Track etiquette

Now I hate to sound like Ms Manners here, but I am starting to get really pissed about the track.

The gym (actually community fitness center) was recently rebuilt. Now I love the new building, and the space was really needed. However the new track lends itself to abuse.

Let me explain. In the old place we had 2 tracks, each 1/13 of a mile. Yea, a weird distance. One track was above the swimming pool and the other had raquetball courts in the middle. The new track is above the basketball court (not a problem) and has the cardio theater, fitness circuit & stretching area in the middle. Oh yea and it is also above the swimming area, although this is glassed off.

Now the basketball court has not been a problem while I have been there - no stray balls although you do get the occasional rash of bad language which is not a big deal to me. However the cardio theater/fitness circuit have been a real problem. The track is 4 lanes wide. Two really skinny people can walk side by side, but for most of us we need the whole lane. Traditionally the inside lane is reserved for walkers - been that way on EVERY track I have been on. For some reason people feel that they can just stop in the middle of the track and chat with people in the middle. HELLO!!! It is getting to the point I want to take a cattle prod to moooove these people along.

Worse yet are some of the stupid people tricks I have seen. There are 3 entrances to the track. Two of them are maybe 5 foot wide hallways, and probably closer to 3.5-4 foot. Now there is a huge stretching area that is (currently) unused. So if you are 3 teenage girls do you stretch in one of the little hallways or in the big stretching area? That's right - you stretch in the hallway blocking one of the entrances completely from use.

Ok, here are my rules for using a track. To me they are all common sense, but apparently some people don't have that.

1) Check the direction of the day, if there is one. If not, observe the traffic flow before jumping on the track.

2) Do not stretch on the track. Most indoor tracks have spots off to the side. Try to stay out of the flow as much as possible. Seems obvious, but I have seen many people just stop in a lane and stretch a quad.

3) Do not stop to chat (or for any other reason) on the track. Move off the track, even to tie your shoe.

4) Walkers on the inside, runners on the outside unless otherwise posted.

5) Enter the track with lots of space around you. Try not to cut anyone off.

6) Same goes for passing - check before you jump in another lane. Would you change lanes in your car without looking?

7) Do not walk or run more than 2 wide, and even 2 wide is not acceptable on some tracks. Use logic. One track I was on had a choke point where 3 wide lines dropped to 2 narrow lanes. I have seen people walking 4 wide blocking over half a track. Frankly you deserve to get run down by the sprinters then.

8) Label your water bottle, or have a distinctive bottle. I have seen a dozen bottles lined up at times. Also, if you drink on the track be careful not to spill anything.

9) DO NOT WALK AGAINST TRAFFIC FOR ANY REASON. This is one of the big offenders. Instead of "going with the flow" they walk against traffic. Most places lay out their cardio equipment so that you do not have to walk too far to get to it from either direction. Then again these are probably the same people who complain about walking from the back of the parking lot at the gym.

10) Be courteous. If some one lets you in, say thank you. As in golf, let faster people pass.