote seems to be a big deal.

What the heck wrote:

Nothing on this entire site seems like much of a big deal. So what the hell is your point?

I guess you didn't read about SFH. That was a big deal.

cardio bunny wrote:

Recently joined a gym

Lame. What, you can't handle the cold temps this time of year?

sknid yknirhs wrote:

Lame. What, you can't handle the cold temps this time of year?

You have your weight lifting equipment outside? Other than California on the beach I have never seen that before. If you are in Wisconsin you are a brave man.

Funny, I was just telling a buddy here at work about this. I was at the local gym last night, and took some inventory. There were 15 people on treadmills. 8 of them were hanging on to either the top of the center console or the handlebars in front. I can understand grabbing those temporarily to get an HR if you're walking, but all of these people were holding on full-time. As previously mentioned, the ones confusing me the most were the guys who had the incline cranked way the hell up and were just hanging on, so that it was almost like there was no incline at all. I'm convinced most people go to the gym to feel good about themselves, like something to cross of their list - not to actually work out.

What I find more intriguing than holding the handle bars are those on the treadmills that crank the speed too high. And then they take a break by either standing on the sides of the machine beside the belt or step off the back, all without stopping the belt so the machine runs full speed ahead while they just watch it.

cardio bunny wrote:

Recently joined a gym...

You'll be gone by mid-Feb like the rest of you who joined for the new year.