This morning (and every morning) when I arrive at the gym I come in from the very back of the parking lot and start to look for a spot. I'm usually getting there early and there are always other cars circling the spaces. Most people drive straight to the first avaliable spot (always way far back), park, and run inside. Not me. I always drive all the way up to the front to check for any open spaces, cause hey. Me and my '02 Sienna deserve a good parking spot. Bingo! Very often I will find a front spot is open. And as I pull into my awesome parking spot I can't help but wonder EVERY SINGLE TIME: "Do these people know they could've had an awesome spot? Did they just not want to take the time? Did they look up the row and think, 'Meh, they're probably all full...' or think, "Oh I need to get here early to get one of THOSE spots."
It's like since they weren't able see it, they assumed it wasn't there. And then I shed a little tear for all of the poor suckahs with their far far away cars all the way over on the other side of the parking lot by the bank. Poor Poor gym people. Shoulda driven up the aisle.
But they never do! They'd probably be likely to brush it off with "Who cares where I park? I just want to get in there and workout." To which I would smile and say, "Yeah, it's just a place to put your car" but I'd really be thinking, "We both know you're jealous of my spot. It's ok."
Every time I pull into a front spot it makes me happy (more happy than other people I suspect). The extra calories burned from walking further to my car pale in comparison to the victory in finding the coveted parking prize. I suddenly feel able to conquer all that lies in my path (which usually means dumbbells or a sidewalk). This morning's awesome workout actually had more to do with a space between two little white lines than my muscles or determination or motivation.
***UPDATE***
Some of you (Sarah and anon) park in the back for the extra calories burned and to avoid getting dinged. So now I'm curious, if you're a "back of the lot parker" would you still park far away if you saw a very front spot open?...not 10 feet away from the entrance? (And please tell me I'm not the only one who gets excited about a good parking space...)
April 2, 2008
Parking Pickings
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20 comments:
hilarious! and oh, so true:)
Honestly they are probably thinking it would be better to park far away and get some extra calories burned!!! I always park the furthest away 1. so my nice car doesn't get dinged! and 2. so I burn extra calories!
anon, yeah I thought of both of those things. All I can say is I'm crazy for the front spot. So crazy I'd take it any day over a couple extra calories. Now that I write it down I feel even more weird. LOL.
Lol, I'm one of those people who automatically go to where I KNOW I will get a spot (i.e. the back!)... why you ask? Not for calories, or some sense of hopelessness... mostly because driving around searching for a parking spot makes me a crazy person. If I have ever had road rage, it was probably in a parking lot, searching for a spot!
Oh yeah, and there's this tiny part of my brain that imitates the voice of my parents which still tells me (like they did when I was 16 driving their vehicles) that I should park at the back because I'm less likely to get dinged there. True or not, I hate it that I hear that little voice still!!
Sarah, mostly because driving around searching for a parking spot makes me a crazy person. LOL!
Yes yes. I could see that. It makes me crazy too, but crazy in an excited way not a frustrated way, lol...
As for more likely to get dinged, yes. If I drove a really nice car maybe I would think that..
hahahhahaha you are too funny.
oooh Im curious as well.
about the parking far when there is a close spot.
its such a highly touted fitness tip yet do people really do it?!
M.
LOL! I actually have an internal struglle about this sometimes, should I walk and burn a few extra cals or should I take that spot...
I'm a far-parker. Or I try to be. I'm a convert I guess. I often catch myself driving close but then kicking myself for passing open spots far away because not only am I going to spend longer driving around for a spot than walking to the door but I'm trying to not be lazy.
oh - did I just call you lazy? ;)
And I'm a far parker for absolutely everything, groceries, meetings, work. one of my profs made fun of people driving to the gym saying they could have saved a bit of gas, money and the environment if they'd just bike to the gym or even just bike around their neighbourhood. obviously not good for everyone.
I not only park as close as I can, but, I guiltily admit to impatiently waiting for someone to back out, or stalking people on their way out to their cars.
I can honestly admit to staying places longer, ie, the pool, just because I know I have one of the coveted close spots.
Im weird. I know it.
if I am alone, I always park far away both for the extra steps and less dings. And truthfully, I am a TERRIBLE "parker" and want to reduce my chance of hitting (yet another) car while parking!!
if I have kids with me, I always try to find the close spot because walking thru the lot with kids stresses me out!
That gym parking lot is nuts. I park at one end to be close to the play room so my doll doesn't have to walk through the jungle of Monster TRUCKS!!! Have you ever noticed how many park there? Together?! I counted 4 the other day. Then, for an extra workout, and the bruises to prove how tough I am for parking so far away, I skate over the ice covered parking lot to the front door. Truly, I have bruised my backside on the $%^@666@™!*! parking lot.
You are smart to dodge the monster trucks and ice; keep parking close to the front doors!
I also get very excited about good parking spots. But I NEVER find them at the gym. But the mall or grocery store - I gloat about a good spot.
As a momma of three, I'm all about the closest parking spaces. I've only got so many hands! The shorter the distance through a busy parking lot, the better. Calories be damned!
I'll be right back...
Ok, here's the thing. Whenever I get a far spot (only because I'm FORCED to park far) I try to make the best of it and think, "Oh yes. I'm sure I'm burning oodles of calories walking this extra distance." But give me a front spot and I am SO there.
And with kids? Don't even get me started...
emmy, yeah, it's funny, at the gym I never have the debate -and everywhere else I've got the kids...that's a lot of annoying extra calories burned just for a far spot. But on the occasion I do go somewhere without kids in tow, I do the same thing :)
Randi, Lazy? LOL, I like to call it "efficient."
I think biking to the gym sounds cool -IF- it's feasible....and you own a bike.
abby. THANK you for commenting. We'll be in the weird club together.
WM, I am a TERRIBLE "parker" and want to reduce my chance of hitting (yet another) car while parking! LOL! KEEP PARKING FAR AWAY! ;)
h, I was actually thinking of the 8th east lot. (but the 8th north one is just as bad!!) and monster trucks. I KNOW. And pimped out hummers and Escalades. My van looks teeny in those parking lots, lol!
P.o.m. Never at the gym? You must go at prime time!
Donna, AMEN.
I am WAY too lazy to look for the good spots - it always seems like more work to me than just zooming to the back. Although, maybe that takes me longer.....
Oh Hell Yeah!!!
'Poll Position!' Not sure if other's use that saying but that is what my husband and I yell when we get an awesome spot up front!!! Its almost a contest that we have when we are in the family car. It's the little things that get us excited HA!
Why is it that the perfect parking spot always appears AFTER you've hiked 1.5 miles to reach your workout haven? Does this mean I can shorten my workout, or perhaps have one more cookie? (I limit myself to 3) I think I will have the cookie.
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