A New York Reddit user was assured by others online that while his exercise habits were unusual, he wasn’t being rude to anyone else for using a treadmill in his apartment building’s gym for four hours a day.
More than 2,000 people responded to his question on Reddit — and he also shared his thoughts with Fox News Digital on the issue.
“AITA for using the treadmill in my gym for 4 hours?” asked Reddit user “Pr1mrose” in a Jan. 27 post on the subreddit known as “Am I the A*****e” (AITA).
“I use the treadmill 4 hours a day (light jogging, it’s not like I’m Usain Bolting that long) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.,” the man explains.
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“During this time the gym is almost empty from 6am to 7:45am and again from 8:30am to 10am,” he wrote.
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The user explained that his building has a small gym for residents – with four treadmills, three bicycles and three stair/elliptical machines, plus a weight training room. The gym is open until 10 p.m. daily, he said.
All four treadmills are rarely occupied at the same time, Pr1mrose said — adding that it was “maybe 15 minutes every other day.”
He also wrote: “Took a test today and for the whole four hours at least one treadmill was free, and I was alone running for more than three hours. There are plenty of days [when] capacity is not affected at all, and the days it is on is a very limited time slot.”
However, the building’s management has decided that there should be a maximum usage period of 45 minutes for the cardio machines – and has sent an email to all building residents.
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“I’m 99% sure it’s aimed at me because this morning, about three hours later, a lady (I believe the building manager’s assistant)” informed him of the rule, he wrote – “tapping me on the shoulder .”
At that point, the other three treadmills were empty – and Pr1mrose was told the rule “comes from management.”
A doorman came later and told him there was a 45 minute limit on the cardio machines.
Pr1mrose wrote that this rule was not printed anywhere in the gym and it was not the previous policy.
“I really don’t get it, but, Reddit, am I missing something and am I basically the asshole?” the user asked others.
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On the AITA subreddit, redditors can reply to posts stating that the poster reads “NTA” (“Not the A*****e”), “YTA” (“You’re the A*****e”) , “NAH” (“No A*****e Here”) or “ESH” (“Everyone Sucks Here”).
Users can “upvote” comments they think are helpful and “downvote” those that aren’t.
Most of the Reddit users who commented on the post said they thought Pr1mrose was “NTA”.
“NTA,” Reddit user “Thediciplematt” wrote in the most appreciated comment.
“If it was the only one? Of course, but it’s four and I doubt anyone else is running for hours,” the person wrote.
“Thediciplematt” also suggested that Pr1mrose change treadmills every 45 minutes — and “tell them you’re maliciously compliant.”
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Another user suggested that Pr1mrose take a break if the other three treadmills got busy after 45 minutes of running.
“NTA, but if the other three are busy and you’ve been at it for more than 45 minutes, you need to free yours,” wrote Reddit user “Pepper-90210.”
Others expressed concern about Pr1mrose’s health.
“I’m sorry, I can only jog for 4 hours a day. Are you okay?” wrote Reddit user “itsamezario.”
“Why are you using [the treadmill] for such a long time? Four hours is a long time for a workout and I’m not sure that’s very healthy behavior,” said Reddit user “Financial-Bottle-872.”
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In follow-up posts, Pr1mrose explained that he is a former heavy drinker and uses the time on the treadmill to listen to podcasts and music – and to “have some time to myself and think about my life”.
He added that his exercise habit “isn’t a compulsion – it’s a hobby I really enjoy.”
He also noted that he normally runs outside, but since he lives in New York City, he doesn’t want to run in the cold or risk slipping on ice.
“I fully agree and accept that on the very rare occasions when all four treadmills are occupied, I will step off in case people come by, see them all in use, and leave,” he wrote.
“I don’t have a problem with that — my problem is more that I’m being told to stop, even if I’m the only person there.”
Pr1mrose said he would write an email to his apartment management asking why this policy was put in place.
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“I’m not trying to be confrontational, I just literally don’t understand the rule,” he said.
“I’m not claiming to be above it, but I don’t think it’s asking much to be told ‘why’ if I’ve lived here. [for] over a year and have been using the gym this way all along – and I’m not stopping anyone else from using it.
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Pr1mrose told Fox News Digital in an online response to a question that he was surprised by the number of responses to his post — and that he hasn’t heard directly from management yet.
“For now, I’m planning on doing my normal routine tomorrow morning and I’ll see if I’m confronted again,” he told Fox News Digital.