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f/u to my unfortunate smelly gym situation
I've tried everything. I'm throwing in the towel.
Without fail, Indian runner guy will nab either the only other free treadmill, or will get one upwind of me and turn the fan onto him so the malodeur blows onto me.
I tried my Vicks VapoRub trick, and the smell cuts right through it.
This morning was supposed to be my last speedwork before my half. I got 1.2 miles in before he showed up. At 1.5 miles, I had to leave to puke my guts out. It was that bad. I couldn't go back in the room, and even after I tried running on the track I had to stop because my stomach hurt so bad. The smell was up my nose, in my throat, blech. Even DH, who was in the same room but 20 feet away on an elliptical behind him said that the room was horrid and that it's still up his nose.
I have to go back to the gym after work today to finish my workout. Totally not ideal, since we have company tonight and I have a long day in the lab. And switching my workout routine long-term is not really an option, because my schedule has minimal consistency aside from first thing in the morning.
Any other suggestions?
Re: f/u to my unfortunate smelly gym situation
GP buddy to blenderdance
If he smells that bad, he should be told by gym staff that he needs to shower and wear clean clothes before using the facilities. It's a hygiene issue - you don't get that stinky if you and your running clothes are clean and fresh.
Can you talk to the staff and have them deal with it? I guarantee you're not the only one to find it offensive.
Um, yes you can. I have been around PLENTY of people from Indo-Pak descent (I played co-ed field hockey with former Indian and Pakistani olympians) whose body odor is prominent, but not nearly this offensive. This guy definitely wears clean clothes and looks showered.
I may not be the only one who finds it offensive, but without fail I am the one in the cardio room that bears the brunt of it since the stars seem to align and I am ALWAYS next to him on the dreadmill.
Sadly no
And sadly no 
I am definitely going to start running outside when it's lighter out in the mornings, and shift my speedwork to the track at the high school. Unfortunately living in the mountains we deal with all kind of extremes- HILLLLLLZ, temperature swings, odd light in the morning, frickin' cold temps in the winter/spring and killer temperatures in the summer, so if I want any kind of consistency with surface, speed, etc I'm confined to the gym track or dreadmill.
Yikes, I'm really sorry, I don't even know what to tell you.
I don't know, there must be something that the staff can do. Trust me, I know it's a sensitive situation, but if it's really affecting other people that much then they should really say something. What that is I don't know though ;(
You could wear nose clips that swimmers wear
Can you go any earlier or later in the morning so that you'd miss him?
I'm going to talk to the staff when I head back there this evening. It's so bad that it's affecting multiple people's workouts when he's there. I've noticed when I'm doing track/weights/XT and he's on the treadmill, the rest of the room has cleared out within 10 minutes on multiple occasions. I'm not sure what they can do but talk to him about it, or maybe get a better circulation system/deodorizer for the cardio room (though if his offense is cutting through VapoRub applied directly under my nose, Reunzit isn't going to cut it).
Unfortunately I already open the gym in the mornings, and if I go "later" I won't get to lab until like 11am, which means I don't get to leave until 7pm at least and well, that just blows. And afternoons/evenings will always be erratic because cells don't punch clocks, which isn't very good for training for a race. Bleh
I think the gym staff needs to address it. You are paying for a membership and now you can't even stomach using it because of this. It is a sensitive topic, but I am sure they have dealt with it before. I worked in gyms before and it happened in our gyms and a manager would have to discuss it with the member. I would discuss it with someone in the gym that works there and ask what they can do to correct the problem.
I always get stuck near someone that farts. I have no idea who does it but I swear I will be on the elliptical and I will smelll nasty gas while I am trapped on there for an hour. So gross! How can someone continue to pass gas and smell it and think that no one else can smell it? For God's sake...leave and go take a dump and come back! OK - I am done with my stinky vent:)
OH. SO.
I talked to the gym staff guys, who I love immensely. I didn't even have to finish my sentence...
Me: So, there's an issue that I wanted to ask you...
Guys: The smelly guy?
Me: YEP
Guys: We can't do anything about it. We went to the owners and they said that we can't say anything because it's a religious/cultural difference and it's a sensitive/tricky subject to approach.
Me: So what it if were a white dude stanking up the place?
Guys: We could say/do something.
Me: ....
Guys: Yeah.
Apparently there have been no less than 20 complaints over the past month. And they say they can't do anything. I said I'd entertain all suggestions as to how not to puke again when he's on the treadmill next to me, because I've tried my strongest odor aversion technique that I know and it cut right through that.
Le sigh.
I think it might be time to buy a treadmill...
That sucks. I'm so sorry.
Bazinga!
Liz's Yarn
So, even if hygiene is at stake, it cannot be addressed because it is cultural? Are they ASSuming because of his appearance? It seems to be a public health issue, which would trump cultural, wouldn't it? This isn't a lawsuit situation.
That's horrible - the lack of response you'll be getting. I know it would never happen but I'd ask to be able to transfer to a different one or for a refund without cancellation fees because it was making you vomit.
Maybe he won't be there long....