Say no to cell in gym

Greetings from the West. And if it's true that trends start in Southern California and Manhattan and work their way inward, here's one to avoid.

Saw a woman jogging on Coronado Island, across the water from San Diego, while talking on a cell phone.

"I'm jogging," she said into the cell phone.

Exercise and cell phones go together like steroids and baseball. It's an unfortunate mix. Lots of people bring cell phones into the gym, and that's understandable. Some folks have to stay connected to their employer or employees. When the phone rings, the smart ones walk away from the weight bench or the stationary bike and conduct their conversation in private. That's how it's done.

But not everybody understands. I was at the Dowd YMCA in Charlotte and a woman, who was about to take a spin class, warmed up on a stationary bike. As she peddled, she talked. Mainly she talked about a table. That's what you want to hear when you're lifting weights. Table talk. Hey, don't leave me hanging, talk about the chairs.

The woman also talked her husband, who apparently had left her. She seemed surprised he did. I'm surprised he waited so long.

It's too late to ban gratuitous cell phone conversations from the gym, even gratuitous conversations about a table. But there is still time to stop folks from talking on a cell phone when they run.

Say no to this trend. And, while you're at it, say no to all the other ones.